KEY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY The focus of the post holders work will depend on the qualifications, skills, and experience of the individual and the needs of the practices within the PCN, both of which may change over time. Potential duties are therefore outlined below: Clinical Patient facing medicines support provide advice to patients requiring medication reviews and answer any questions, concerns or queries they have about their medicines. Undertake structured medication reviews (SMRs) with patients with multi-morbidity and polypharmacy and produce recommendations for GPs/nurses on prescribing and monitoring. Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients in care homes and produce recommendations for the GPs / nurses on prescribing and monitoring. Work with care home staff to improve the safety of medicines ordering and administration. Support patients with single or multiple medical problems where medicine optimisatin is required, Review the on-going need for each medicine and communicate with patients on safe and optimal use of their medications. Identify cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines through practice computer searches. Review the use of medicines most commonly associated with unplanned hospital admissions and readmissions through audit and individual patient reviews. Put in place changes to reduce the prescribing of these medicines to high-risk patient groups. Prescribing Support Answer relevant medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other network staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients with queries about medicines, suggesting and recommending solutions. Provide follow up for patients to monitor the effect of any changes. Audit and risk management undertake clinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the GPs and PCN team, feedback results and implement changes in conjunction with the relevant practice team. Medicines safety respond to MHRA alerts, product withdrawal, or other local/national guidance and implement changes where necessary. National, local and formulary recommendations Monitor practice prescribing against the local RAG list and make recommendations to GPs for medicines that should be prescribed by hospital doctors (red drugs) or subject to shared care (amber drugs). Undertake audits on practices compliance against NICE technology assessment guidance. Provide newsletters or bulletins on important prescribing messages. Medicines Management Repeat prescribing ensure patients repeat medications are effectively managed, identify review dates, and ensure that any monitoring requirements are in place. Hospital discharge Reconcile medicines following discharge from hospitals, intermediate care and into care Homes, including identifying and rectifying unexplained changes and working with patients and community pharmacists to ensure patients receive the medicines they need post discharge. Medicines waste -support efficient ordering and return processes to reduce medicines wastage. Practice Support Education and training provide education on therapeutics and medicines optimisation to other members of the Primary Care Network. Care Quality Commission (CQC) work with general practice teams to ensure that practices are compliant with CQC standards and assist with medicine-related compliance. Public Health support practices with public health campaigns and provide technical advice necessary. Support the PCN - to deliver on Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) and other nationally and locally commissioned initiatives. Health and Safety Comply with practice(s) Health and Safety policies at all times and report any incidents in a timely manner. Comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990). Comply with any necessary training requirements identified by the PCN relevant to the role. Equality and Diversity Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion etc. Patient Confidentiality Respect patient confidentiality at all times and do not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. Working conditions There will be a requirement for independent travel between practice sites and to patient homes, care homes or to meetings hosted by other parties.