About this role
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Clinical Pharmacist to join Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network on a 12-month fixed-term contract to provide maternity cover.
Working across our member GP practices, you will be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, providing patient-facing clinical pharmacy services and helping to improve the safe, effective and person-centred use of medicines.
The role will include Structured Medication Reviews, medicines optimisation, medicines reconciliation, support for patients with complex polypharmacy and long-term condition management. Experience in areas such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and lipid management would be particularly desirable.
You will work closely with GPs, practice teams, community pharmacy, care homes and secondary care colleagues, contributing to high-quality clinical care across the PCN.
This is an excellent opportunity for a pharmacist with strong clinical skills who enjoys autonomous patient-facing work and collaborative working within primary care.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide a patient-facing clinical pharmacy service across Jurassic Coast PCN practices, working closely with GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team.
Main duties will include undertaking clinical medication reviews and Structured Medication Reviews, medicines optimisation, medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge and supporting patients with complex polypharmacy.
The role will also include supporting long-term condition management, including areas such as hypertension, lipid management and type 2 diabetes, where this falls within the post holders competence and scope of practice.
The Clinical Pharmacist will provide medicines advice to patients and healthcare professionals, support safer prescribing, contribute to medicines-related quality improvement and audit work, and help implement local and national guidance.
They will also work collaboratively with community pharmacy, care homes, secondary care and other local healthcare services to support safe and effective use of medicines across the PCN.
About us
Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network (PCN) is a group of GP practices based in rural West Dorset, working together to provide high-quality, personalised healthcare to the local community. The PCN includes a mix of healthcare professionals like social prescribers, clinical pharmacists, care coordinators, and admin staff. These teams work across several hubs in the area to make sure everyone can access the care they need.
The PCN prides itself on being supportive and inclusive, with a real focus on staff well-being as a key part of delivering great patient care. Its built on values like respect, attention to detail, active listening, openness, empowering patients, and always learning and improving.
People who work there often describe it as fast-paced, lively, and caring. There's a real sense of teamwork and making a difference to the lives of local patients, with the beautiful surroundings of the Jurassic Coast providing an added bonus.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please include supporting information along with your CV when submitting your application
We are looking for an experienced Clinical Pharmacist to join Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network on a 12-month fixed-term contract to provide maternity cover.
The post holder will work directly with multidisciplinary teams across our member GP practices to improve clinical effectiveness and person-centred outcomes, supporting GPs and other healthcare professionals to improve patient care through the rational and safe use of medicines.
The role will include both face-to-face and remote patient contact, alongside liaison with colleagues in community pharmacy, care homes, secondary care and other health and social care services.
The successful candidate will work as part of the wider PCN pharmacy and multidisciplinary team, delivering a broad range of clinical pharmacy services including medicines optimisation, structured medication reviews, long-term condition management, medicines reconciliation, medicines safety and support for patients with complex polypharmacy.
A key element of the role will be supporting patients with long-term conditions. The post holder will hold long-term condition clinics and, where appropriately qualified and working within their scope of competence, make adjustments to treatment regimens. Experience in areas including type 2 diabetes, lipid management and hypertension would be particularly desirable.
Key responsibilities will include:
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team within primary care and providing a patient-facing clinical pharmacy service.
Undertaking clinical medication reviews and Structured Medication Reviews for patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy.
Implementing prescribing changes, where appropriately qualified and within scope of practice, and arranging relevant monitoring.
Supporting long-term condition clinics, including medicines optimisation for conditions such as hypertension, lipid disorders and diabetes.
Reconciling medicines following discharge from hospital, intermediate care and care homes, identifying and resolving discrepancies and supporting continuity of medicines supply.
Supporting patients with questions, concerns and queries regarding their medicines.
Working with patients, GPs and other healthcare professionals to minimise medicines-related risk and reduce avoidable harm.
Supporting the identification and management of patients at increased risk of unplanned hospital admission or medicines-related harm.
Undertaking care home medication reviews and supporting medicines optimisation for care home residents.
Contributing to the development and delivery of medicines optimisation, prescribing quality improvement and clinical pharmacy work across the PCN.
Analysing and interpreting medicines data to identify risks, opportunities and areas for improvement.
Supporting the implementation of local and national medicines guidance, formulary recommendations and medicines safety alerts.
Supporting practices with medicines-related aspects of CQC compliance.
Contributing to audit, quality improvement and service development.
Providing medicines information and advice to GPs, practice staff, patients and other healthcare professionals.
Supporting delivery of relevant medicines optimisation, Network Contract DES, Investment and Impact Fund and QOF requirements.
Providing education and training on therapeutics and medicines optimisation where appropriate.
Working collaboratively with community pharmacy, secondary care, the Integrated Care Board and other local healthcare providers.
Maintaining accurate and contemporaneous patient records following consultations and telephone contacts.
Maintaining professional registration and keeping clinical knowledge and professional competence up to date.
Working autonomously within professional boundaries and scope of competence while contributing effectively as part of the wider PCN team.
The role requires excellent clinical knowledge, strong communication skills and the ability to manage an autonomous clinical workload across a number of primary care settings.
The successful candidate will be a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council and will have strong therapeutic and clinical knowledge. An Independent Prescribing qualification, or relevant prescribing experience, is highly desirable.
Experience of working in primary care or general practice would be beneficial, alongside experience of medicines optimisation, clinical medication review and long-term condition management. Experience of supporting the management of type 2 diabetes would be particularly desirable but is not essential.
The post holder will be required to travel between Jurassic Coast PCN member practices, including Barton House Medical Practice, Ammonite Healthcare Partnership and Lyme Bay Medical Practice.
Contract: 12-month fixed-term maternity cover Hours: 37.5 hours per week Location: Jurassic Coast PCN member practices
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Relevant post-qualification experience as a pharmacist. Experience of providing patient-facing clinical pharmacy services. Experience of undertaking clinical medication reviews and medicines optimisation. Experience of managing patients with polypharmacy and/or multiple long-term conditions. Experience of working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Experience of providing clinical medicines advice to patients and healthcare professionals. Experience of applying evidence-based practice and medicines guidance in a clinical setting. Experience of managing and prioritising an autonomous clinical workload.
Desirable
Experience of working within primary care or general practice. Experience of undertaking Structured Medication Reviews. Experience of long-term condition management. Experience of supporting the management of patients with type 2 diabetes. Experience of hypertension and/or lipid management. Experience of medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge. Experience of medicines optimisation within care homes. Experience of audit, quality improvement or service development. Experience of working with local formulary guidance, QOF, DES or other primary care contractual requirements.
Professional Registration Essential
Mandatory registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Desirable
Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. A member of or working towards Faculty membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Qualifications Essential
Masters degree in pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent. Independent prescriber or working towards/intent of gaining an independent prescribing qualification.
Desirable
Specialist knowledge acquired through postgraduate diploma level or equivalent training/experience. Have completed or working towards completion of a SOAP Award for CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway or equivalent (e.g. MOCH, Pharmacists in GP Practice)
Knowledge and Skills Essential
In-depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge, with an understanding of evidence-based healthcare. Good understanding of medicines optimisation and safe, effective prescribing. Knowledge of primary care prescribing and the principles of rational prescribing. Ability to plan, manage, monitor, advise on and review medicines optimisation for patients with long-term conditions. Ability to interpret and apply relevant national and local clinical guidance. Ability to obtain, analyse and interpret complex clinical and medicines information. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate complex or sensitive information clearly to patients and healthcare professionals. Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with a range of professionals and services. Ability to work independently, use professional judgement and recognise when escalation or referral is required. Ability to prioritise workload and work effectively under pressure. Good IT skills and ability to maintain accurate clinical records. Understanding of professional accountability, confidentiality, information governance and data protection.
Desirable
Knowledge of primary care contractual frameworks, including QOF and the Network Contract DES. Knowledge of local and national formulary guidance and shared care arrangements. Knowledge of medicines safety processes, including MHRA/CAS alerts. Knowledge of clinical audit and quality improvement methodology. Knowledge of medicines optimisation within care homes and for patients with complex polypharmacy. Knowledge of long-term condition management, particularly type 2 diabetes, hypertension and lipid management. Familiarity with primary care clinical systems. Ability to analyse and present medicines-related data to support service improvement. Training or facilitation skills, including the ability to provide medicines-related education to colleagues.
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 Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network
Address West Allington
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 5BN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.jurassiccoastpcn.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)