Clinical Pharmacist - Frailty Service
Posted 12 days 9 hours ago by NHS
Permanent
Part Time
Other
County Durham, Wheatley Hill, United Kingdom, DH6 3
Job Description
An exciting opportunity has become available for a ClinicalPharmacist to work in a new integrated community-based service supporting thefrail housebound population across Easington and Sedgefield. This is a chanceto play a key role in shaping and delivering proactive care to patients inpartnership with local stakeholders. The proactive service will be launching inthe upcoming months, it is designed to bring joined-up, multidisciplinary careto patients. The post holder will be a key role in supporting the safe,effective, and person-centred use of medicines across community settings foradults living with frailty.
Main duties of the job
We are early adopters of the Integrated Neighbourhood Teamstrategy and have already developed 2 Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs)aligned to our future work against NHS key strategies.
Job responsibilities DUTIES &RESPONSIBILITIES
Communication
To establish effectiveworking relationships with multidisciplinary frailty teams and patients, theirfamilies and carers.
To establish effective working relationshipswith adult social care management, general practitioners, community nursingteams, community pharmacies and any other service involved in the patient care,to deliver a patient/carer centred service and support the strategic objectivesof our frailty services delivery model.
The post holder will be expected to developand communicate to a multi-disciplinary team: cost effectiveprescribing, therapeutically appropriate and evidence based prescribingmessages.
To interpret complex clinical information andprovide specialist evidence-based advice/information to patients, cliniciansand the primary care health team. Advice may be highly complex or controversialderived from different or conflicting sources such as clinicaltrial data versus drug company information.
Communicating complex, sensitive information effectivelyto parents/carers (on a one-to-one basis) to ensure the correct, safe efficientuse of medicines. This communication requires tact and empathy and must be in aform appropriate for patients/carers. Information regarding medicines may becomplicated; the patient/carer may not understand some of the terminology, soit is essential to communicate at a level suitable for them to comprehend.
Reassurance skills and agreement tocooperation are essential to overcome any barriers to understanding, sincethese patients may be concerned or unhappy about change or worried aboutaspects of drug therapy/their medical condition.
Being a first contact for any queriesregarding patients medication, this may involve handling sensitive issues withrespect to prescribing or dispensing errors.
The post holder should be able to identifybarriers to communication and be able to adapt behaviour in response to theneeds of the individual.
Interpretation of therapeutic information andtranslation into policies and guidance for clinical and nonclinical staff.
Discuss complex and sensitive informationwith patients during medication reviews, including, medical histories, andlifestyle and personal circumstances. This may include highly complex clinicalinformation.
Discuss identified prescribing issues withprescribers and non-medical prescribers, give specialist prescribing advice onindividual patient issues.
Influence and implement change in prescribingthrough discussion and advice. Communicate complex clinical evidence effectively.This may include delivering controversial information and challenging currentpractice. This will involve negotiation, persuasion and influencing prescribers and non-medicalprescribers.
The clinical pharmacist is required to workindependently within their objectives and the organisational priorities, and asa team member to deliver a multidisciplinary patient centered service.
Providing highly specialised advice anddrug/medicine related information to patients and healthcare professionals onappropriate treatment, dosages, interactions and possible side effects ofdrugs.
AnalyticalTasks
Review and optimise drug therapy for patientsseen across our frailty services. The post holder will assess theappropriateness of therapy, ensure relevant clinical monitoring, assess foradverse drug reactions and drugs likely to contribute to falls etc. in thiselderly population. Making judgement in situations that involve highly complexfacts that may contain conflicting information. Expert opinion will differ, and someinformation may be unavailable. There will be a broad range of options toconsider before a decision is made.
Assessment of specialist clinical conditionsand review of medication in line with NICE guidance, local prescribing policiesand information from a variety of professional bodies. This can involve a needto study and evaluate complex scientic papers and clinical trials to ensurethat the drugs prescribed are based on the best evidence available for effectivenessand safety.
Critically evaluate treatment guidelinesusing knowledge of principles of evidence-based medicine.
Critical appraisal skills range of skillsin analysing, interpreting comparing and contrasting factual information.Critical appraisal of published evidence on drugs, balanced with nancialinformation from prescribing data to advise prescribers regarding safe and costeffective prescribing.
Planning andOrganisational Skills
To collect,monitor and support the Medicines Service/Operational teams to achieve theagreed strategic outcomes to measure the success of the service provided.
Planning, prioritisingand organising a broad range of complex activities e.g. medication reviewclinics, attending meetings, and multidisciplinary meetings.
Planning andreviewing own workload; requires high level of self-motivation and use ofinitiative.
Organiseonward referral of patients where appropriate.
Organisetraining sessions and meetings locally and across the Easington &Sedgefield
PhysicalSkills
Be able todemonstrate and explain complex devices to patients including medical devicesand compliance aids.
Highlydeveloped physical skills required where accuracy is important.
Ability totravel extensively within the geographical area.
Be computerliterate and have satisfactory keyboard skills.
Ability topay attention to detail.
Ability tomanoeuvre large quantities of written material, laptop and related equipment.
Responsibilityfor Patient Care
To lead, develop and implement medicinesoptimisation clinical guidelines to ensure the safe and effective useof medicines within the organisation.
To act as the medicines expert when workingin multidisciplinary teams, utilise clinical skills to undertakepatient-centered clinical medication reviews.
To be sensitive to patients needs in respectto the choice and use of medicines.
Provide specialist clinical/pharmaceuticaladvice, explanation and reassurance to patients through face to face,telephone, video and written communication when changes in prescribing are madeto a patients medication regimen.
Provide highly complex and specialisedclinical advice to primary care healthcare professionals on risk managementprocesses relating to controlled drugs, drug adverse events.
To support and make recommendations on theimplementation of local and national policy e.g. NICE and a local jointformulary.
Keep abreast of current drug safety advice;ensure that relevant guidance is circulated to appropriate health careprofessionals in a timely fashion.
Provide specialist advice and supportregarding necessary action required.
Respond to medicine related queries frompatients, carers, medical staffand other healthcareprofessionals and provide appropriate pharmaceutical advice in order to ensurethe appropriate use of medicines.
. click apply for full job details
Main duties of the job
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary team, GPs, community pharmacies, therapists and adult social care to optimise patient care.
- Conduct comprehensive clinical medication reviews, ensuring safe, evidence-based, and cost-effective prescribing.
- Provide specialist advice on medicines use, drug interactions, and therapeutic options to both patients and healthcare professionals.
- Support the development and implementation of local and national medicines-related policies (e.g. NICE guidance).
- Lead on the identification and reduction of medicines-related risks.
- Communicate complex, sensitive information clearly to patients and carers, offering reassurance and support.
- Contribute to education, training and supervision of pharmacy learners and other healthcare staff.
- Participate in service development, quality improvement initiatives, and prescribing audits.
- Act as a key resource for up-to-date medicines information and guidance within the team.
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Strong clinical knowledge with experience in elderly care, frailty, or medicines optimisation
- Excellent communication, critical appraisal, and organisational skills
- Able to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Competent in using digital systems and producing high-quality clinical documentation
- Willing and able to travel across Easington & Sedgefield as required
We are early adopters of the Integrated Neighbourhood Teamstrategy and have already developed 2 Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs)aligned to our future work against NHS key strategies.
Job responsibilities DUTIES &RESPONSIBILITIES
Communication
To establish effectiveworking relationships with multidisciplinary frailty teams and patients, theirfamilies and carers.
To establish effective working relationshipswith adult social care management, general practitioners, community nursingteams, community pharmacies and any other service involved in the patient care,to deliver a patient/carer centred service and support the strategic objectivesof our frailty services delivery model.
The post holder will be expected to developand communicate to a multi-disciplinary team: cost effectiveprescribing, therapeutically appropriate and evidence based prescribingmessages.
To interpret complex clinical information andprovide specialist evidence-based advice/information to patients, cliniciansand the primary care health team. Advice may be highly complex or controversialderived from different or conflicting sources such as clinicaltrial data versus drug company information.
Communicating complex, sensitive information effectivelyto parents/carers (on a one-to-one basis) to ensure the correct, safe efficientuse of medicines. This communication requires tact and empathy and must be in aform appropriate for patients/carers. Information regarding medicines may becomplicated; the patient/carer may not understand some of the terminology, soit is essential to communicate at a level suitable for them to comprehend.
Reassurance skills and agreement tocooperation are essential to overcome any barriers to understanding, sincethese patients may be concerned or unhappy about change or worried aboutaspects of drug therapy/their medical condition.
Being a first contact for any queriesregarding patients medication, this may involve handling sensitive issues withrespect to prescribing or dispensing errors.
The post holder should be able to identifybarriers to communication and be able to adapt behaviour in response to theneeds of the individual.
Interpretation of therapeutic information andtranslation into policies and guidance for clinical and nonclinical staff.
Discuss complex and sensitive informationwith patients during medication reviews, including, medical histories, andlifestyle and personal circumstances. This may include highly complex clinicalinformation.
Discuss identified prescribing issues withprescribers and non-medical prescribers, give specialist prescribing advice onindividual patient issues.
Influence and implement change in prescribingthrough discussion and advice. Communicate complex clinical evidence effectively.This may include delivering controversial information and challenging currentpractice. This will involve negotiation, persuasion and influencing prescribers and non-medicalprescribers.
The clinical pharmacist is required to workindependently within their objectives and the organisational priorities, and asa team member to deliver a multidisciplinary patient centered service.
Providing highly specialised advice anddrug/medicine related information to patients and healthcare professionals onappropriate treatment, dosages, interactions and possible side effects ofdrugs.
AnalyticalTasks
Review and optimise drug therapy for patientsseen across our frailty services. The post holder will assess theappropriateness of therapy, ensure relevant clinical monitoring, assess foradverse drug reactions and drugs likely to contribute to falls etc. in thiselderly population. Making judgement in situations that involve highly complexfacts that may contain conflicting information. Expert opinion will differ, and someinformation may be unavailable. There will be a broad range of options toconsider before a decision is made.
Assessment of specialist clinical conditionsand review of medication in line with NICE guidance, local prescribing policiesand information from a variety of professional bodies. This can involve a needto study and evaluate complex scientic papers and clinical trials to ensurethat the drugs prescribed are based on the best evidence available for effectivenessand safety.
Critically evaluate treatment guidelinesusing knowledge of principles of evidence-based medicine.
Critical appraisal skills range of skillsin analysing, interpreting comparing and contrasting factual information.Critical appraisal of published evidence on drugs, balanced with nancialinformation from prescribing data to advise prescribers regarding safe and costeffective prescribing.
Planning andOrganisational Skills
To collect,monitor and support the Medicines Service/Operational teams to achieve theagreed strategic outcomes to measure the success of the service provided.
Planning, prioritisingand organising a broad range of complex activities e.g. medication reviewclinics, attending meetings, and multidisciplinary meetings.
Planning andreviewing own workload; requires high level of self-motivation and use ofinitiative.
Organiseonward referral of patients where appropriate.
Organisetraining sessions and meetings locally and across the Easington &Sedgefield
PhysicalSkills
Be able todemonstrate and explain complex devices to patients including medical devicesand compliance aids.
Highlydeveloped physical skills required where accuracy is important.
Ability totravel extensively within the geographical area.
Be computerliterate and have satisfactory keyboard skills.
Ability topay attention to detail.
Ability tomanoeuvre large quantities of written material, laptop and related equipment.
Responsibilityfor Patient Care
To lead, develop and implement medicinesoptimisation clinical guidelines to ensure the safe and effective useof medicines within the organisation.
To act as the medicines expert when workingin multidisciplinary teams, utilise clinical skills to undertakepatient-centered clinical medication reviews.
To be sensitive to patients needs in respectto the choice and use of medicines.
Provide specialist clinical/pharmaceuticaladvice, explanation and reassurance to patients through face to face,telephone, video and written communication when changes in prescribing are madeto a patients medication regimen.
Provide highly complex and specialisedclinical advice to primary care healthcare professionals on risk managementprocesses relating to controlled drugs, drug adverse events.
To support and make recommendations on theimplementation of local and national policy e.g. NICE and a local jointformulary.
Keep abreast of current drug safety advice;ensure that relevant guidance is circulated to appropriate health careprofessionals in a timely fashion.
Provide specialist advice and supportregarding necessary action required.
Respond to medicine related queries frompatients, carers, medical staffand other healthcareprofessionals and provide appropriate pharmaceutical advice in order to ensurethe appropriate use of medicines.
. click apply for full job details