Pharmacist

Job summary
Are you a proactive and patient-focused pharmacist looking to develop your career in general practice? Derwent Valley Medical Practice is looking for a skilled and enthusiastic Practice Pharmacist to join our friendly, forward-thinking multidisciplinary team.

This is a varied and rewarding practice-based role across our Derby and Spondon sites.

You will support safe, effective prescribing by delivering structured medication reviews, managing repeat prescribing processes, supporting long-term condition management and responding to medicines-related queries.

You will work closely with GPs, clinicians, our wider practice team and the Greater Derby PCN pharmacy team to support medicines optimisation, quality improvement, clinical audit and local and national prescribing priorities.

We offer a supportive working environment, autonomy, appropriate training opportunities and professional development.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will work within their clinical competence as part of the practice multidisciplinary team, delivering structured medication reviews, supporting long-term condition management and contributing to safe, effective and evidence-based prescribing.

The role will include managing repeat prescribing and reauthorisation processes, responding to medicines-related queries, reviewing medication following hospital discharge or transfer of care, supporting patients with polypharmacy and contributing to prescribing safety, audit and quality improvement activity.

The post holder will work closely with GPs, clinicians, the wider practice team and the Greater Derby PCN pharmacy team to support medicines optimisation, shared learning and delivery of local and national prescribing priorities.

This role offers variety, autonomy and scope for professional development, including independent prescribing if not already qualified, and the opportunity to develop a specialist clinical interest aligned with practice and PCN priorities.

About us
Derwent Valley Medical Practice is a well-established, forward-thinking GP practice based in Derby, with a branch site in Spondon Village approximately three miles away. We serve a diverse local population and work across both sites to provide high-quality, patient-centred care.

We have a friendly, supportive and hardworking multidisciplinary team, including GPs, nursing staff, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, administrative staff and wider clinical roles. Teamwork, professionalism and a positive approach are central to how we work, and we value staff who are flexible, proactive and committed to improving patient care.

The practice has a strong focus on continuous improvement, safe systems, quality, training and staff development. We encourage shared learning and work closely with colleagues across Greater Derby Primary Care Network to support medicines optimisation, service development and wider primary care priorities.

We use TPP SystmOne and our most recent CQC rating was Good. We offer a supportive working environment, appropriate training opportunities, good terms and conditions and the opportunity to develop skills and experience within a busy and varied general practice setting.

Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide specialist clinical medicines management advice to support safe, effective and person centred patient care.
• Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with complex needs, including those with polypharmacy, multiple long-term conditions, frailty or care home residency.
• Support long-term condition management through medication review, medicines optimisation, monitoring and patient education.
• Manage repeat prescribing and reauthorisation processes in collaboration with GPs and other clinicians, ensuring appropriate monitoring is in place.
• Respond to medicines-related queries from patients, carers, clinicians, practice staff, community pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
• Support safe prescribing by identifying inappropriate polypharmacy, reducing medicines waste and promoting evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing.
• Review medicines adherence, effectiveness and safety, arranging or recommending further investigation where clinically appropriate.
• Provide patients and carers with clear, evidence-based information about medicines, supporting shared decision-making, adherence and safe use of prescribed treatment.
• Contribute to reducing medicines-related hospital admissions and readmissions by identifying and resolving medicines-related issues.
• Support the safe management of medicines following transfer of care from secondary care, intermediate care, community services and care home settings, ensuring medication changes are reconciled, clinically appropriate and clearly communicated.
• Work with patients, carers, community pharmacists and other professionals to ensure patients receive the medicines they need following discharge or transfer of care.
• Run pharmacist-led clinics, including medication review clinics and reviews linked to long-term condition management where appropriate.
• Contribute to co-morbidity reviews, multidisciplinary reviews and the wider management of patients with complex clinical needs.
• Review relevant pathology results for patients prescribed medicines requiring monitoring and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Support the implementation of MHRA alerts, drug withdrawals, medicines shortages, safety updates and changes to prescribing guidance.
• Work with the practice team to implement NICE guidance, local formularies and other evidence-based prescribing recommendations.
• Support the development and maintenance of practice formularies to improve prescribing quality, safety and cost-effectiveness.
• Review prescribing data and support the practice to identify areas for improvement in prescribing quality, safety, variation, waste reduction and cost-effectiveness.
• Contribute to prescribing audits, clinical audit cycles, service evaluation, quality improvement activity and implementation of agreed changes.
• Support the practice in achieving relevant QOF, Network DES/IIF, prescribing incentive scheme and medicines optimisation targets.
• Support compliance with CQC standards by contributing to safe, effective, responsive and well-led medicines management processes.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records using the practice clinical system, ensuring appropriate coding, documentation and follow-up.
• Provide medicines information, advice and education to clinicians, healthcare professionals, administrative staff and patients.
• Support prescribers through education, feedback and guidance to improve prescribing practice across the practice.
• Work collaboratively with the wider PCN pharmacy team, including Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, to support shared learning, consistent medicines optimisation, prescribing safety and delivery of local and national prescribing priorities.
• Liaise with community pharmacy colleagues to support medicines adherence, including appropriate use of services such as the New Medicine Service and other local support pathways.
• Prescribe within professional competence where appropriately qualified, or work towards independent prescribing where agreed as part of the role development plan.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Independent prescriber qualification
• Previous experience working in a GP practice
• Experience of managing long-term conditions or supporting chronic disease clinics
• Skills, Knowledge & Experience
• Good understanding of primary care prescribing, medicines optimisation and safe, effective prescribing practice
• Minimum of two years post-qualification experience as a pharmacist
• Ability to undertake structured medication reviews and support patients with safe and effective use of medicines
• Able to communicate complex or sensitive medicines-related information clearly to patients, carers and colleagues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to maintain accurate clinical records
• Evidence of CPD
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload, meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Confident using clinical systems and IT to record, review and analyse patient information
• Able to work independently while recognising professional limits and seeking advice or escalation when required
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Knowledge of audit, quality improvement and evidence-based practice
• Demonstrates accountability, professionalism and commitment to patient safety
• Other
• Professional, approachable and able to build effective relationships with patients and colleagues
• Self-motivated, adaptable and able to respond positively to changing practice priorities
• Reliable, trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Willingness to participate in practice meetings, clinical governance activity and service development
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and delivering person-centred care
• Ability to travel and work

Desirable

• Completion of PCPEP course or in progress
• Experience using SystmOne or other GP clinical systems
• Strong therapeutic knowledge and understanding of evidence-based healthcare
• Ability to analyse prescribing data and support quality improvement, cost-effective prescribing and safety work
• Experience influencing, negotiating and supporting change with clinicians and wider practice teams
• Medical indemnity cover appropriate to the role, where require

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).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.