We are looking to recruit a full-time Band 8a pharmacist for a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover position to join the NWL ICB Medicines Optimisation Team to provide support to GPs, non-medical prescribers and primary care networks to ensure the safe use of medicines, implement evidence-based prescribing, support cost-effective management of the prescribing budget and achievement of value. The post holder will be required to ensure prescribing by healthcare providers is in accordance with national standards, locally identified priorities and within the clinical governance framework. They will also assist the team with the implementation of prescribing strategies and operational aspects of the overall medicines optimisation agenda and programmes of work
The successful applicant will need to be self-motivated and have the ability to work independently whilst also integrating into a well-established team. They will have excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills together with a good working knowledge of primary care and the challenges facing medicines management in the new NHS.
Closing date for applications is 7 July 2024. The interview will take place w/c 29th July 2024.
Due to the requirements of the role, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance must be obtained by the organisation. Please be aware that from 12 October 2009 anyone who is included in the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) barred lists will commit the new offence of they engage, or seek or offer to engage, in the regulated activity from which they are barred.
NHS North West London Integrated Care Board (NHS NWL ICB) is a statutory body responsible for planning and allocating health and care resources to improve the lives of people in eight boroughs across North West London: Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.
The local population is large and diverse, with a wide range of health and care needs that are evolving all the time. Working with our partners including Councils, NHS provider Trusts, GPs and voluntary and community organisations we plan and allocate NHS resource to deliver a wide range of services including urgent and emergency care, mental health, primary care, elective hospital services and community care.
All ICB roles work collectively to ensure our residents and patients have access to the right services when they need them as well as focusing on prevention and health promotion, supporting residents to take greater care of their own health and live longer, healthier lives.
support broader social and economic development within our area.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.
This job description is to be read in conjunction with the Generic Job Description for the band. The functions and responsibilities will include:
To work collaboratively with Primary Care Networks at Place to ensure regular medicines optimisation feedback is provided to practices/PCNs on their individual prescribing data. Feedback will include review of prescribing budgets/ financial targets, highlighting areas of focus to remain within budget/ targets and the delivery of key prescribing indicators.
To work collaboratively with community pharmacists, practice and PCN Pharmacists, effectively communicating Place or ICB medicines schemes and policies.
Supports the Borough Lead pharmacist, clinical leads and system stakeholders and partners to implement innovative approaches to service redesign to address health inequalities, reduce unwarranted variation and improve outcomes for long term conditions covering prevention, diagnostics, treatment, optimisation and complex needs including multi-morbidity and frailty.
To collaborate with peers in other place-based teams on a single operating model for medicines and pharmacy across NW London ICB, providing Place input into the development of policies and procedures relating to medicines optimisation in selected portfolio areas.
Contribute in their own portfolio areas to developing the NW London medicines optimisation transforming and integrating medicines optimisation plan through active collaboration in Place and NW London, and support delivery at Place.
Working within established medicines optimisation processes, and in their own portfolio areas, lead the implementation and delivery of medicines optimisation work at Place, including supporting the development and implementation of prescribing incentive schemes or equivalent.
Interprets highly complex prescribing, financial and other relevant health data and information to support decision making and provision of specialised clinical and medicines optimisation advice to senior clinicians and managers, including in situations where evidence is lacking.
To provide highly specialist pharmaceutical advice and make recommendations for effective strategies, providing expertise and clear leadership to Place and other partners to deliver safe, effective and evidence-based medicine.
Provide advice within Place-based programmes in relation to pathway development, transformation, contracting and effective use of resources.
Provide peer support to the wider Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation team.
Contribute to reporting progress against the medicines optimisation workplan in their own portfolio areas through preparation of written reports for relevant meetings, boards, public health and at medicines optimisation committees and/or groups.
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, presenting information, to a wide range of stakeholders in a formal setting.
Respond to medicines safety incidents at place, working with the Head of Medicines Optimisation Medicines Safety and relevant Borough Lead pharmacist, working collaboratively across the medicines team in NW London ICB.
To support the implementation of local and national medicines related guidance in collaboration with partners from the local health and social care economy.
To contribute to the development and implementation of medicines optimisation and long-term condition initiatives and services to support clinical pathways and service redesign.
The post holder will lead on specific focussed areas of work with Local Authority Public Health Teams for locally commissioned services that supply medicines.
To support implementation of digital and remote solutions for medicines and long-term conditions, for example remote monitoring, medicines pathways in remote consultations, point of care prescribing software and medicines safety software (PINCER or equivalent), medicines optimisation and LTC (Long Term Conditions) population health dashboards, working in partnership with business intelligence colleagues.
Provide advice and audit to the ICB on all matters relating to pharmacy and medicines (professional, clinical and programme) in accordance with national and regional policy.
Contribute to minimising the risks associated with medicines use and LTC services, by reviewing prescribing and other processes, identifying trends and areas of risk and offer support to practices, other prescribers, services and other stakeholders when needed
Work with other teams and stakeholders to develop locally determined outcome and performance measures, reflecting measures of value and outcomes which matter to people.
Supports the investigation of medicines related incidents and complaints and facilitates systems to implement best practice.
To support root cause analysis with providers following pharmaceutical related incidents when necessary.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties; staff are therefore required to undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and in line with the requirement of this post.
Communications & Relationships
To work in partnership within Place partnerships including public health, council, voluntary sector and primary care (including Primary Care Networks, GP practices, community pharmacy and any emerging provider collaborative) to implement high value medicines optimisation plans.
Supported by the Borough Lead pharmacist, to work collaboratively within NW London ICB and external partners to implement transforming and integrating medicines optimisation plans at place.
To support implementation of agreed approaches to ensure the effective involvement of patients, the public and staff in local service transformation work. Design and use co-production approaches to ensure the voice and experience of people, including service users, patients, and carers.
Building and maintaining an active network of contacts, communicating and consulting with all stakeholders in projects and transformation work across Place and NW London.
Ensures the communication, promotion and encouragement of best practice in relation to medicines optimisation in Place.
Advise, influence, recommend and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders.
Work effectively with own team and colleagues across NW London and at Place.
Communicate often complex, sensitive or contentious written and verbal information to a wide range of audiences.
To be able to support GP practices, patients, the wider NHS and social organisations in situations of either antagonistic, emotional and language barriers.
To deal with difficult issues / situations using diplomacy and sensitivity.
Planning, Organisation Skills
The post holder will be required to demonstrate abilities:
To plan and organise medicines optimisation and long-term condition initiatives and specific projects relating to their own portfolio areas.
To build professional and personal credibility to win support.
To prioritise work, work under pressure and meet deadlines and to change plans at the last minute to manage any emergencies.
Financial and Physical Resources
The post holder will work within the place based medicines team to contribute to the monitoring of drug expenditure across NW London, developing and implementing recovery/action plans for practice prescribing budget control, and any local enhanced services or improvement schemes, supported by the Borough Lead pharmacist.
This will include monitoring of contracts and performance of existing providers.
Act in a way that is compliant with Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions in the discharge of this responsibility.
Working with the Borough Lead pharmacist, implements selected areas of the annual medicines optimisation work plan, savings plan and prescribing incentive schemes, leading on own portfolio areas.
To monitor financial and performance targets, tracking progress of practices and PCNs with Place and/or NW London ICB trends in prescribing costs.
Advise internal teams on innovative opportunities in relation to medicines optimisation as relevant to their own portfolio areas.
Undertake tracking of progress against plans and transition milestones, ensuring appropriate processes are in place to flag issues, risks and concerns with the relevant stakeholders.
To actively contribute to identifying strategies to deliver value for money and cost-effective use of medicines to inform the prescribing budget financial planning process.
To support Borough Lead pharmacist in the effective management of selected budgets for individual projects, services and payments.