About this role
Job summary
We are recruiting an experienced Clinical Pharmacist to join North Sedgemoor PCN. This is a permanent role for an independent prescriber with at least 12 months of post-prescribing experience, who will work across our practices and as part of a multi-disciplinary team based in our Clinical Hub.
You will provide strategic leadership for medicines optimisation, manage a team of pharmacy professionals, and deliver high-level clinical services across General Practice.You will lead on safety, quality improvement, and clinical governance to meet local and national PCN objectives.
You will take responsibility for areas of long term condition management, undertake structured medication reviews, and lead on medicines optimisation and safety. You will also support patients in care homes, contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, and provide clinical leadership on prescribing and quality improvement.
This is a role for someone who enjoys autonomy, professional responsibility and variety. You will lead an established pharmacy team that includes pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, with opportunities for further development and leadership.
Main duties of the job
Clinical Leadership & Strategy: Develop and implement medicines management strategies, lead on QOF (Quality and Outcomes Framework) and IIF (Investment and Impact Fund) targets, and ensure compliance with MHRA alerts and safety standards. Clinical Excellence: Conduct complex Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs), manage long-term conditions, and handle medicines reconciliation upon transfer of care. Team Management & Development: Line manage pharmacy technicians and clinical pharmacists, providing mentorship, clinical supervision, and professional development opportunities. Quality Improvement: Lead audits, improve prescribing efficiency, and reduce clinical risk. System Liaison:Act as the key contact between GP practices, community pharmacies, and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to optimize patient care pathways.
About us
North Sedgemoor PCN is a collaboration of five GP practices caring for around 50,000 across Burnham on Sea, Berrow, Highbridge, Cheddar, Brent and Axbridge. We are clinically led and community focused, with a strong track record of working together to improve services for our population.
Our pharmacy service is well established and central to the way we deliver safe and effective primary care. Alongside the Clinical Director, you will be leading an experienced team of Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians. The team is highly regarded across the network, supporting prescribing, medicines optimisation, long term condition management and patient safety.
We offer a supportive, professional environment where you will be able to develop your skills further, share learning with colleagues, and play a key role in shaping the quality of prescribing across the network. You will also benefit from NHS pension, generous annual leave, wellbeing resources and the opportunity to work in a team where your contribution is recognised and valued.
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical:
Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with complex polypharmacy, long term conditions and frailty.
Prescribe safely and appropriately within scope of competence, with at least 12 months post-prescribing experience.
Support Enhanced Health in Care Homes, including medicines reviews and participation in ward rounds.
Reconcile medicines after hospital discharge and support safe transfer of care.
Provide specialist medicines advice to GPs, nurses, allied health professionals and patients.
Implement national and local medicines guidance, formulary recommendations and safety alerts (e.g. MHRA).
Contribute to long term condition management, including optimisation of prescribing for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and respiratory disease.
Leadership:
Lead a team of Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians and demonstrate the characteristics of a role model to members in the team providing support to team members and ensure there is appropriate clinical supervision in place for all pharmacists. Undertake clinical supervision and systematic peer caseload review of colleagues on an individual or group basis. Ensure all pharmacists are engaged with the review and appraisal systems within the PCN. Act as a role model demonstrating effective clinical leadership on a daily basis and promote the behaviours of being proactive positive respectful supportive reliable and trustworthy. Conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan with supervision from a more experienced colleague. Provide clinical leadership in medicines optimisation across the practice/PCN. Contribute to the development and implementation of services involving medicines e g treatment pathways. Analyse and present prescribing data to inform decision-making and improve safety. Participate in local medicines management groups or committees as needed. Prescribing and Medicines Management:
Act on acute and repeat prescription requests ensuring appropriate authorisation monitoring and safety. Reconcile medications following discharge from hospitals care homes or intermediate care identifying discrepancies and ensuring continuity. Analyse use of high-risk medicines linked to unplanned admissions and implement prescribing changes to reduce risk. Monitor and action prescribing alerts from the MHRA local medicines optimisation teams or formulary updates. Implement and audit practice compliance with local/national prescribing guidelines and NICE technology appraisals.Medicines optimisation and governance:
Identify patients at risk of medicine-related harm using clinical systems and data analysis tools. Carry out clinical audits and quality improvement projects in priority prescribing areas. Provide advice and input into practice-level formulary decisions and maintain formulary compliance. Develop and implement repeat prescribing policies, protocols and standard operating procedures,including managing reauthorisations and monitoring test requirements. Lead on prescribing safety and quality improvement initiatives across the PCN.
Contribute to achievement of prescribing elements of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and Enhanced Services.
Promote cost-effective, evidence-based prescribing across the network.
Multi-disciplinary working:
Participate in multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings, including those focused on complex patients and care home residents.
Support case management discussions by providing medicines expertise.
Work closely with pharmacy technicians and support their development where appropriate.
Education and Training:
Deliver education and training sessions to practice staff on therapeutics prescribing safety and medicines optimisation. Promote a learning culture around prescribing and medicines use within the PCN.Professional development and supervision:
Maintain up to date continuing professional development in line with GPhC requirements.
Participate in peer support, supervision and regular appraisal with the Lead Clinical Pharmacist.
Engage in learning opportunities within the PCN and wider system.
Care Quality Commission CQC and Governance:
Support practices in meeting CQC requirements where medicines and prescribing are involved. Ensure adherence to best practice and governance standards related to medicines use and storage.Public Health and Prevention:
Support national and local public health campaigns e g vaccinations smoking cessation. Provide expert advice on public health initiatives relevant to medicines and therapeutic interventions.Signposting and Integration:
Ensure patients are referred to the appropriate healthcare professional or service in a timely and effective manner. Foster strong links between general practice community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy teams to ensure cohesive care and efficient skill mix utilisation.General responsibilities:
Work across practices in Burnham on Sea, Brent, Highbridge, Cheddar and Axbridge, with travel between sites as required.
Uphold all PCN and practice policies including confidentiality, information governance, safeguarding, equality and diversity, infection prevention and control and health and safety.
To act at all times in an anti-discriminatory manner. To be able to plan and respond to workload according to operational priorities. To support the delivery of these functions across wider locality areas where necessary. To undertake any training required in order to maintain competency including mandatory training. To contribute to and work within a safe working environment. To take responsibility for self-development on a continuous basis undertaking on the-job training as required. To be aware of individual responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act and identify and report as necessary any untoward accident incident or potentially hazardous environment.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Strong leadership, communication and analytical skills and experience of managing and leading a team. Enthusiasm to join and develop a fantastic pharmacy team in a dynamic forward thinking PCN. Experience in medicines optimisation, audit, governance and service development. Proficient IT skills including. Minimum of two years experience as a pharmacist. Evidence of clinical medication review and managing patients with long term conditions. Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
Desirable
Experience in primary care or community settings. Experience with Clinical Systems such as EMIS and medicines safety systems.
Qualifications Essential
Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council GPhC. Independent Prescriber. MPharm or equivalent with postgraduate clinical qualification.
Desirable
Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience including advanced practice in primary care and completion of the CPPE Primary Care Pathway. A qualification in Leadership.
Knowledge & Skills Essential
Strong knowledge of medicines optimisation and prescribing safety. Ability to interpret and apply national and local guidance to clinical practice. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate. Competence in IT systems, including clinical systems and Microsoft Office. Ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in practice.
Other Requirements Essential
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes Ability to travel routinely across Burnham on Sea, Berrow, Highbridge, Brent, Cheddar and Axbridge Right to work in the United Kingdom
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 North Sedgemoor PCN
Address Axbridge & Wedmore Medical Practice
The Surgery, Houlgate Way,
Axbridge,
Somerset
BS26 2BJ