Job summary Salary Available on Application 37 hours a week (Or 2 x 18.75 hours per week) Abersychan Group Practice are looking for a Pharmacist who could join our award winning team. This vacancy will enhance what we already have in place. We require a forward thinking pharmacist, who can dispense prescription medications and provide information to patients about the drugs and their use. The pharmacist would also advise physicians and other healthcare workers on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications to treat health problems. The pharmacist would be able to improve the quality and effectiveness of medicines management within the surgery Main duties of the job Reporting to the GP Partners, with a special link to our Prescribing Lead (Dr Eleri Roberts), alongside our experienced Prescribing Clerks and our Practice Manager. To improve the quality and effectiveness of medicines management within the surgery To provide patient focussed, prudent healthcare To promote medicines safety and review polypharmacy To develop the practice pharmacist role, becoming a core member of the practice team working effectively with other health and social care professionals delivering services to patients About us We are a Training Practice with four trainers. Busy practice covering the Abersychan area. We have a fantastic team of clinicians and staff. Currently 8 GP Partners, reducing to 7 at the end of March 2024, hence why this post has become available. We also have a Salaried GP. Abersychan Group Practice were the winners of the RCGP Wales (Patient Nominated) Practice of the Year 2017, for which we are very proud, and this is due to everyone within our team. We are hoping to recruit a Band 7 - Band 8a. The successful applicant can expect to be offered a salary of between £43,742 - £57,349 depending on experience and qualifications. Date posted 18 October 2024 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience Salary Available on Application Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working Reference number M0044-24-0315 Job locations Abersychan Group Practice Old Road Abersychan Pontypool Gwent NP4 7BH Job description Job responsibilities JOB PURPOSE: To improve the quality and effectiveness of medicines management within the surgery To provide patient focussed, prudent healthcare To promote medicines safety and review polypharmacy To develop the practice pharmacist role, becoming a core member of the practice team working effectively with other health and social care professionals delivering services to patients ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibility for leading and delivering a specialised pharmacy service to Abersychan Group Practice Patient Focused Roles For independent prescribers: To work as an independent prescriber As a registered independent non- medical prescriber to prescribe medicines for patients working within the LHB Policy for non-medical Prescribing and Medicines management Directorates local guidelines / procedure To ensure prescribing activities comply with legal requirements and GPhC guidance for non-medical prescribers. To monitor own prescribing activities and participate in the evaluation of this service development. Responsible for developing and managing systematic medication and polypharmacy reviews, which will take into account social and practical issues for the patient as well as clinical elements. To provide medicines optimisation in chronic disease management e.g. heart failure, diabetes, chronic pain management, AF, respiratory etc. To develop pharmaceutical care plans for individual patients as appropriate e.g. targeting those with frequent admissions/exacerbations/frail elderly etc. To undertake medicines reconciliation following admission or discharge and patient moving into/out of care homes and those newly registered with the practice, following up medication related issues with the patient or other professionals. Review and action appropriate recommendations from Medicines Use Reviews/Discharge Medication reviews identified by community pharmacists. To work autonomously in a variety of settings including practice-based clinics, care homes and patients own homes as appropriate to meet the needs of the patient. To develop triage systems to support treatment of minor ailments. To support public health and health promotion activities, including smoking cessation, administration of flu vaccinations and antibiotic campaigns To act as the liaison with Community Pharmacy and Secondary Care Pharmacists to resolve relevant medication issues. To resolve and action medication queries from practice staff and patients relating to prescription requests or problems identified through the repeat prescribing service. To have direct patient contact which may include dealing with occasionally distressing or emotional circumstances, including contact and terminally ill patients and their relatives or carers. To be accountable for own professional actions, in line with local, &national guidelines and medicines legislation Improving Medicines Management and Safety Responsibility to help develop, lead and deliver a specialised pharmacy service for the Practice and its patient population. To review clinical correspondence from secondary care to ensure recommendations to initiate new medicines adhere to the formulary and local guidance and take necessary action where appropriate. To deal with highly complex drug or medication related information including challenging prescribing behaviour not in line with health board or national recommendations. To review existing and develop new repeat prescribing policies including employing mechanisms to reduce medicines waste. To lead, develop and undertake clinical audit relating to medicines. To ensure appropriate management of controlled drugs within the practice and to advise the team on the safe and secure handling of controlled drugs and other medicines, ensuring compliance with medicines legislation. To lead on yellow card reporting by GP practices. To undertake medicines re-authorisations as part of the repeat prescribing system. To ensure safe, evidence based and cost-effective prescribing in accordance with national and locally agreed standards and priorities, e.g. implementation of NICE guidelines, All Wales Medicines Strategy Group recommendations and Safety Agency alerts and warnings. To target review of medicines known to cause a high number of adverse drug events and admissions e.g. opiates, hypnotics, anticoagulants, NSAIDs. To develop and implement policies to improve GP practice medicines management services e.g. establish clear recall systems to meet monitoring requirements for drugs. To investigate medicines related incidents to learn and improve practice within a culture of continuous improvement. To contribute to delivery of GMS Quality and Outcomes Framework, change to QAIF quality assurance and improvement framework. To contribute to/manage relevant enhanced services e.g. shared care drugs, anticoagulation. To make recommendations on prescribing choices, budget expenditure and risk management where appropriate, without detriment to patient care Education and Communication To provide professional and expert advice to GPs, nurses, practice staff and patients on all aspects of drug treatment (doses, monitoring, interactions, side effects etc.) To develop and provide expert clinical advice to clinical meetings including educational sessions for the practice staff. To explore and implement ways to effectively educate and involve patients regarding their medicines. To co-ordinate and develop appropriate and educational material including producing patient information leaflets and posters and run medicine awareness projects. To convey complex therapeutic and clinical information to GPs, practice staff, care providers, community pharmacists, unqualified healthcare workers and patients in a suitable manner and format Partnership Working To develop excellent professional links with relevant health and social care colleagues including community pharmacists, community resource and domiciliary care teams, care homes, carers, acute care colleagues etc. To network with other practice-based pharmacists to share best practise To work closely with health board medicines management teams to ensure awareness of local and national priorities and initiatives. To contribute to the delivery of Neighbourhood Care Network (NCN) and practice delivery plans Job description Job responsibilities JOB PURPOSE: To improve the quality and effectiveness of medicines management within the surgery To provide patient focussed, prudent healthcare To promote medicines safety and review polypharmacy To develop the practice pharmacist role, becoming a core member of the practice team working effectively with other health and social care professionals delivering services to patients ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibility for leading and delivering a specialised pharmacy service to Abersychan Group Practice Patient Focused Roles For independent prescribers: To work as an independent prescriber As a registered independent non- medical prescriber to prescribe medicines for patients working within the LHB Policy for non-medical Prescribing and Medicines management Directorates local guidelines / procedure To ensure prescribing activities comply with legal requirements and GPhC guidance for non-medical prescribers. To monitor own prescribing activities and participate in the evaluation of this service development. Responsible for developing and managing systematic medication and polypharmacy reviews, which will take into account social and practical issues for the patient as well as clinical elements. To provide medicines optimisation in chronic disease management e.g. heart failure, diabetes, chronic pain management, AF, respiratory etc. To develop pharmaceutical care plans for individual patients as appropriate e.g. targeting those with frequent admissions/exacerbations/frail elderly etc. To undertake medicines reconciliation following admission or discharge and patient moving into/out of care homes and those newly registered with the practice, following up medication related issues with the patient or other professionals. Review and action appropriate recommendations from Medicines Use Reviews/Discharge Medication reviews identified by community pharmacists. To work autonomously in a variety of settings including practice-based clinics, care homes and patients own homes as appropriate to meet the needs of the patient. To develop triage systems to support treatment of minor ailments. To support public health and health promotion activities, including smoking cessation, administration of flu vaccinations and antibiotic campaigns To act as the liaison with Community Pharmacy and Secondary Care Pharmacists to resolve relevant medication issues. To resolve and action medication queries from practice staff and patients relating to prescription requests or problems identified through the repeat prescribing service. To have direct patient contact which may include dealing with occasionally distressing or emotional circumstances, including contact and terminally ill patients and their relatives or carers. To be accountable for own professional actions, in line with local, &national guidelines and medicines legislation Improving Medicines Management and Safety Responsibility to help develop, lead and deliver a specialised pharmacy service for the Practice and its patient population. To review clinical correspondence from secondary care to ensure recommendations to initiate new medicines adhere to the formulary and local guidance and take necessary action where appropriate. To deal with highly complex drug or medication related information including challenging prescribing behaviour not in line with health board or national recommendations. To review existing and develop new repeat prescribing policies including employing mechanisms to reduce medicines waste. To lead, develop and undertake clinical audit relating to medicines. To ensure appropriate management of controlled drugs within the practice and to advise the team on the safe and secure handling of controlled drugs and other medicines, ensuring compliance with medicines legislation. To lead on yellow card reporting by GP practices. To undertake medicines re-authorisations as part of the repeat prescribing system. To ensure safe, evidence based and cost-effective prescribing in accordance with national and locally agreed standards and priorities, e.g. implementation of NICE guidelines, All Wales Medicines Strategy Group recommendations and Safety Agency alerts and warnings. To target review of medicines known to cause a high number of adverse drug events and admissions e.g. opiates, hypnotics, anticoagulants, NSAIDs. To develop and implement policies to improve GP practice medicines management services e.g. establish clear recall systems to meet monitoring requirements for drugs. To investigate medicines related incidents to learn and improve practice within a culture of continuous improvement. To contribute to delivery of GMS Quality and Outcomes Framework, change to QAIF quality assurance and improvement framework. To contribute to/manage relevant enhanced services e.g. shared care drugs, anticoagulation. To make recommendations on prescribing choices, budget expenditure and risk management where appropriate, without detriment to patient care Education and Communication To provide professional and expert advice to GPs, nurses, practice staff and patients on all aspects of drug treatment (doses, monitoring, interactions, side effects etc.) To develop and provide expert clinical advice to clinical meetings including educational sessions for the practice staff. To explore and implement ways to effectively educate and involve patients regarding their medicines. To co-ordinate and develop appropriate and educational material including producing patient information leaflets and posters and run medicine awareness projects. To convey complex therapeutic and clinical information to GPs, practice staff, care providers, community pharmacists, unqualified healthcare workers and patients in a suitable manner and format Partnership Working To develop excellent professional links with relevant health and social care colleagues including community pharmacists, community resource and domiciliary care teams, care homes, carers, acute care colleagues etc. To network with other practice-based pharmacists to share best practise To work closely with health board medicines management teams to ensure awareness of local and national priorities and initiatives. To contribute to the delivery of Neighbourhood Care Network (NCN) and practice delivery plans Person Specification Experience Essential Relevant post registration experience Medication review and patient counselling Experience of working with clinicians and multidisciplinary / multiagency work Experience of facilitating change to improve clinical practice Experience of delivering training sessions to varied groups Experience in undertaking clinical audits Desirable Experience of primary care role, working with GP Practices Experience in running clinics Qualifications Essential Master degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent Registered with GPhC Specialist knowledge through a Postgraduate Diploma and qualifications, or equivalent Evidence of recent and relevant Continuing Professional Development Desirable Member of RPS Independent Prescriber Status Member or working towards RPS Faculty membership Knowledge and Skills Essential Knowledge of issues regarding the protection of vulnerable adults, frail elderly and those with dementia (Safeguarding/POVA) Knowledge of medicines management issues across primary, acute and domiciliary care settings including strategies for the improvement of prescribing Understanding and appreciation of National & Local policies which impinge on primary care prescribing Understanding principles of clinical governance and how these apply to the broader agenda Understanding of personal health and safety responsibilities Understanding and adherence to the need for strict patient confidentiality High degree of self-motivation and ability to work on own initiative independently and in a multi-professional/ managerial team Ability to empower and motivate others Requirement to work with VDUs for prolonged periods Desirable Basic clinical examination on skills such as taking blood pressure Understanding of the current issues facing primary care teams e.g. GMS Contract, pharmacy contract An understanding of prescribing budgets and financial information Ability to speak Welsh Person Specification Experience Essential Relevant post registration experience Medication review and patient counselling Experience of working with clinicians and multidisciplinary / multiagency work Experience of facilitating change to improve clinical practice Experience of delivering training sessions to varied groups Experience in undertaking clinical audits Desirable Experience of primary care role, working with GP Practices Experience in running clinics Qualifications Essential Master degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent Registered with GPhC Specialist knowledge through a Postgraduate Diploma and qualifications, or equivalent Evidence of recent and relevant Continuing Professional Development Desirable Member of RPS Independent Prescriber Status Member or working towards RPS Faculty membership Knowledge and Skills Essential Knowledge of issues regarding the protection of vulnerable adults, frail elderly and those with dementia (Safeguarding/POVA) Knowledge of medicines management issues across primary, acute and domiciliary care settings including strategies for the improvement of prescribing Understanding and appreciation of National & Local policies which impinge on primary care prescribing Understanding principles of clinical governance and how these apply to the broader agenda Understanding of personal health and safety responsibilities Understanding and adherence to the need for strict patient confidentiality High degree of self-motivation and ability to work on own initiative independently and in a multi-professional/ managerial team Ability to empower and motivate others Requirement to work with VDUs for prolonged periods Desirable Basic clinical examination on skills such as taking blood pressure Understanding of the current issues facing primary care teams e.g. GMS Contract, pharmacy contract An understanding of prescribing budgets and financial information Ability to speak Welsh 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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 GP Practice in Wales Address Abersychan Group Practice Old Road Abersychan Pontypool Gwent NP4 7BH Employer's website https://gpwales.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)