We wish to appoint a non-medical Independent Prescriber (Nurse, Allied Health Professional or Pharmacist) to join our Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS) at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on a fixed-term basis, specifically to support the delivery of the weight management medication pathway.
The primary purpose of the role is to provide additional prescribing capacity for patients receiving weight management medication, including GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist therapies, as part of the Specialist Weight Management Service.
Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will undertake prescribing consultations for patients who have been assessed as suitable for pharmacological treatment, initiate and titrate medication in accordance with relevant NICE guidance, local policies and agreed treatment pathways, and provide ongoing medication review and monitoring.
The post holder will work autonomously as an Independent Prescriber and will be professionally accountable for their own prescribing decisions and actions. They will be expected to review relevant clinical information to ensure that prescribing remains safe and appropriate, including medical history, current medication, relevant investigation results and information provided through the patient's clinical record.
The post holder will:
- Undertake face-to-face and remote prescribing and medication review consultations.
- Initiate, prescribe and titrate weight management medication, including GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist therapies, in line with national guidance and agreed local pathways.
- Review relevant clinical information and investigation results to ensure safe and appropriate prescribing.
- Request appropriate blood tests and investigations for medication monitoring, and interpret and act on results within their scope of competence.
- Monitor treatment response, tolerability and adverse effects, making appropriate decisions regarding dose adjustment, continuation or discontinuation.
- Provide patients with medication advice and appropriate safety-netting, and respond to medication-related queries.
- Identify contraindications, clinical and medicines-related risks, and recognise when further assessment, specialist advice or escalation is required.
- Communicate and work collaboratively with the SWMS multidisciplinary team, GPs and other healthcare professionals to support safe, coordinated care.
- Contribute to prescribing pathways, protocols, audit, quality improvement and clinical governance activities as appropriate.
The Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS) is part of the Department of Dietetics, a dynamic and forward-thinking department operating across both hospital sites. The Department is structured across three key portfolios: Nutrition and Dietetics, including inpatient services, renal, oncology, nutrition support, education and adult diabetes; the Home Enteral Feeding Service, providing care for adults and children requiring enteral feeding across the county; and the Specialist Weight Management Service.
SWMS is a specialist service supporting adults living with obesity who meet the service eligibility criteria. We are a multidisciplinary team comprising dietitians, psychologists and non-medical prescribers, with access to medical advice and support where required. Strong multidisciplinary working is central to the service, bringing together expertise in nutrition, psychology and pharmacological management to provide evidence-based, person-centred and coordinated care.
The Department has an ambitious and evolving vision, striving to become a recognised centre of excellence for dietetics regionally and nationally. Staff are encouraged and supported to contribute to service development, evaluation, research, innovation and teaching, with opportunities to help shape and improve the services we provide.
1. Clinical and Prescribing Responsibilities
- Undertake independent prescribing and medication review consultations for patients receiving weight management medication, through face-to-face and remote consultations as appropriate.
- Review existing clinical assessments and treatment plans and determine whether it remains clinically appropriate and safe to initiate or continue weight management medication.
- Initiate, prescribe and titrate weight management medication, including GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist therapies, in accordance with relevant national guidance, local formulary and commissioning arrangements, and agreed SWMS clinical pathways.
- Review relevant clinical information, including medical history, allergies, co-morbidities, current medication, contraindications, precautions and investigation results, to support safe and appropriate prescribing.
- Undertake appropriate medicines reconciliation and review relevant co-morbidities and concurrent medication where these may affect, or be affected by, weight management treatment, making appropriate recommendations regarding medicines optimisation or further management.
- Request or arrange appropriate blood tests and other investigations required for safe prescribing and monitoring, and interpret and act upon results within professional scope of practice and competence.
- Ensure that appropriate clinical and laboratory monitoring has been undertaken and take appropriate action where required monitoring is incomplete, overdue or requires further review.
- Monitor treatment response, tolerability and adverse effects, making appropriate decisions regarding dose titration, continuation, temporary interruption or discontinuation of treatment.
- Recognise and manage medication-related adverse effects and suspected adverse drug reactions, reporting these in accordance with relevant local and national requirements where appropriate.
- Provide patients with clear information and advice regarding their medication, including expected benefits, potential adverse effects, safe use, relevant precautions and appropriate safety-netting.
- Respond to medication-related queries from patients and healthcare professionals within the post holder's scope of practice and competence.
- Identify clinical risks or changes in a patient's condition that may affect the safety or appropriateness of treatment, taking appropriate action and seeking further clinical or medical assessment or specialist advice where required.
- Contribute to wider clinical assessment, triage and complex case review where appropriate, according to service need and the post holder's professional scope of practice and competence.
- Document clinical assessments, prescribing decisions, clinical rationale, monitoring requirements and follow-up plans clearly and contemporaneously, and communicate relevant information to other healthcare professionals as required.
- Practise in accordance with relevant professional standards and Trust medicines policies, maintaining professional accountability for their own prescribing decisions and actions.
2. Communication and Multidisciplinary Working
- Work collaboratively with the wider SWMS multidisciplinary team to support coordinated and person-centred care.
- Participate in multidisciplinary discussions and contribute prescribing and medicines-related expertise to clinical decision-making.
- Communicate effectively with GPs, primary care colleagues, specialist teams and other health and social care professionals regarding medication management, monitoring and transfer of care.
- Provide specialist advice within the post holder's area of competence to patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals.
3. Service Development and Clinical Governance
- Contribute to the development, implementation and review of clinical pathways, prescribing guidance, protocols and standard operating procedures relating to weight management medication.
- Participate in clinical governance activities, including audit, quality improvement, service evaluation, incident review and research where appropriate.
- Support the safe and effective introduction of new weight management treatments and implementation of changes to national or local prescribing guidance.
- Contribute to monitoring service activity, clinical outcomes and medication-related safety as required.
4. Professional Development, Education and Training
- Maintain professional registration and prescribing competence through continuing professional development and appropriate clinical and professional supervision.
- Participate in clinical supervision, case discussion and learning with medical colleagues and other prescribers where appropriate.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of weight management pharmacotherapy, evidence-based practice and relevant national guidance.
- Contribute to the education and development of members of the SWMS multidisciplinary team and wider healthcare community where appropriate.
Additional Contact Details
Long Li (Head of Dietetics)
[email protected]