Head of Medicines Management - Wirral

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This will be varied and will adapt over time as the Medicines Optimisation and Pharmacy function develops. However, the postholder is expected to fulfil the following key functions:-

• Develop, manage and implement ICB medicine optimisation and pharmacy priorities at Place through joint working with PCNs, providers, Local Authority. Influence and input into medicines optimisation and pharmacy work at a Cheshire and Merseyside, North-West region and national level.
• Manage, develop and deliver/facilitate the delivery of clinical pharmacy services to place in line with the ICB’s target operating model for medicines optimisation.
• Produce and develop processes and manage the processes to ensure improvement in prescribing and Medicines Management in the General Practices and PCNs
• Produce, implement and deliver improvements to the use of medicines for the Place population through pharmaceutical public health.
• Lead and work closely with local stakeholders on developments to ensure the improvement of management of medicines across the primary and secondary care interface.
• Oversee a Medicines Safety Officer role within Place.
• Setting of individual GP practice and service prescribing budgets and manage these prescribing budgets for the Place.
• Support the ICB development and implementation of local commissioning of services from community pharmacists.
• Provide support and/or lead on ICB wide medicines optimisation and pharmacy programmes and associated ICB policies e.g., care homes, controlled drugs, high-cost drugs, QIPP, PGDs, antimicrobial resistance, safety and quality, Non-Medical Prescribing.
• Ensure the use of medicines is optimised e.g.,in place and ICB care pathway development and across the interface between primary and secondary care.
• Manage and direct the Wirral Place Medicines Management Team.

The main duties and responsibilities described above are not exhaustive and the post holder can expect to take on other responsibilities or specific tasks as required.

Managerial

• Develop, manage and implement ICB medicine optimisation and pharmacy priorities at Place through joint working with PCNs, providers and Local Authorities., ensuring that the Medicines Management Team members are aware of their lead roles and devolved responsibilities.
• Lead responsibility for the overall and appropriate management / distribution of the Place prescribing budget.
• Implement and monitor the Place Prescribing Incentive Scheme.
• Identify prescribing outliers and, in collaboration with the GP Medicines Management lead implement plans to address the issues identified.
• Manage team staffing budget plus associated project budgets.
• Manage/ or support the management the prescribing budget delegated to Place including providing expert knowledge and advice in relation to future forecasting, mitigation plans and in depth understanding of the spend.
• Direct/ manage the members of the Medicines Management Team.
• Responsibility for recruitment, appraisal, discipline, career development and long-term personal development of members of the Medicines Management Team.
• Identify potential developments in healthcare involving medicines and contribute to strategic policy decisions to ensure that clinical resource implications for purchasers are given due priority during service implementation.
• Advise, consult and input on strategies for the managed entry of new drugs and review existing drugs with new indications to monitor the effectiveness of those strategies.
• To be responsible for regular performance monitoring of the Place on issues relating to the Medicines Management agenda, reporting within the Place governance structure and providing assurance to ICB committees as needed.
• To input into bids for national initiatives.
• To manage the process to ensure probity and equity guidelines are followed in relation to working with the pharmaceutical industry and sponsorship in line with the ICB Policies.
• Ensure that the statutory obligations relating to medicines and professional standards are met throughout Place and lead/support the development of ICB policies to ensure compliance.
• Oversee the implementation and monitoring of relevant NICE guidance and other national guidance.
• Participate in the Medicines Management patient media and public campaigns, including attendance at local community groups and public arenas.
• To investigate incidents of potential fraud and poor practice and recommend actions to the ICB.
• Ascertain that commissioned and contracted services meet legal and ethical requirements for the management of medicines.
• Be accountable for the delivery of Wirral Place annual quality and cost improvement plan in relation to prescribing and medicines. These will be enabled through close working relationship with PCNs
• Ensuring information is properly managed and best practice is shared across the team, Locality and the wider NHS organisations.
• Represent Wirral Place at various Medicines Optimisation and Pharmacy related groups across the health economy to ensure engagement with regard to new drug introductions, shared care responsibilities, joint formularies, therapeutic guidelines, antimicrobial stewardship.
• Drive and lead on the formation, development, implementation and improvement of processes, policies and protocols in medicines and prescribing.
• Identify and assess opportunities for prescribing improvement, quality and efficiencies.
• Interpretation of national guidance, and advising management team of options for implementation, and to set goals and standards.
• To support the implementation of the ICB Non-Medical Prescribing Policy at Place.
• To support the implementation of the ICB PGD Policy at Place.

Leadership

• Involvement in strategic planning with ICB colleagues to ensure appropriate services are developed wherever medicines are involved.
• Establish effective collaborative working arrangements across the health and social care system to ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines.
• Ensure that the statutory obligations relating to medicines and professional standards are met via advice and/or implementation as appropriate.
• Support development of the ICB Medicines Optimisation and Pharmacy priorities including the annual Medicines Management QIPP plan and be responsible for the leadership, management and delivery of the QIPP plan at Place.
• Provide support and/or lead on ICB wide medicines optimisation and pharmacy programmes and associated ICB policies e.g. care homes, controlled drugs, high-cost drugs, QIPP, PGDs, antimicrobial resistance, safety and quality, Non-medical Prescribing.
• Responsibility for ensuring that information sources shared and or provided (including digital) are evidence based, accurate and appropriate for local and ICS implementation.

Clinical

• Interpret prescribing and associated patient outcome data and provide performance management reports where required, using professional judgement to decide on the clinical issues to be addressed utilising local trend data and targets as laid out.
• Prioritise other areas of prescribing / pharmacy development in line with the ICB priorities and national guidance such as NICE.
• Ensure that the Medicines Management Team are providing appropriate advice and support to patients, either directly or via GPs around concordance and medication review.
• Provide professional advice on management of cases of complex individual care.
• Respond to individual patient concerns/issues as directed by the ICB.
• Provide expert advice on the commissioning of new technologies and associated resources management.
• Ensure extended prescribing rights and patient group directions to be used by nurses and other health professionals are introduced safely and suitable governance arrangements are in place.
• Undertake independent prescribing as required by the ICB.

 Training and Education

• Possess a Pharmacy Degree and be registered with the GPhC.
• Possess a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, or higher qualification.
• Maintain and plan own professional accreditation and CPD as required by GPhC.
• To support the development of prescribing and patient group directions amongst other professionals such as nurses and professions allied to medicines.
• Lead an education programme on Medicines Management for all health professionals within Place and across the ICB as needed.
• Ensure Medicines Management Team staff are involved in embedding clinical governance principles into their day to day working.
• Organise the induction of new members of the Medicines Management Team.

 Research and Audit

• Lead the development of clinical audit activities to monitor and through quality improvement methodology improve prescribing practice and appropriate use of NICE guidance.
• Lead and participate in clinical governance audits of the Medicines Management Team activities.
• Support the development of pharmacy staff across the ICS to be involved in develop, and undertake research related to medicines, pharmacy and medicines optimisation.
• Be responsible for coordinating local, regional or national research and development in relation to medicines, pharmacy and medicines optimisation within the ICS place.
• To disseminate knowledge gained during study or research and develop projects through presentation at local, national and international meetings and publications