Locality Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist
NHS AfC: Band 8a
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board has been established to support the wider health and social care needs of the population of Lincolnshire and will focus on delivering its agreed vision of ‘Better Lives for the people of Lincolnshire’.
This includes:
* Improving the health of children and young people.
* Supporting people to stay well and independent.
* Acting sooner to help those with preventable conditions.
* Supporting those with long-term conditions or mental health issues.
* Caring for those with multiple needs as populations age.
* Getting the best from collective resources so people get care as quickly as possible.
Job overview
The post holder will work as a member of the NHS Integrated Care Board, Medicines Optimisation Team, working with local PCNs and GP practices to improve the quality of prescribing, reduce unwarranted variation in prescribing across the Lincolnshire ICB area, and promote safe and cost-effective prescribing.
Although the post holder will be assigned to a particular geographical area, they will be expected to work collaboratively with other team members and across the health community as work programs require. The post holder will work as part of a dynamic team in delivering Medicines Optimisation across the health community, supporting managers and staff. There will also be an opportunity to lead on a specialist area on behalf of the Medicines Optimisation team and drive forward workstreams and guidelines relevant to this area.
This post involves working across the East of Lincolnshire and will require occasional travel within this geographical area, although we do also utilise Microsoft Teams and hybrid working. East Lincolnshire includes the following PCNs: Boston, East Lindsey, First Coastal and Meridian, comprising a total of 25 practices. We aim to visit each practice a minimum of once a year in person, as well as ad hoc visits when necessary. The team currently has one day a week working from Bridge House in Sleaford, although this may be subject to change in the future.
Main duties of the job
* Make contact with, build relationships with, and maintain regular contact with PCN Clinical Directors, PCN Managers, and PCN/practice-based pharmacy colleagues working within Lincolnshire.
* Take a lead role in upholding and maintaining regular prescribing forum meetings.
* Provide direction and facilitation for PCNs and practices to deliver the local medicines optimisation agenda and strategy.
* Deliver agreed prescribing education to prescribers where needed and ‘train the trainer’ education to PCN/practice-based pharmacy colleagues for delivery to prescribers and other healthcare professionals within their PCN/practice.
* Respond to medicines-related queries from prescribers, pharmacists, and other health and care workers and provide professional prescribing advice based on evidence-based medicine, national guidance, and local prescribing patterns.
* Analyse and interpret prescribing data to identify potential changes at PCN/practice level to optimise medicines use.
* Develop and undertake clinical audits related to prescribing to promote safe and effective medicines use where required.
* Conduct/participate in Structured Medication Reviews where needed to support PCN/practice staff that promote appropriate prescribing, reduce wastage, and support medicines optimisation.
Provide support for the Senior Medicines Optimisation Team personnel and deputise where necessary and appropriate.
Working for our organisation
NHS Lincolnshire ICB are working closely together to improve health and health services by commissioning services on behalf of the Lincolnshire area population, whilst contributing to wider improvements for this population.
The Medicines Optimisation Team in Lincolnshire ICB is a small and friendly team with a broad knowledge base drawn from a wide variety of different healthcare backgrounds. There are many exciting opportunities for staff joining this team, including contributing to the shape of the service as we continue to develop our roles.
The ICB will promote good governance and proper stewardship of public resources in pursuance of its goals and in meeting its statutory duties. Good corporate governance arrangements are critical to achieving the ICB’s objectives and system-wide financial sustainability.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* Engage with PCNs and GP practices to deliver the ICB medicines optimisation strategic objectives and priorities and to ensure that the pharmaceutical needs of the population are met.
* Lead on building a working network for PCN and practice-based pharmacy colleagues in the locality as a vehicle for supporting the coordinated delivery of the local medicines optimisation programme in PCNs and GP practices.
* Take an active part in building and maintaining Locality Prescribing Forum(s) (or equivalent) as a platform to promote and share good prescribing practice, significant prescribing news, and changes to policy, deliver some prescribing training/education, deal with local prescribing issues, and progress the delivery of the ICB/ICS medicines optimisation agenda.
* Identify PCNs and GP practices in the locality that require more support to deliver quality prescribing and the ICB medicines optimisation agenda and support them in finding solutions for delivery of this agenda.
* Provide timely expert evidence-based, safe, and cost-effective pharmaceutical advice, information, and support to stakeholders to deliver improved patient care strongly linked to national and local prescribing guidelines and policies.
* Contribute where required to the ICS medicines optimisation work programme design and delivery.
* Develop/maintain a pharmaceutical specialty in an identified clinical area/Long Term Condition relevant to primary care prescribing and act as the local subject matter expert in that field.
* Represent the Medicines Optimisation Team on and work collaboratively with other ICS work streams where pharmacy and prescribing is a significant factor or where a specific pharmacy or prescribing input is needed.
Further details about the duties and responsibilities of this role are provided in the attached job description.
Person specification
Essential & Desirable
* Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
* Pharmacist registered with the GPhC Diploma/MSc in Prescribing Sciences/Clinical Pharmacy/Pharmacy practice or equivalent clinical experience.
* Takes personal responsibility for Continuing Professional Development, as evidenced by portfolio.
* Uses reflective practice for personal and professional development.
* Experience in clinical setting.
* Experience of multidisciplinary working.
* Experience in training and education of both staff and other healthcare professionals.
* Experience of audit work.
* Experience of working with GPs.
* Experience of working with prescribing data.
* Experience of supervising others.
* Experience of evidence-based medicine and knows where to obtain relevant and up-to-date clinical and regulatory information.
* Able to critically analyse information and evidence and communicate the findings clearly in simple terms.
* Ability to be flexible and manage change in a complex and changing healthcare environment.
* Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills and ability to retrieve information from the Internet.
* Able to deliver key messages succinctly and professionally both verbally and in writing.
* Ability to plan and prioritise work with good organisational and time management skills.
* Takes responsibility for own actions, has a high degree of self-motivation, and is able to work on own initiative.
* Works with confidence, flexibility, and self-reliance. Able to work individually and as part of a team.
* Ability to develop and implement strategies and can demonstrate a disciplined approach to setting and achieving objectives.
* Able to work under pressure, prioritise effectively, and deal with frequent interruptions.
* Awareness of and commitment to the Clinical and Information Governance agendas.
* Can identify and manage risks and evaluate the quality of own work/service.
* Demonstrates good understanding of the legal, governance, and ethical framework within which pharmacists, GPs, and primary care organisations work.
* Broad clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge.
* Knowledge of NHS initiatives, policy, and developments and how they relate to pharmacy and medicines management.
* Strong record of excellent interpersonal, negotiating, influencing, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of healthcare professionals.
* Valid driving license and access to own transport.
* Diploma/MSc in Prescribing Sciences/Clinical Pharmacy/Pharmacy practice or equivalent clinical experience.
* Independent prescriber.
* Experience of working in both secondary care and community pharmacy.
* Previous primary care experience.
* Experience of working with external agencies such as the voluntary sector or social services.
* Experience of using and analysing epact.net and PACT data.
* Experience of managing others.
* Medicines information skills.
* Critical appraisal skills.
* Understanding of motivational theory and key behaviour influences on clinical professional behaviour.
All reference requests will be made to your employer/previous employers' HR Department, covering the previous 3 years of employment.
We actively promote equal opportunities and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible people regardless of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to undertake this commitment.
Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes. All staff with patient contact will need to have gained clearance through a standard or enhanced DBS check prior to working in these roles.
Please note interview expenses are not subsidised or reimbursed by this organisation.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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