Job description

Job responsibilities

Key duties and responsibilities

Patient facing Long term condition clinics

See (where appropriate) patients with single or multiple medical problems where medicine optimisation is required (e.g. COPD, asthma)

Review the on-going need for each medicine, a review of monitoring needs and an opportunity to support patients with their medicines taking ensuring they get the best use of their medicines (i.e. medicines optimisation)

Make appropriate recommendations to GPs for medicine improvement.

Patient facing Clinical Medication Review

Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients and produce recommendations on prescribing and monitoring.

Patient facing care home medication reviews

Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients and produce recommendations on prescribing and monitoring. Work with care home staff to improve safety of medicines ordering and administration.

Patient facing domiciliary clinical medication review

Undertake clinical medication reviews with patients and produce recommendations on prescribing and monitoring. Attend and refer patients to multidisciplinary case conferences.

Management of common/minor/self limiting ailments

Managing caseload of patients with common/minor/self-limiting ailments while working within a scope of practice and limits of competence

Signposting to community pharmacy and referring to GPs or other healthcare professionals where appropriate.

Patient facing medicines support

Provide patient facing clinics for those with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines in the practice.

Telephone medicines support

Provide a telephone help line for patients with questions, queries and concerns about their medicines.

Medicine information to practice staff and patients

Answers relevant medicine-related enquiries from GPs, other practice staff, other healthcare teams (e.g. community pharmacy) and patients with queries about medicines

Suggesting and recommending solutions

Providing follow up for patients to monitor the effect of any changes.

Unplanned hospital admissions

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 highrisk patient groups.

Management of medicines at discharge from hospital

To 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

Set up and manage systems to ensure continuity of medicines supply to highrisk groups of patients (e.g. those with medicine compliance aids or those in care homes).

Signposting

Ensure that patients are referred to the appropriate healthcare professional for the appropriate level of care within an appropriate period of time e.g. pathology results, common/minor ailments, acute conditions, long term condition reviews etc.

Repeat prescribing

Manage the repeat prescribing reauthorisation process by reviewing patient requests for repeat prescriptions and reviewing medicines reaching review dates and flagging up those needing a review

Ensure patients have appropriate monitoring tests in place when required.

Risk stratification

Identification of cohorts of patients at high risk of harm from medicines through pre-prepared practice computer searches. This might include risks that are patient related, medicine related, or both.

Service development

Contribute pharmaceutical advice for the development and implementation of new services that have medicinal components (e.g. advice on treatment pathways and patient information leaflets).

Information management

Analyse, interpret and present medicines data to highlight issues and risks to support decision making.

Medicines quality improvement

Undertake clinical audits of prescribing in areas directed by the GPs, feedback the results and implement changes in conjunction with the practice team.

Medicines safety

Implement changes to medicines that result from MHRA alerts, product withdrawal and other local and national guidance.

Implementation of local and national guidelines and formulary recommendations

Monitor practice prescribing against the local health economys 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)

Assist practices in seeing and maintaining a practice formulary that is hosted on the practices computer system

Auditing practices compliance against NICE technology assessment guidance

Provide newsletters or bulletins on important prescribing messages.

Education and Training

Provide education and training to primary healthcare team on therapeutics and medicines optimisation.

Care Quality Commission

Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved.

Public health

To support public health campaigns

To provide specialist knowledge on all public health programmes available to the general public.

Collaborative Working Relationships

Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care

Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. CCGs)

Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team

Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary

Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality

Foster and maintain strong links with all services across locality

Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and

sustain such relationships

Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital

pharmacy teams

Liaises with CCG colleagues including CCG Pharmacists on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit

Liaises with CCG pharmacists and Heads of Medicines Management/ Optimisation to benefit from peer support

Liaises with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients including but not limited to Patients GP, nurses and other practice staff

Other healthcare professionals including CCG pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, optometrists, dentists, health and social care teams and dieticians etc.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Minimum of 2 years experience as a pharmacist
• Have experience and an awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice
• Hold an independent prescribing qualification
• Recognises priorities when problem-solving and identifies deviations from normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate
• Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE guidelines. NB: it is anticipated level of qualification held may vary according to the level of position and the components of the role being carried out.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Leadership:
• Demonstrate understanding of the pharmacy role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace
• Demonstrate understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision
• Engages with Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) and involves PPGs in development of the role and practices
• Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service reviews yearly progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others
• Demonstrate ability to motivate self to achieve goals
• Promotes diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example.
• Management:
• Demonstrate understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team
• and/or service
• Demonstrate understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation
• Demonstrate understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice
• Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol
• Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management
• Demonstrate ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team.
• Education, Training and Development:
• Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service
• Demonstrates understanding of the mentorship process
• Demonstrates ability to conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan with supervision from more experience colleague
• Demonstrates self-development through continuous professional development activity; working alongside senior clinical pharmacist to identifying areas to develop
• Participates in the delivery of formal education programmes
• Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice
• Ensures appropriate clinical supervision is in place to support development.
• Research and Evaluation:
• Demonstrates ability to critically evaluate and review literature
• Demonstrates ability to identify where there is a gap in the evidence base to support practice
• Demonstrates ability to generate evidence suitable for presentations at practice and local level
• Demonstrates ability to apply research evidence base into working place
• Demonstrates understanding of principles of research governance.
• Health and Safety/Risk Management:
• The post-holder must comply at all times with the Practices Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System
• The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).
• Equality and Diversity:
• The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
• Respect for Patient Confidentiality:
• The post-holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

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

Blue PCN

Address

Bugbrooke Medical Centre

Levitts Road

NORTHAMPTON

NN7 3QN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://bluepcn.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Keeping the practice running

• Maintain oversight of day-to-day activity across the practice.
• Coordinate the operational response to staffing, workload, capacity or service pressures.
• Ensure agreed procedures are followed consistently.
• Resolve operational problems promptly, escalating significant concerns when required.
• Support the implementation of new systems, services and ways of working.
• Coordinate with clinical colleagues to ensure services are organised safely and efficiently.
• Provide operational updates and management information to the Practice Manager and GP Partners.

Leading and supporting our staff

• Provide clear, supportive and visible leadership to reception and administrative staff.
• Coordinate staffing levels, rotas, annual leave and day-to-day cover.
• Allocate work appropriately and monitor workload across non-clinical teams.
• Support recruitment, shortlisting, interviews and appointment processes.
• Coordinate induction and onboarding for new non-clinical employees.
• Hold regular team and individual meetings where appropriate.
• Support staff development, supervision and performance management.
• Monitor attendance and support the management of sickness absence.
• Identify training needs and monitor completion of mandatory training.
• Encourage open communication and effective teamwork across the practice.
• Patient access and service capacity

• Monitor patient access, appointment use, demand and available capacity.
• Work with clinical and administrative colleagues to make effective use of appointments.
• Identify recurring access difficulties and help develop workable solutions.
• Support the coordination of additional clinical capacity when required.
• Review patient pathways and administrative processes to reduce unnecessary delays.
• Monitor the effect of operational changes on patients and staff.
• Patient experience and complaints

• Promote a courteous, consistent and patient-focused approach across the practice.
• Coordinate the management of complaints, concerns, comments and compliments.
• Ensure complaints are acknowledged, investigated and responded to within appropriate timescales.
• Work with relevant staff to establish facts and prepare clear draft responses.
• Maintain accurate complaint records and monitor actions arising from investigations.

• Safeguarding

  Safeguarding is the responsibility of every member of the practice team. The Operational Manager will oversee the non-clinical systems that support effective safeguarding arrangements, working closely with the practices designated clinical safeguarding leads.

  Responsibilities will include:

  • Ensuring that staff understand how to recognise, record and escalate safeguarding concerns.
  • Making safeguarding procedures and escalation routes clear and accessible.
  • Monitoring staff safeguarding training and ensuring it remains appropriate to each persons role.
  • Including safeguarding responsibilities within staff induction.
  • Maintaining relevant safeguarding policies, procedures and administrative systems.
  • Coordinating the administrative arrangements for safeguarding meetings, audits and reviews.
  • Monitoring agreed actions and ensuring these are followed up.
  • Ensuring safeguarding correspondence and requests for information are directed promptly to the appropriate clinician.
  • Supporting secure and accurate record-keeping.
  • Liaising appropriately with health, education, social care and other safeguarding agencies.
  • Escalating urgent, unresolved or significant concerns to the appropriate safeguarding lead, Practice Manager or GP Partner.
  • Supporting learning and improvement following safeguarding incidents, audits or reviews.

  Clinical safeguarding decisions and accountability will remain with the practices designated clinical safeguarding leads.

• Governance, quality and regulatory compliance

  • Help ensure that practice policies and procedures are current, accessible and implemented consistently.
  • Maintain oversight of operational audits, action plans and supporting evidence.
  • Support the recording, review and learning arising from incidents and significant events.
  • Contribute to quality assurance and service-improvement work.
  • Monitor operational compliance and address any identified gaps.
  • Support the practice in meeting NHS contractual and regulatory requirements.
  • Maintain organised and accessible evidence to support CQC compliance.
  • Assist with preparation for CQC assessment or inspection.
  • Coordinate actions arising from audits, inspections or regulatory reviews.
  • Promote a culture in which concerns are raised, learning is shared and improvements are sustained.

  Premises, health and safety

  • Oversee the day-to-day management of the practice premises.
  • Coordinate repairs, maintenance and contractor access.
  • Maintain appropriate records for equipment servicing and statutory inspections.
  • Ensure identified health and safety checks are completed and documented.
  • Support risk assessments and monitor resulting actions.
  • Ensure operational resources, equipment and supplies are available and maintained.
  • Report and escalate premises or safety concerns appropriately.
  • Liaise with contractors, suppliers and external agencies as required.
  • Business continuity
  • Maintain and regularly review the practices business continuity arrangements.
  • Help ensure that staff understand their responsibilities during an operational disruption.
  • Coordinate the initial operational response to events affecting service delivery.
  • Support emergency planning, communication and service recovery.
  • Keep relevant contact details, procedures and contingency information current.

  Record learning following disruptions and ensure plans are updated accordingly

• Working with others

  • Work closely with the Practice Manager and GP Partners.
  • Build effective relationships across clinical and non-clinical teams.
  • Liaise with the Primary Care Network, commissioners, suppliers and other external partners.
  • Attend and contribute to relevant practice meetings.
  • Represent the operational needs of the practice clearly and professionally.
  • Support the Practice Manager and provide appropriate operational cover when required.

  This list reflects the principal responsibilities of the post. Duties may develop over time in response to the changing needs of the practice and NHS general practice.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to GCSE English and Mathematics
• Essential experience
• Previous experience of working within a GP practice.
• Operational management experience.
• Experience of leading, supervising or developing staff.
• Experience of coordinating reception, administrative or other nonclinical services.
• Experience of managing complaints or responding to formal patient concerns.
• Experience of introducing or supporting service improvements.
• Experience of managing competing demands in a busy working environment.
• Essential knowledge and skills
• A good understanding of how NHS general practice operates.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation abilities.
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication.
• An understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within general practice.
• An understanding of governance, confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
• The ability to recognise problems and develop practical solutions.
• Confidence in managing sensitive issues and difficult conversations.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with a range of colleagues.
• Competence in using GP clinical and administrative IT systems.
• The ability to work independently, use sound judgement and escalate appropriately.
• A commitment to delivering a positive experience for patients.
• Personal qualities
• Approachable and supportive.
• Calm and dependable.
• Proactive and willing to take ownership.
• Fair, discreet and professional.
• Adaptable when circumstances or priorities change.
• Comfortable being visible and accessible to colleagues.
• Committed to learning and continuous improvement.

Desirable

• Desirable
• A recognised management or leadership qualification.
• A health and safety qualification or relevant training.
• Experience of CQC preparation and compliance monitoring.
• Experience of premises or facilities management.
• Experience of business continuity and emergency planning.
• Experience of project or change management.
• Experience of demand and capacity planning.
• Experience of working with a Primary Care Network or other external healthcare partners.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Bugbrooke Medical Practice

Address

Levitts Road

Bugbrooke

Northampton

Northamptonshire

NN7 3QN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.bugbrookemedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Liaise with patients, doctors, nurses and other practice staff.
• Liaise with district and community staff.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality at all times.
• Follow directions for all tasks as set out in the procedures, protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Carry out general housekeeping in dispensary, including floor cleaning and wiping work surfaces and cupboards.
• Prepare medications for dispensing as per prescriptions.
• Hand out dispensed medications and scripts, ensuring back of script is completed correctly.
• Advising patients about pre-payment of prescriptions, providing information regarding eligibility for exemption and how to apply for exemption certificates.
• Collect and record any fees due.
• Promptly forward all invoices and dispensary related correspondence to the practice manager according to practice policy.
• Record private scripts.
• File processed scripts.
• Produce medication labels.
• Write up legal records i.e. controlled drugs.
• Report any errors in dispensary to lead GP and Practice Manager.
• Operate efficient stock control appropriate to the needs of the practice, with the objective of ensuring continuity of supply for patients and minimising wastage through out of date stock.
• Checking expiry dates on medications and ensuring proper storage conditions are observed when stock rotating.
• Endorse prescriptions ready for submission to PPA each month. Prepare end of month paperwork for submission to PPA.
• Deal with patient returns, recording as necessary. Deal with out of date items in line with process.
• Ensure that drugs are stored in an appropriate manner in accordance with the accompanying instructions.
• Ensure that shelves and all work surfaces are regularly cleaned to maintain a high level of hygiene within the dispensary and that all dispensary equipment is kept clean and is in good working order.
• Take prompt action in response to any drug alert bulletins that may be received from time to time.
• Ensure that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and maintain a temperature control record/logbook/record on Clarity Team Net.
• Maintain full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions, incorporating the use of computers when available and appropriate.
• Be aware of dispensary security at all times.
• Carry out medication reviews as appropriate.
• Work in a professional manner at all times.
• Work with the team and practice manager to conform to the standards in the Dispensing Services Quality Scheme.
• Be pro-active in suggesting and developing new initiates to improve the dispensary.
• Prioritise tasks and work under own initiative.
• Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the Practice Manager, dependent on current and evolving practice workload and staffing levels.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services (or equivalent Dispensing Assistant qualification) is essential.
• Previous experience in a primary care dispensing environment or community pharmacy.
• Strong communication skills and a professional manner.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure in a busy environment.
• A commitment to patient confidentiality and safeguarding.

Desirable

• Experience using SystmOne is highly desirable.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Bugbrooke Medical Practice

Address

Levitts Road

Bugbrooke

Northampton

Northamptonshire

NN7 3QN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.bugbrookemedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)