Summary
An opportunity has arisen for a clinical lead / mentor for the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescriber Pathfinder Programme in Greater Manchester.
The opportunity is for one session per week until March 2025.
Background
NHS England’s Community Pharmacy Independent Prescriber Pathfinder Programme is a nationally funded programme which aims to establish a framework for the future commissioning of NHS community pharmacy clinical services incorporating independent prescribing for patients in primary care.
Community pharmacy independent prescribers have been in place for several years, but have not, to date, been commissioned to deliver NHS services, and so have been supporting patients with prescribing on a private basis. The programme recognises that harnessing the skills and workforce capabilities of pharmacist prescribers, and enhancing pharmacy technician roles, will expand capacity within primary care for patients needing access to prescription only treatments.
The programme comprises of pilot sites, referred to as ‘pathfinder’ sites which enable a community pharmacist prescriber to support primary care clinical services.
NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) has ten pathfinder sites, and more than 25 community pharmacy prescribers commissioned to run clinics in their pharmacies for patients with minor illnesses, respiratory conditions, and hypertension.
The role
The role of the clinical lead / mentor will be to provide clinical leadership, oversight, support and consultation to the prescribers working at the pathfinder sites across Greater Manchester. They will support improved quality of patient care through professional practice and reflection, develop insights, refine care standards and increase confidence of the community pharmacy prescribers.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a ground-breaking pathfinder programme which will be instrumental in shaping the future of community pharmacy services and the place of community pharmacy within primary care, as well as supporting and improving collaborative working between general practice and community pharmacy.
Please note that the clinical lead / mentor will not be expected to provide clinical supervision for the community pharmacy independent prescribers as this is the responsibility of their employer, and each pathfinder site has a Non-Medical Prescribing (NMP) policy in place to cover these aspects.
The role will comprise a maximum of one session per week until 31 March 2025.
Non-medical, as well as medical prescribers, are encouraged to apply for the role.
A job role description and letter from Alison Scowcroft, Community Pharmacy Clinical Lead at NHS Greater Manchester and Luvjit Kandula, Chair of Greater Manchester Primary Care Provider Board and Community Pharmacy Provider Board, is available with further details about the role.
How to apply
CVs, along with a covering letter outlining experience to support education and clinical mentorship for pharmacy and/or general practice, should be sent to: viaductcarehr@nhs.net
For any questions about the role, please contact: Alison.Scowcroft@nhs.net
Closing date for applications is Thursday 13 June, 2024.
Interviews will take place week commencing 17 June 2024 via MS Teams.
