Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Scope

Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice is part of an exciting programme of transformation to develop a new model of care which addresses our ambition to deliver person-centred, coordinated care across the district. The Clinical Pharmacy in General Practice model is supported by the direction of national policy including the Five Year Forward View and GP Forward View where there is a need to better utilise the role of pharmacy within primary care to pro-actively help patients stay safe and well and out of hospital as well as helping to reduce the demands on general practice.

Pharmacy technicians play an important role, complementing clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists and other members of the PCN multi- disciplinary team. The post holder is a Pharmacy Technician who acts autonomously within their professional boundaries, with appropriate clinical supervision and support where required. The post holder will provide expert pharmaceutical technical support to support medicines optimisation work programme. They will carry out medicines optimisation tasks, including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines reconciliation, using their professional judgement and working autonomously within their scope of practice, with access to clinical supervision as required.

The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost-effective best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care. The post holder will undertake clinical audits across the Primary Care Network (PCN), analyse and evaluate the findings, and share reports with GP practices to highlight progress, identify areas for improvement, and support the implementation of appropriate actions. The post holder will help patients to get the best from their medicines by switching medications to agreed and approved protocols, improving repeat prescribing processes in General Practice, including promotion of repeat dispensing and online ordering, minimising clinical risk and aiming to reduce wasted medicines.

In addition, the post holder will be responsible for encouraging the development of better understanding of the principles of medicines optimisation throughout the practice teams and promoting good practice in line with therapeutic developments. This will involve assisting the PCN in achieving national requirements, NICE implementation and utilisation of medicines optimisation initiatives.

Key duties and responsibilities

Clinical

Undertake patient facing and patient supporting roles to ensure effective medicines use, through shared decision-making conversations with patients.

Carry out medicines optimisation tasks including effective medicine administration (e.g. checking inhaler technique), supporting medication reviews and medicines reconciliation, acting autonomously within professional boundaries with appropriate clinical supervision and support where required.

Utilise consultation skills to work in partnership with patients to ensure they use their medicines effectively.

Undertake clinical audits across the Primary Care Network (PCN), analyse and evaluate the findings, and share reports with GP practices

As determined by the PCN, support medication reviews and medicines reconciliation for new care home patients and synchronising medicines for patient transfers between care settings, linking with local community pharmacies

Support the Clinical Pharmacist in Structured Medication Reviews (SMR)

Provide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.

Manage shared care protocols and liaise with Clinical Pharmacists for more complex patients.

Support initiatives for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing locally.

Technical and Administrative

Support the PCN multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient medicines optimisation processes are being followed.

Implement efficient ordering and return processes and reducing medication wastage.

Provide training and support on the legal, safe and secure handling of medicines, including the implementation of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS).

Promotion of Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) and online ordering

Develop relationships with other pharmacy professionals and members of the multi-disciplinary team to support integration across health and social care including primary care, community pharmacy, secondary care and mental health.

Support practice reception teams in streaming general prescription requests, so as to allow GPs and clinical pharmacists to review the more clinically complex requests.

Support the implementation of national prescribing policies and guidance within GP practices, care homes and other primary care settings.

Support the PCN to deliver on QIPP agenda, QOF and locally commissioned enhanced services

Supporting quality improvement measures and contributing to the Quality and Outcomes Framework and enhanced services;

Support the PCN in reviewing and developing practice policies for CQC requirements.

Undertake monitoring searches including CQC performance and safety searches in line with the needs of the practices or PCN

Undertake duties as per agreed job plan.

General

The Post Holder will:

Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity. The postholder must be aware of and committed to the Equality and Diversity policies of the appointing GP Practice and PCN and comply with all the requirements of these policies and actively promote Equality and Diversity issues relevant to the post.

Ensure the principles of openness, transparency and candour are observed and upheld in all working practices.

The post holder will have, or acquire through training provided by the organisation, the appropriate level of safeguarding and knowledge, skills and practice required for the post

and be aware of and comply with the organisations safeguarding protection policies and procedures.

Ensure that any infection prevention and control issues are reported to the line manager/Infection Prevention and Control

Equality & Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non- judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, with such training to include:

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Supervision

The postholder will have access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the PCN to provide general advice and support on a day to day basis.

Job Description Agreement

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account development within the PCN/Practice. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the PCN/Practice.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD).
• Experience of working as a qualified, registered pharmacy technician in primary care, community or hospital pharmacy
• Professional registration with GPhC.
• Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified by the GPhC criteria to register as a Pharmacy Technician; enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from, an approved training pathway. For example, the Primary Care Pharmacy Educational Pathway (PCPEP) or Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH).
• BTEC/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences
• Works effectively independently and as a member of a team.
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Continued commitment to improve skills and ability in new areas of work.
• Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments if required.
• Independently mobile to be able to work across several sites and travel to meet with stakeholders.
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
• Demonstrate ability to work in a busy environment; ability to deal with both urgent and important tasks and to prioritise effectively whilst also supporting others.
• Excellent time keeping and prioritisation skills
• Computer literate with an ability to use the required GP clinical systems (desirable) and Microsoft office packages (essential).
• Able to analyse and interpret prescribing data.
• Has attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying errors quickly and easily able to effectively manage allocated resources.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adjust communication style and content to suit the audience.
• An excellent understanding of data protection and confidentiality issues

Desirable

• Demonstrate ability to influence and persuade partners and stakeholders of the respective merits of different options, innovations, new opportunities and challenges.
• Flexible approach to meet service needs and ensure a stakeholder focused response.
• Understand the aims of current healthcare policy within the PCN.

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

Hartlepool Network

Address

Doctors Surgery

Station Lane

Hartlepool

Cleveland

TS25 1AX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Health Care Coordinator contributes to the delivery of the Primary Care Network (PCN) Direct Enhanced Service (DES), supporting proactive, personalised care and population health management for individuals with complex needs, frailty, long-term conditions, and those at risk of unplanned admission.

The role supports the delivery of:

• Enhanced Health in Care Homes EHCH service specification
• Anticipatory care for high-risk cohorts
• Personalised Care and Support Planning PCSP
• Multidisciplinary team MDT working across primary, community, social care, and voluntary sectors

This role supports reducing health inequalities through proactive case management, care coordination, and structured clinical support within HCA/Nurse Associate competency and delegation frameworks.

The post holder works under the supervision of registered clinicians and is central to coordinating care across PCN multidisciplinary services, ensuring patients receive timely, coordinated, and person-centred care aligned to PCN DES and member practice requirements.

Clinical Governance & Delegation

The post holder undertakes delegated clinical activity in line with NHS England HCA/Nurse Associate competencies and PCN clinical governance arrangements, including:

• Basic clinical observations and structured monitoring
• Supporting long-term condition reviews under clinical protocols
• Supporting vaccination delivery programmes under direction
• Early identification of deterioration in frailty and LTC cohorts
• Escalation of clinical concerns to registered clinicians in line with agreed pathways

All clinical activity is undertaken within:

• Local PCN SOPs
• Clinical supervision arrangements
• Professional competency frameworks HCA / Care Certificate level or above

2. Core Responsibilities PCN DES Aligned

2.1 MDT Coordination EHCH & Anticipatory Care Delivery

In line with PCN DES requirements for MDT working, the post holder will:

• Coordinate and schedule regular MDT meetings for EHCH and high-risk cohorts
• Develop and maintain MDT case lists prioritised using risk stratification tools frailty, admission risk, care home residency, LTC complexity
• Collate and present relevant patient information including:
• Recent primary care interactions
• Secondary care admissions and discharges
• Community health input
• Medication changes
• Vaccination status and care gaps
• Relevant clinical observations where recorded by HCA/Nurse Associate or community teams
• Record MDT decisions, ensuring:
• Clear allocation of actions
• Named responsible professionals
• Agreed timescales
• Monitor completion of MDT actions and escalate delays or clinical risk to the PCN clinical lead

2.2 Personalised Care and Support Planning PCSP

In line with NHSE PCN DES personalised care requirements, the post holder will:

• Maintain and update Personalised Care and Support Plans PCSPs ensuring they are:
• Person-centred and outcome-focused
• Regularly reviewed following MDT discussions
• Updated post-discharge or following change in condition

PCSPs will include:

• Clinical summary GP-led input
• Functional, social, and wellbeing needs
• What matters to me statements
• Advance Care Planning ACP / Treatment Escalation Plans TEP
• Risk stratification frailty, falls risk, admission risk
• Preventative care status including immunisations
• Relevant HCA-contributed observations and monitoring data where applicable

2.3 Enhanced Health in Care Homes EHCH & Preventative Care

In alignment with EHCH DES requirements, the post holder will:

• Maintain oversight of care home and housebound cohorts
• Support proactive care planning for residents in care homes
• Maintain vaccination registers for priority groups:
• Flu
• COVID-19 boosters
• Pneumococcal
• Shingles
• RSV
• Support vaccination programmes through:
• Identification of eligible patients
• Pre-vaccination screening and consent processes within competence
• Coordination of vaccination delivery with PCN clinical teams and providers
• Administration of vaccines within competency
• Support outbreak prevention planning in care homes through timely data provision

2.4 Care Coordination and Navigation PCN DES Personalised Care Model

The post holder will:

• Act as a point of contact for patients requiring care co-ordination support
• Support navigation across health, social care, and voluntary sector services
• Facilitate access to:
• Social prescribing link workers
• Community and voluntary sector services
• Rehabilitation and support services
• Support patients and carers to understand:
• PCSPs
• Care pathways
• Follow-up actions from MDTs
• Escalate safeguarding or clinical concerns in line with PCN policies

2.5 Structured Clinical Support HCA/Nurse Associate Function within PCN DES Delivery

In support of PCN anticipatory care and long-term condition management, the post holder will within competency:

• Undertake and record baseline clinical observations, including:
• Blood pressure
• Pulse
• Oxygen saturation
• Temperature
• Weight / BMI
• Support long-term condition monitoring pathways, including:
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• COPD and asthma
• Support identification of:
• Clinical deterioration
• Frailty escalation
• Increased risk of admission
• Escalate abnormal findings promptly to registered clinicians in accordance with PCN SOPs

2.6 Discharge and Transfer of Care Unplanned Admission Avoidance

In line with PCN DES admission avoidance objectives, the post holder will:

• Monitor discharge notifications from secondary care and community settings
• Ensure follow-up actions are coordinated within 7 days of discharge
• Support reconciliation of:
• Medication changes (with pharmacy/clinical teams)
• Care plans and PCSP updates
• Clinical monitoring requirements
• Liaise with:
• Hospital discharge teams
• Community services
• Care homes
• PCN clinical pharmacists and GPs

2.7 Population Health Management & Data Quality

In alignment with PCN DES population health requirements, the post holder will:

• Maintain accurate registers for:
• Frailty cohort
• Care home residents
• Long-term conditions
• Vaccination status
• End-of-life ACP registers
• Ensure accurate clinical coding in line with NHS standards:
• Frailty e.g. Rockwood CFS
• Care planning status
• Immunisation records
• TEP ACP documentation
• Support PCN reporting requirements including:
• EHCH service delivery metrics
• Vaccination uptake
• Admission avoidance indicators
• PCN DES contractual reporting

4. Key Interfaces

In line with PCN DES multidisciplinary working:

PCN Core Team

• GPs clinical leadership
• PCN pharmacists
• Social prescribing link workers
• First contact practitioners AHPs
• Mental health practitioners
• Nursing and HCA workforce

External Partners

• Care homes EHCH framework
• Community health services
• Acute hospital discharge teams
• Local authority social care
• Voluntary and community sector organisations

5. Key Performance Indicators PCN DES Aligned

Performance will be measured against PCN DES and EHCH outcomes:

• Percentage of eligible patients with up-to-date PCSPs
• Timeliness of MDT review and action completion
• Vaccination uptake rates in priority cohorts
• Timeliness of post-discharge follow-up within 7 days
• Reduction in avoidable emergency admissions in frailty cohort
• Coverage of care home residents within EHCH framework
• Patient and carer experience of coordinated care

6. Competency and Training Requirements NHSE Aligned

• HCA/Nurse Associate/Care Certificate or equivalent qualification
• Competence in clinical observations and escalation protocols
• Understanding of PCN DES, EHCH, and personalised care frameworks
• Knowledge of frailty and population health management principles
• Experience of MDT working in primary care or community settings
• Data quality, coding, and clinical system literacy
• Safeguarding adults and children level training
• Understanding of vaccination programmes and eligibility criteria
• Ability to work within clinical governance and delegated responsibility frameworks

• Flexibility Clause

  The duties of this role may evolve in line with PCN priorities, ARRS guidance, QOF, and DES requirements.

Governance Statement

This role operates within the PCN DES contractual framework and NHSE clinical governance requirements. This job description may is not exhaustive and may change in line with organisational contractual and service delivery requirements. All clinical activity is undertaken under appropriate delegation, supervision, and competency assurance. The post holder is required to escalate any clinical concerns outside their scope of practice in line with PCN escalation policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered nursing associate and on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register - Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified in the Nursing Midwifery Standards of proficiency by having undertaken and completed the two-year Foundation Degree delivered by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved provider where applicable (Nurse Associate) OR Level 3 HCA qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within health, social care, community or voluntary sector services
• Understanding of proactive care, frailty, long term conditions and population health approach
• Experience of co-ordinating services and managing caseloads, with strong organisational skills
• Ability to work independently and also as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels inc patients and carers, specialist services, GPs and colleagues.
• Listening skills displaying empathy.
• Good technical literacy of Microsoft Applications e.g. Word, Excel, and Outlook etc.

Desirable

• An understanding of the nature of general practice and Primary Care Networks
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations including the voluntary sector
• Experience of using GP clinical systems, such as SystmOne

Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and clinical policy and procedure
• Knowledge of and ability to work to key policies and procedures
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• Committed to holistic person centred care
• Ability to work within own limitations and refer to senior colleagues or GPs when appropriate
• Ability to work flexibly to meet PCN and practice demands
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Excellent communication skills and effective in communicating and understanding patient needs
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to cope with a busy working environment, with periods of interruption throughout the day
• Demonstrate a willingness to participate in shaping the future of the organisation by taking on responsibilities and projects in addition to core workload

Other requirements

Essential

• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Access to own transport with ability to travel across the PCN as required

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Ability to undertake patient reviews, including height, weight, BP, pulse and BMI etc.
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to colleagues
• Clinical IT system user skills and the ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• Chaperone procedure

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Ability to perform Venepuncture
• Competency in delivery of vaccines

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

Hartlepool Network

Address

West View Millenium Surgery

West

Hartlepool

TS24 9LJ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) will have expert clinical knowledge and skills. They have the freedom and authority to act and make autonomous decisions in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.

The ANP provides an opportunity for patients to avoid the need to be referred to a GP, thereby enabling them to receive timely care and negate unnecessary delay in receiving treatment.

ANPs in primary care can develop close, long-term relationships with their patients and work in partnership with them to achieve optimum health. They are autonomous in making decisions based on assessment, diagnosis and interpretation of test results. They can independently prescribe appropriate medication, evaluate or refer to other specialists if necessary.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of practice within the four pillars
• Job plan that demonstrates advanced nursing practice and has equity with peers working at this level
• Experience of prescribing and undertaking medication reviews

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse with Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Masters degree required for qualification post December 2020 refer to RCN Credentialing for Advanced Level of Nursing Practice.
• or
• Post graduate diploma or degree for Advanced Practice Qualification up to December 2020
• Qualified Independent Nurse Prescriber on the NMC register
• Meets NMC revalidation requirements in accordance with the NMC Revalidation booklet
• Meets the standards for registered ANP working at advanced level

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• Polite and confident, flexible and cooperative
• Motivated, forward thinker
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations as well as ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations

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

West Quay Medical Practice

Address

The Health Centre

Victoria Road

Hartlepool

TS26 8DF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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