Job summary You will be based at one of the 5 practices constituting the PCN, but will work for the PCN. You may be required to work at one of the other practices at some point, according to need and for your own development. You will be part of a team of 5 pharmacists and 2 pharmacy technicians, within an ARRS Team of 24. We are a supportive and collaborative PCN, working together to optimise our service to the patient, in collaboration with each other in the ARRS Team, and with the practices that constitute the PCN. We support CPPE and Independent Prescriber training, and our pharmacists also use their expertise to assist at various health information events for patients. Main duties of the job Provide services to patients registered at the PCN practices Medicines Information - general advice requests Pharmaceutical advice Repeat Prescriptions Provide support to our PCN sites and assist with prescribing and high-risk drug management audits as service requirements Use critical thinking and effective communication skills to accurately asset patient needs (establish the level of information required, their existing level of knowledge and other issues including social, cultural and economic factors) Prescribe appropriately (according to qualification) for patients requiring urgent prescriptions using access to summary care record information to ensure accurate re-prescribing Communicate information and pharmaceutical advice to callers in a clear and understandable manner, adapted to the needs of the individual Identify and appropriately action clinical risks for health and medicine queries in line with professional responsibility Identify child and adult protection issues arising from health and medicines information calls, and action these in line with protocols Record in a timely manner a true and accurate record of the information and advice given, and to complete an electronic record of the call event using the appropriate clinical system Actively access specialist information by using electronic databases e.g. BNF, ensuring accurate advice is given at all times. Actively communicate with colleagues to assist service delivery About us Overview of your organisation The five practices that constitute Anfield and Everton PCN are: Great Homer Street Medical Practice Islington House Medical Practice Mere Lane Group Practice Priory Medical Practice Townsend Medical Practice The PCN service also supports practices with pharmacy technicians, paramedics, care coordinators, social prescribers, first contact physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a mental health practitioner and a dietician, to enhance the primary care offer. Date posted 17 February 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number W0035-25-0003 Job locations Mere Lane Group Practice Mere Lane Neighbourhood Health Centre Mere Lane Liverpool L5 0QW Job description Job responsibilities You will be part of a group of PCN clinical pharmacists. You will benefit from direct mentoring with experienced GPs. You will have the opportunity to access and complete NHS England accredited training pathway (CPPE) that equips you to practice and prescribe safely and effectively in a primary care setting, if you have not already done so. Job Summary: To improve patients health outcomes and the efficiency of the Primary Care Network team by providing direct, accessible and timely clinical medicines expertise, working as part of a multidisciplinary practice team. To proactively transfer workload relating to medicines optimisation issues from other clinical staff to improve patient care and safety, thus freeing up those clinical staff to spend more time on other clinical care. To promote safe, evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing in line with local requirements. To provide expert pharmaceutical advice to practice staff and patients. To provide prescribing support in areas such as: Hospital discharge letters Face to Face medication reviews and follow up Implementation of prescribing changes Review of repeat prescribing Audit This role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies within the PCN, and so requires excellent motivation and passion to deliver a first class service on behalf of the PCN within a general practice environment. A. Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility Patient-facing long-term condition and medication review clinics See patients with single or multiple medical problems where medicines optimisation is required (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, heart failure), or where patients are prescribed large numbers of medicines or combinations with identifiable risks. Review the ongoing medicine plan for these patients, ensuring they get the best use of their medicines, and make appropriate recommendations to clinicians for medicine improvement Medicines support in person or by telephone Provide patient-facing clinics or telephone support for practice patients with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines. Medicine information to practice staff and patients Respond to medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients/carers with queries about medicines. Suggest and recommend solutions. Provide follow-up for patients to monitor the effect of any changes. Unplanned hospital admissions Provide targeted support and proactive review for vulnerable, complex patients and those at risk of admission and re-admission to secondary care. Management of medicines at discharge from hospital Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post discharge. Signposting Ensure that patients are referred in a timely manner to the appropriate healthcare professional for the appropriate level of care (e.g. pathology results, common/minor ailments, acute conditions, long term condition reviews etc.) Repeat prescribing Oversee repeat prescribing, repeat dispensing, electronic prescribing and medication review systems. Ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required. Risk stratification Identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines through pre-prepared practice computer searches. This might include risks that are patient related, medicine related, or both. Service development Contribute pharmaceutical advice for the development and implementation of new services that have medicinal components (e.g. advice on treatment pathways and patient information leaflets). Develop specialist area(s) of interest. Information management Analyse, interpret and present medicines data to highlight issues and risks, in order to support decision making. Medicines quality improvement Undertake simple audits of prescribing in areas directed by the GPs, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the practice team. Medicines safety Implement changes to medicines that result from MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and other local and national guidance. Implementation of local/national guidelines and formulary recommendations Agree and review prescribing formularies and protocols and monitor compliance levels. Cost Effectiveness Support the delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives Education and Training Provide education and training to primary healthcare team on therapeutics and medicines optimisation. Care Quality Commission Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved. Public health Support public health (including vaccination) campaigns. Provide specialist knowledge on all public health programmes available to the general public. B. Collaborative Working Relationships Proficient in communicating with relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. ICB) Recognise personal limitations, and scope boundaries, and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and PCN. Foster and maintain strong links with all local services, working collaboratively and sustainably across general practice, the PCN, the ICB (including, especially, the Medicines Management Team) and with community and hospital teams to benefit from peer support and ensure best Patient Care C. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required Knowledge of current NHS policies, processes and structures Understanding of the data protection act, GDPR and patient confidentiality, clinical governance, information governance and Caldicott requirements Ability to use GP systems - EMIS Web is desirable D. Leadership: Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and implement this appropriately within the workplace, as well as understanding and contributing to the workplace vision Promote diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example E. Education, Training and Development: Act as a role model to members in the team and/or service and be able to provide mentorship where applicable Apply self-development through continuous professional development activity; working alongside senior colleagues to identify areas to develop Participate in the delivery of formal education programmes for trainee pharmacists and undergraduate students F. Research and Evaluation: Critically evaluate and review literature, identifying where there is a gap in the evidence base to support practice Be proficient in providing evidence suitable for presentations at practice level Understand the principles of research governance and demonstrate ability to apply research evidence base into working place Support the practice agenda to expand the support of existing clinical trials G. Health and Safety/Risk Management The post-holder must always comply with PCN health and safety policies, and follow agreed safe working procedures, reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990) H. Equality and Diversity The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. I. Respect for Patient Confidentiality The post-holder should always respect patient confidentiality and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. J.Special Working Conditions The post-holder may have contact with body fluids i.e. wound exudates, urine etc. while in clinical practice. Job Description amendments This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended in line with PCN requirements. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties to maintain the efficient Job description Job responsibilities You will be part of a group of PCN clinical pharmacists. You will benefit from direct mentoring with experienced GPs. You will have the opportunity to access and complete NHS England accredited training pathway (CPPE) that equips you to practice and prescribe safely and effectively in a primary care setting, if you have not already done so. Job Summary: To improve patients health outcomes and the efficiency of the Primary Care Network team by providing direct, accessible and timely clinical medicines expertise, working as part of a multidisciplinary practice team. To proactively transfer workload relating to medicines optimisation issues from other clinical staff to improve patient care and safety, thus freeing up those clinical staff to spend more time on other clinical care. To promote safe, evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing in line with local requirements. To provide expert pharmaceutical advice to practice staff and patients. To provide prescribing support in areas such as: Hospital discharge letters Face to Face medication reviews and follow up Implementation of prescribing changes Review of repeat prescribing Audit This role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies within the PCN, and so requires excellent motivation and passion to deliver a first class service on behalf of the PCN within a general practice environment. A. Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility Patient-facing long-term condition and medication review clinics See patients with single or multiple medical problems where medicines optimisation is required (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, heart failure), or where patients are prescribed large numbers of medicines or combinations with identifiable risks. Review the ongoing medicine plan for these patients, ensuring they get the best use of their medicines, and make appropriate recommendations to clinicians for medicine improvement Medicines support in person or by telephone Provide patient-facing clinics or telephone support for practice patients with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines. Medicine information to practice staff and patients Respond to medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients/carers with queries about medicines. Suggest and recommend solutions. Provide follow-up for patients to monitor the effect of any changes. Unplanned hospital admissions Provide targeted support and proactive review for vulnerable, complex patients and those at risk of admission and re-admission to secondary care. Management of medicines at discharge from hospital Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care homes, working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post discharge. Signposting Ensure that patients are referred in a timely manner to the appropriate healthcare professional for the appropriate level of care (e.g. pathology results, common/minor ailments, acute conditions, long term condition reviews etc.) Repeat prescribing Oversee repeat prescribing, repeat dispensing, electronic prescribing and medication review systems. Ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required. Risk stratification Identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines through pre-prepared practice computer searches. This might include risks that are patient related, medicine related, or both. Service development Contribute pharmaceutical advice for the development and implementation of new services that have medicinal components (e.g. advice on treatment pathways and patient information leaflets). Develop specialist area(s) of interest. Information management Analyse, interpret and present medicines data to highlight issues and risks, in order to support decision making. Medicines quality improvement Undertake simple audits of prescribing in areas directed by the GPs, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the practice team. Medicines safety Implement changes to medicines that result from MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and other local and national guidance. Implementation of local/national guidelines and formulary recommendations Agree and review prescribing formularies and protocols and monitor compliance levels. Cost Effectiveness Support the delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives Education and Training Provide education and training to primary healthcare team on therapeutics and medicines optimisation. Care Quality Commission Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved. Public health Support public health (including vaccination) campaigns. Provide specialist knowledge on all public health programmes available to the general public. B. Collaborative Working Relationships Proficient in communicating with relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. ICB) Recognise personal limitations, and scope boundaries, and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and PCN. Foster and maintain strong links with all local services, working collaboratively and sustainably across general practice, the PCN, the ICB (including, especially, the Medicines Management Team) and with community and hospital teams to benefit from peer support and ensure best Patient Care C. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required Knowledge of current NHS policies, processes and structures Understanding of the data protection act, GDPR and patient confidentiality, clinical governance, information governance and Caldicott requirements Ability to use GP systems - EMIS Web is desirable D. Leadership: Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and implement this appropriately within the workplace, as well as understanding and contributing to the workplace vision Promote diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example E. Education, Training and Development: Act as a role model to members in the team and/or service and be able to provide mentorship where applicable Apply self-development through continuous professional development activity; working alongside senior colleagues to identify areas to develop Participate in the delivery of formal education programmes for trainee pharmacists and undergraduate students F. Research and Evaluation: Critically evaluate and review literature, identifying where there is a gap in the evidence base to support practice Be proficient in providing evidence suitable for presentations at practice level Understand the principles of research governance and demonstrate ability to apply research evidence base into working place Support the practice agenda to expand the support of existing clinical trials G. Health and Safety/Risk Management The post-holder must always comply with PCN health and safety policies, and follow agreed safe working procedures, reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990) H. Equality and Diversity The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. I. Respect for Patient Confidentiality The post-holder should always respect patient confidentiality and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. J.Special Working Conditions The post-holder may have contact with body fluids i.e. wound exudates, urine etc. while in clinical practice. Job Description amendments This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended in line with PCN requirements. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties to maintain the efficient Person Specification Qualifications Essential Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations, e.g. CCGs) Can recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure, ensuring deadlines are met High level of written and oral communication skills Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety Must be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council Will undertake or can demonstrate exemption from CPPEs Primary Care Pharmacy Education Programme Hold, be working towards, or willing to complete an independent prescribing qualification Demonstrates an understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice. Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management Experience and awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-terms conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients) Recognise priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern, knowing when to escalate Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities Be able to work well independently and as a team member An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports Able to plan, manage, monitor and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions Adaptable Self motivating Safeguarding and other mandatory training Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality when required, including to visit people in their own homes Desirable Membership of Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA) Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams community groups Basic life support training Person Specification Qualifications Essential Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations, e.g. CCGs) Can recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure, ensuring deadlines are met High level of written and oral communication skills Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety Must be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council Will undertake or can demonstrate exemption from CPPEs Primary Care Pharmacy Education Programme Hold, be working towards, or willing to complete an independent prescribing qualification Demonstrates an understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice. Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management Experience and awareness of the breadth of common acute and long-terms conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice In depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences (e.g. patients) Recognise priorities when problem solving and identifies deviations from the normal pattern, knowing when to escalate Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities Be able to work well independently and as a team member An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing, concepts of rational prescribing and strategies for improving prescribing Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports Able to plan, manage, monitor and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term conditions Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions Adaptable Self motivating Safeguarding and other mandatory training Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality when required, including to visit people in their own homes Desirable Membership of Primary Care Pharmacy Association (PCPA) Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital pharmacy teams community groups Basic life support training Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Anfield and Everton Primary Care Network Address Mere Lane Group Practice Mere Lane Neighbourhood Health Centre Mere Lane Liverpool L5 0QW Employer's website https://www.anfieldandevertonpcn.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)