Lead Clinical Pharmacist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title Lead Pharmacist

Employer Giffords Surgery

Department Primary Care / Medicines Management

Responsible To Practice Management Team / GP Partners

Responsible For Pharmacy Team and medicines optimisation activity within the practice

Salary Dependent on skills and experience

The Lead Pharmacist will provide clinical and professional leadership for medicines optimisation and medicines management within Giffords Surgery. The post holder will work as an autonomous clinical practitioner, using their specialist knowledge of medicines to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and the quality and effectiveness of prescribing. Working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary practice team, the Lead Pharmacist will provide expert advice and support to GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals, while developing and implementing systems and processes to support safe, effective and evidence-based medicines use.

The post holder will provide leadership to pharmacy colleagues within the practice and contribute to the development of the practice's medicines management strategy.

• Provide clinical leadership for medicines optimisation and prescribing within the practice.
• Undertake structured medication reviews and clinical medication reviews, particularly for patients with complex needs and long-term conditions.
• Assess patients' medication requirements and make appropriate clinical decisions within the scope of professional competence and prescribing authority.
• Support safe, effective, evidence-based and cost-effective prescribing.
• Identify, assess and manage medication-related risks and contribute to prescribing safety initiatives.
• Review hospital discharge summaries, outpatient correspondence and other clinical information to ensure appropriate and timely medication changes.
• Provide specialist advice to GPs, nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team regarding medicines, including interactions, contraindications, side effects, monitoring requirements and appropriate prescribing.
• Support the management and monitoring of high-risk medicines.
• Respond appropriately to prescribing alerts and safety information.
• Support the identification and management of patients requiring medication monitoring and follow-up.
• Promote adherence to national and local prescribing guidance and formularies.
• Contribute to the identification and management of patients requiring medicines optimisation interventions.

• Use independent prescribing skills appropriately within the scope of professional competence.
• Make clinically appropriate prescribing decisions based on patient assessment, clinical evidence, national guidance and local formulary requirements.
• Ensure prescribing decisions take account of patient preferences, risks, benefits and available treatment options.
• Recognise and act appropriately when a patient's clinical needs fall outside the post holder's scope of competence.

• Provide professional and clinical leadership to pharmacy colleagues working within the practice.
• Support the development, supervision and performance of pharmacy team members as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain effective systems for medicines management and medicines safety.
• Lead on the implementation and review of practice processes relating to prescribing and medicines optimisation.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of relevant practice policies, protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Work with the Practice Management Team and GP Partners to identify opportunities for service improvement.
• Support the practice in meeting relevant contractual, regulatory and medicines management requirements.
• Ensure that professional practice is undertaken in accordance with GPhC standards and relevant NHS and primary care requirements.

• Contribute to clinical audits relating to prescribing and medicines management.
• Lead or participate in quality improvement projects designed to improve medicines safety, prescribing quality and patient outcomes.
• Identify areas of clinical risk and implement appropriate actions to reduce risk.
• Monitor the effectiveness of medicines optimisation interventions and contribute to service evaluation.
• Contribute to significant event reviews, learning from incidents and other clinical governance processes where appropriate.
• Support the practice in responding to national medicines safety alerts and relevant local guidance.
• Maintain appropriate clinical documentation and records in accordance with practice policies and professional standards.

• Provide education and training to GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, administrative staff and other members of the practice team regarding medicines and prescribing where appropriate.
• Support colleagues to develop their knowledge and understanding of medicines safety and optimisation.
• Provide advice and…