About this role
Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced and proactive Clinical Pharmacist to join The Castle Practice on a full-time, permanent basis. The successful candidate must have demonstrable primary care experience in a GP practice or Primary Care Network (PCN) setting.
This is a hands-on clinical role designed to add meaningful capacity to the practice. You will work closely with our GPs and wider multidisciplinary team, with a particular focus on providing daily clinical pharmacy support to the Duty Doctor, managing medicines-related workload autonomously and helping patients receive safe, timely and effective care.
A key part of the role will be taking ownership of acute prescription requests and medication-related queries from patients, community pharmacies, reception and clinical colleagues. We are looking for a proactive problem-solver who will investigate and resolve issues within their scope of competence rather than routinely passing work back to the GP or reception team. Appropriate escalation to a GP will always be supported where clinically necessary.
The balance of work will vary according to practice demand. The successful candidate will therefore need to be flexible and comfortable moving between acute workload, long-term condition reviews, structured medication reviews, medicines optimisation and other clinical priorities.
Main duties of the job
Provide daily clinical pharmacy support to the Duty Doctor and wider practice team.Manage acute prescription requests and medication queries, including urgent supply issues, monitoring requirements and queries arising from hospital correspondence or transfer of care. Undertake long-term condition reviews and associated medication reviews, including appropriate monitoring and medication optimisation. Undertake structured clinical medication reviews, particularly for patients with complex polypharmacy, frailty, high-risk medicines or multiple long-term conditions, with a proactive focus on appropriate deprescribing and reduction of dependence-forming medicines, including controlled drugs and benzodiazepines, in partnership with patients and in line with clinical guidance. Support safe and efficient repeat prescribing, medicines reconciliation and discharge medication processes. Prescribe, initiate, stop or titrate medicines within scope of competence and in accordance with local and national guidance where appropriately qualified. Provide expert medicines advice to patients and members of the practice team. Identify recurring medicines-related problems or inefficient processes and proactively develop practical solutions with the practice team. Support medicines optimisation, prescribing safety, quality improvement, QOF and relevant enhanced service work. Work flexibly across clinical priorities according to day-to-day practice workload.
About us
The post holder will be supported by experienced GPs and will work as an integral member of the practice multidisciplinary team. We are looking for someone who wants to make a visible difference to patient care, prescribing safety and the day-to-day workload of general practice.
Job description Job responsibilities
Job Summary
The post holder must have demonstrable primary care experience in a GP practice or PCN setting.
The Clinical Pharmacist will act within their professional boundaries and work as an integral member of The Castle Practice multidisciplinary team, supported by experienced GPs.
The post holder will be expected to work autonomously, use professional judgement, prioritise competing demands and take responsibility for resolving clinical pharmacy queries within their competence.
Appropriate escalation to a GP or other clinician is expected where clinically necessary. However, the post holder should investigate and progress issues themselves and should not routinely return complex or time-consuming matters to GPs or reception simply because further work is required.
The post holder will take responsibility for appropriate areas of chronic disease management and undertake clinical medication reviews for patients with complex polypharmacy and other medicines related needs.
The post holder will contribute to medicines optimisation, prescribing safety, quality improvement, QOF and relevant enhanced services.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
GPhC registration and MPharm (or equivalent) Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience Demonstrable GP practice/PCN experience Independent prescribing qualification Experience of long-term condition management and medication reviews Experience managing acute prescription/medicines queries Strong primary care prescribing and medicines optimisation knowledge Autonomous, proactive problem-solving approach Ability to prioritise and work flexibly under pressure Excellent communication and multidisciplinary working
Desirable
Experience of audit, QOF or prescribing quality improvement CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway completed / exemption where applicable Experience of safe deprescribing, including controlled drugs and benzodiazepines
Experience Essential
MPharm degree or equivalent and current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Minimum two years post-qualification experience, with demonstrable experience in a GP practice or PCN setting. Independent prescribing qualification is highly desirable. Candidates with strong primary care experience who are working towards, or committed to gaining, the qualification may be considered. Experience and understanding of common acute presentations and long-term conditions encountered in general practice. Strong therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of evidence based healthcare and primary care prescribing. Ability to work autonomously, prioritise effectively, make decisions and take accountability for work within professional competence. A proactive problem solving approach, including willingness to investigate issues, liaise with other services and take work through to resolution rather than unnecessarily transferring it to another member of the team. Ability to recognise clinical risk, personal limitations and circumstances requiring escalation. Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, influencing and negotiation skills. Excellent IT skills and ability to obtain, interpret and act upon clinical and prescribing information. Ability to work effectively under pressure, adapt to changing priorities and contribute positively as a member of a multidisciplinary team. Self motivated, flexible and committed to continuous professional development.
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 The Castle Practice
Address 2 Hawthorne Road
Castle Bromwich
Birmingham
B36 0HH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.thecastlepractice.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)