Primary Care Network Clinical Pharmacist (0.6 WTE)
Job Title
Primary Care Network Clinical Pharmacist
Location
Newcastle Central Primary Care Network
Hours
22.5 hours per week (0.6 WTE)
Contract
Permanent
Salary
Band 7 equivalent depending on qualifications and experience
Responsible To
PCN Business Manager and Clinical Director
Accountable To
Newcastle Central PCN Board
The closing date is 15 July 2026
Job summary
Newcastle Central PCN serves over 40,000 patients across six GP practices and has an established, highly regarded pharmacy team delivering medicines optimisation services across the network.
We are seeking an enthusiastic Clinical Pharmacist to join the team on a 0.6 WTE (22.5 hours per week) basis. This role offers an exciting opportunity to combine patient-facing clinical work with quality improvement, prescribing optimisation and service development. The successful candidate will support delivery of our Medicines Optimisation SLA, undertake structured medication reviews, contribute to long-term condition management and work closely with practices to improve prescribing quality, safety and efficiency.
You will work alongside experienced pharmacists and pharmacy technicians supporting a range of PCN priorities including medicines optimisation, prescribing quality improvement, cardiovascular disease prevention, care home support, structured medication reviews and multidisciplinary team working. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced pharmacist looking to further develop a career within primary care and integrated neighbourhood working.
Main duties of the job
Deliver medicines optimisation projects and initiatives in line with PCN, ICB and NHS priorities.
Support delivery of the Medicines Optimisation SLA across Newcastle Central PCN.
Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with complex medication needs, frailty, polypharmacy and long term conditions.
Support proactive management of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and other long term conditions.
Provide medicines-related advice and support to GPs, nurses, pharmacy technicians and wider practice teams.
Identify opportunities to improve prescribing quality, safety and cost effectiveness.
Undertake prescribing audits, searches and quality improvement projects.
Support medicines safety work, prescribing governance and implementation of national guidance.
Contribute to care home support, frailty services and multidisciplinary team working, including the Proactive FACT Team.
Deliver education and training to practice teams and support implementation of prescribing pathways and protocols.
About us
Newcastle Central PCN serves over 40,000 patients across six practices and is committed to delivering proactive, preventative and patient centred care.
You will work alongside a highly supportive multidisciplinary team including GPs, pharmacists, advanced practitioners, care coordinators, social prescribers and our innovative Proactive FACT Team. The role offers flexibility, professional autonomy and the opportunity to make a tangible difference to patients who require timely nutritional support.
As a developing service, there will be opportunities to shape pathways, influence future service delivery and contribute to innovative models of integrated care across primary and community services.
Job responsibilities
The Clinical Pharmacist will work as part of Newcastle Central PCN's multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality medicines optimisation services across six member practices serving over 40,000 patients.
The postholder will support delivery of the Medicines Optimisation Service Level Agreement (SLA), structured medication reviews, prescribing quality improvement initiatives and wider PCN priorities. They will work collaboratively with practices to improve prescribing quality, safety and cost-effectiveness whilst supporting patients with complex medication needs and long-term conditions.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Medicines Optimisation
- Deliver medicines optimisation projects in line with PCN, ICB and NHS priorities.
- Support achievement of Medicines Optimisation SLA requirements.
- Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with complex medication needs.
- Identify opportunities to improve prescribing quality, safety and cost-effectiveness.
- Review and optimise prescribing in line with local formularies and evidence-based guidance.
- Support implementation of medicines safety alerts and prescribing guidance.
- Promote safe and effective use of medicines.
- Assist practices in reducing inappropriate prescribing and medicines waste.
Structured Medication Reviews
- Undertake person-centred structured medication reviews.
- Support patients with polypharmacy, frailty and multiple long-term conditions.
- Promote shared decision-making and personalised care.
- Improve medicines adherence and patient understanding of treatment plans.
- Reduce medicines-related harm and optimise clinical outcomes.
Long-Term Condition Management
- Support proactive management of patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease and other long-term conditions.
- Deliver clinical reviews within scope of competence and prescribing qualifications.
- Contribute to prevention and early intervention initiatives.
- Support delivery of PCN and practice long-term condition programmes.
Prescribing Quality Improvement
- Undertake prescribing audits and clinical searches.
- Analyse prescribing data and identify improvement opportunities.
- Support practices to achieve prescribing quality indicators.
- Contribute to implementation of local and national prescribing priorities.
- Support achievement of QOF, enhanced service and quality improvement objectives where appropriate.
Care Home and Frailty Support
- Support medicines optimisation for care home residents.
- Contribute to frailty and multidisciplinary team reviews.
- Support vulnerable patients with complex medication regimens.
- Work alongside the PCN's Proactive FACT Team and wider MDT partners.
Practice Support
- Provide medicines-related advice to GPs, nurses and wider practice teams.
- Support implementation of prescribing pathways and clinical guidance.
- Assist practices with prescribing queries and medicines management issues.
- Deliver training and education to practice staff.
- Support development of practice medicines management processes.
Population Health and Health Inequalities
- Use population health intelligence to identify patients who may benefit from medicines optimisation interventions.
- Support initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities.
- Contribute to preventative healthcare programmes and proactive care initiatives.
Multidisciplinary Team Working
- Work collaboratively with GPs, pharmacy technicians, nurses, care coordinators, social prescribers, paramedics and other healthcare professionals.
- Participate in MDT meetings and case discussions.
- Support integrated care across primary, community and secondary care services.
Governance and Professional Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records.
- Adhere to GPhC standards and professional requirements.
- Participate in appraisal, supervision and continuing professional development.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, information governance and confidentiality requirements.
- Participate in audit and quality improvement activity.
- Contribute to service development and evaluation.
General Responsibilities
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Act in accordance with NHS values and behaviours.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master of Pharmacy Degree (MPharm) or equivalent
- Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Commitment to completing the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway if not already completed
Desirable
- Independent Prescriber qualification
- Completion of Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway
- Postgraduate clinical qualification
- Membership of relevant professional organisations
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent clinical assessment and decision-making skills
- Strong communication and consultation skills
- Ability to build effective relationships with patients and colleagues
- Ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to interpret and utilise prescribing data
- Competent IT skills including Microsoft Office and clinical systems
Desirable
- Experience delivering education and training
- Project management and quality improvement skills
- Experience presenting data and outcomes to stakeholders
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Professional, patient-centred approach
- Motivated and proactive
- Flexible and adaptable
- Commitment to high-quality patient care
- Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development
- Ability to work collaboratively and support colleagues
Other Requirements
Essential
- Full UK driving licence and access to transport, or ability to travel between PCN sites.
- Ability to work across all six Newcastle Central PCN practices.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet service needs.
Desirable
- Experience working across multiple clinical sites.
- Understanding of the challenges and opportunities within Primary Care Networks.
Experience
Essential
- Post-registration experience as a pharmacist
- Experience of medicines optimisation and clinical medication review
- Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams
- Experience of applying evidence-based prescribing guidance
- Experience managing patients with long-term conditions
- Experience communicating complex clinical information to patients and healthcare professionals
Desirable
- Experience working in General Practice or Primary Care Networks
- Experience delivering Structured Medication Reviews
- Experience supporting care homes
- Experience working with frailty or complex elderly patients
- Experience delivering prescribing quality improvement projects
- Experience using EMIS Web and associated reporting tools
- Experience supervising pharmacy technicians, trainee pharmacists or students
Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent understanding of medicines optimisation principles
- Knowledge of prescribing governance and medicines safety
- Knowledge of NICE guidance and evidence-based prescribing
- Understanding of structured medication reviews
- Knowledge of polypharmacy and deprescribing principles
- Understanding of long-term condition management
- Knowledge of safeguarding and information governance requirements
Desirable
- Knowledge of PCN DES requirements and ARRS roles.
- Knowledge of population health management.
- Understanding of health inequalities and preventative healthcare.
- Knowledge of local prescribing priorities and medicines optimisation programmes.
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.
Pay: £46,700.00-£50,200.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Education:
Experience:
- Clinical pharmacy: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- GPhC registration (required)
Work Location: In person
