PCN Care Homes Clinical Pharmacist

Posting date:	16 December 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Negotiable
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	11 January 2026
Location:	Nottingham, NG12 5JU
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	A0045-25-0097

Summary

JOB DESCRIPTION: Rushcliffe PCN Care Home Pharmacist PURPOSE OF THE ROLE To lead and support the work of the Primary Care Network to ensure that all care home residents receive an annual Structured Medication Review as part of a Comprehensive Geriatric assessment To be the first point of contact for medicines related queries for care homes across Rushcliffe Primary Care Network. To improve medicines management in Nursing and Residential care homes, working in partnership with all appropriate agencies and staff To work with general practice and community pharmacy to develop efficient repeat prescribing / dispensing systems to support care home prescribing across the whole sector To support the Lead PCN pharmacist with the management of the COVID programs and vaccines as required. To support the development of quality initiatives that address identified prescribing and medicines management issues, including those that cross interfaces To support the implementation of medicines related elements of national policy declarations relating to care homes To support the care homes sector, including residential and nursing care and Housing with Care units, with medication review of patients as required To work with colleagues to establish and develop good medicines management systems across the care homes sector. 1 Main Duties and Responsibilities To assist the PCN care homes team and wider MDT with care home-related medication queries Work to introduce systems across providers in both primary and secondary care to ensure accurate medicines reconciliation for care home patients when moving across the interface Work with community pharmacy on the development of robust systems for the delivery of repeat and acute medication needs to care homes including appropriate use of repeat dispensing services Keep records of reviews and issues arising to identify trends. Feedback identified prescribing issues to support the care homes team in developing quality initiatives and action plans. Liaise as required with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to keep up to date with current guidance concerning medicines use in care homes. Identify any issues that may ensue and work to address them. Liaise with care home staff as necessary to ensure accurate exchange of information and clarification of queries regarding medicines to facilitate safe handling, storage, administration and destruction of medicines Respond efficiently to the unpredictable demands of the care home sector environment with regard to requests for assistance from staff and patients Liaise with personnel form NUH regarding admission and discharge of patients from and to their care home. Keep up to date with weekly news pertaining to prescribing and medicines issues and extract key information for dissemination to the primary healthcare team across the provider arm Work effectively and flexibly as part of the Care Homes Team Work effectively with the PCN pharmacy team across all practices within the PCN. Work on individual projects relating to prescribing as required, for example: development and delivery of training packages and development of Medicines Policy protocols, procedures and policies. To implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and training. To ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research, and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the residents and care home managers within Rushcliffe receive assistance in accessing health care interventions by signposting to the most appropriate person to provide care To participate in the weekly care home rounds and the MDT as appropriate Make recommendations regarding patient management in accordance with Local and National guidelines relating to the management of the older population. To assist in developing an evidence base for health needs led service planning, delivery and commissioning. Work with the Care Home Lead and GP leads in developing the strategic and operational management of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Service. To participate in the development and delivery of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes service across Rushcliffe To support the Lead PCN clinical pharmacist, with the management of COVID vaccines to support National programs and on behalf of Rushcliffe PCN. This will included signing in and out of vaccine into the fridge, management of documentation to support the program, and ensuring the cold chain is maintained. To establish and improve professional standards of care in the management of residents within care homes by developing partnerships with key stakeholders Demonstrate a good understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work effectively alerting any risks and benefits when developing services and practice in new areas. To undertake research and service development. Utilising and interpreting data, to support service improvement for care homes and primary care, as well as understanding the demands on urgent and emergency services to reduce avoidable activity where possible. Data and local intelligence will be utilised to develop and influence new ways of working to improve patient care, the resilience of primary care and system partners. The post holder will promote new ways of working promoting the use of digital technology, for example remote consultations and MS Teams MDTs The post holder will be required to evidence the impacts of the post and provide data monitoring to further shape the role and delivery of the Care Home DES within Rushcliffe To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities and to participate in the review and appraisal process. To adhere to the individual Professional code of conduct and practice at all times. To reflect on own practice individually and/or through regular clinical supervision. 2 Professional/Clinical Responsibilities To make amendments to patient records, written and/or computer, as appropriate to ensure agreed changes to therapy are actioned in a precise and systematic fashion Develop appropriate systems for the assessment of improved medicines management including evaluation of cost savings, reduction of medication errors and reduction of hospital admissions Carry out clinical medication review for patients in care homes, other relevant facilities, and for other patients as appropriate. Assist staff in identifying those patients who would benefit from pharmaceutical intervention. Liaise and communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and/or carers, who on occasions may be resistant to change, on subjects which are often of a very sensitive nature, on all aspects of good medicines management with the objective of optimising patient outcomes Liaise with PCN, community and CCG pharmacists, community nurses, hospital pharmacists other healthcare staff and Social Care as required to ensure changes are implemented smoothly. Work with appropriate team members to facilitate seamless admission and discharge in respect of medicines Provide highly specialised medicines management support including prescribing information, advice and guidance to ensure effective, appropriate, cost-effective and safe prescribing to all prescribers, other healthcare professionals and support staff in the care homes sector including residential homes, nursing homes and Housing with Care facilities Assist prescribers in managing the implementation of NICE guidance and other local or national guidance and the introduction of new therapies Identify specific patient, or patient group, related prescribing problems or issues and to provide highly specialised advice, guidance and support on the appropriate course of action Formulate solutions to complex prescribing issues where conflicting opinions may exist 3 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 PCN colleagues including PCN Pharmacists on prescribing related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit Liaises with PCN pharmacists and Heads of Medicines Management/ Optimisation to benefit from peer support Liaises with other GP Practices and staff 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 Locality / GP prescribing lead Locality managers Community nurses and other allied health professionals Community and hospital pharmacy teams Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicines optimisation 4 Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required Completion of an undergraduate degree in pharmacy and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council Minimum of 2 years experience as a pharmacist, demonstrated within your practice portfolio. An Independent Prescriber