Job overview
Are you a pharmacist seeking a greater sense of purpose and looking to make positive interventions with patients and other healthcare professionals? If you are looking for a rewarding clinically-focused career in hospital pharmacy, look no further! At Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust we are committed to this vision and are passionate about supporting pharmacists who are willing to join us on this exciting journey.
We are looking for a dedicated, enthusiastic, patient-focused and motivated clinical pharmacist with a strong clinical background to lead, deliver, develop, manage and evaluate the service provision to the Acute Medicine Service Line and to contribute to the future development of the clinical pharmacy service provision to the ED department.
As a GDE exemplar site, we are a digitally advanced Trust with ePMA in place since 2015, an Automated Dispensing System on each site and a wide range of other innovative digital solutions. We have an excellent support network for pharmacists of all grades and are unwavering in our commitment to your personal development.
Main duties of the job
To provide specialist pharmacist input to daily MDT board rounds and participate in consultant-led ward rounds where appropriate.
To supervise and be a role model for other pharmacists in order to lead, plan and develop an advanced specialist clinical pharmacy service, which is consistent with the priorities and needs of the Acute Medicine Service Line. This should also be in line with local and national policies and best practice.
To support the Principal Pharmacist- Acute/ED and the Pharmacy Department in meeting its risk, financial management and clinical governance responsibilities around the use of medicines through effective guideline, policy and SOP development and review and for delivering the defined service Key Performance Indicators.
To deliver specialist pharmaceutical care including (where applicable) non-medical prescribing to a defined caseload of patients, in line with the agreed scope of practice, undertaking risk management and ensuring compliance with local and national clinical guidance.
To lead and develop clinical pharmacy audit and practice research within the speciality, and to take an active part in service improvement projects to support patient safety.
To undertake clinical supervision of junior pharmacists, medicines management pharmacy technicians and pre-registration pharmacists.
To act as a professional role model to all clinical pharmacy staff, actively demonstrating integrity, ownership and leadership.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To read more information about this role and the main job duties and responsibilities, please open the "Job Description" and "Person Specification" documents located under the "Documents to download" heading.
Pharmacy Leadership and management
· To lead, coach, provide high quality clinical supervision and mentorship and manage the performance of the junior staff in line with good people management practices, ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed
· To develop, implement and monitor pharmacy services to ensure they are consistent with Trust priorities and requirements and are aligned to the over-arching patient focussed ethos of the pharmacy service whilst ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.
· To provide the Clinical Service Line and Principal Pharmacist Acute and Complex care with regular assurance that the pharmacy service is meeting agreed Key Performance Indicators.
·To manage line reports absences including sickness, in line with Trust policy, ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, ward rota is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
· To actively manage, train and asses the day to day activities of Rotational Pharmacists, Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians, Medicines Management Assistants and Pre-Registration Pharmacists to deliver a safe and responsive clinical and operationally effective service
· To participate in regular performance appraisal meetings with direct reports and ensure they have a clear set of objectives and development plans.
· To ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.
·To provide specialist pharmaceutical advice to the multidisciplinary team on the legal, ethical, safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines, ensuring compliance with medicine legislation and national clinical guidelines.
·To use specialist clinical knowledge to contribute to the development and implementation of policies and guidelines which ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines.
·To identify potential new treatments in liaison with Medicines Information and use specialist clinical knowledge to advise Consultants and Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) of the financial, safety, clinical and cost-effective use and impact of these treatments within the specified patient population
· To identify developments to improve the management of medicines and medicine optimisation requirements of patients and support the Principal Pharmacist Acute and Complex care in the development of appropriate business cases
·To review adverse clinical incidents relating to medicines use across Acute wards and ED, and support the Principal Pharmacist Acute and Complex care and Medication Safety Pharmacist in developing strategies to minimise risks during the use of medicines
·To provide Medicines Governance and leadership within the multidisciplinary team responsible for the care of the patient group, linking closely with the Patient Safety / Patient Experience Clinical Lead.
·To line manage and appraise clinical pharmacists as requested by the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager.
Prescribing Practice
· To provide expert pharmacy advice to Acute medical patients, including participation in MDT rounds, consultant-led ward rounds and board rounds
· Responsible for the appropriate management of patients referred for medicines optimisation/medicines reconciliation input or who otherwise fall within the agreed scope of practice
· To work with consultants and the pharmacy team to promote best practice in the pharmaceutical care of patients in line with national and local guidance. These policies will require co-ordination with a wide range of other professionals and will impact on prescribing practice across the speciality
· To provide appropriate training and education to medical, nursing and pharmacy staff
· To provide educational sessions to patient groups through participation in and advice to other staff involved in rehabilitation sessions
· To produce and update clinical guidelines, policies and SOPs relating to medicines use and optimisation for use by medical, nursing, pharmacy and other healthcare staff
· To audit and monitor adherence to use of medicine guidelines, providing feedback to the Clinical Service Line and individual prescribers, using expert knowledge of medicines use to make recommendations to changes in practice
·To plan and undertake audit and research projects to improve pharmaceutical care
· To use expert knowledge of medicines use to answer enquiries from pharmacy, medical and nursing staff relating to individual patient care and treatment policies and protocols
· To review reports of medicines use produced by Define and other reporting software, using expert knowledge to provide interpretation and to include suggestions for modifying prescribing behaviour in outlying areas and to improve clinical and cost-effective prescribing
· To establish links with other medical and non-medical prescribers and specialists to share good practice and develop the role of the prescribing pharmacist
Clinical
·To assist the multi-disciplinary team in the pharmaceutical care of each patient by:
·Promoting medicines optimisation and patient centred care. Actively contribute to clinically optimising patients’ complex medication regimes in order to aid adherence to medication
·Participating in consultant ward rounds, MDT meetings and board rounds, providing clinical and financial advice if appropriate
·Providing the Clinical Service Line and Principal Pharmacist Acute/Complex care with regular assurance that the pharmacy service is meeting agreed Key Performance Indicators
·Promoting rational, safe and economic use of medicines
·Research and provision of answers to queries raised on any aspect of patients’ medicines
·Providing information and negotiating with clinical staff to ensure compliance with formulary, guidelines, DTC decisions, and other pharmacy related strategies
·Providing advice to other specialist and clinical pharmacists within the defined clinical speciality
·Contributing to the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients participating in clinical trials, including reviewing trial protocols and liaising with the pharmacy clinical trials team
·To support specialist teams and consultants through designated pharmacy input and attendance at MDTs, ward rounds, and support with protocols & guidance
·To apply specialist clinical knowledge and judgment to analyse information, at times where evidence may be lacking, in order to negotiate the optimal clinical outcome
·To apply specialist clinical knowledge to analyse complex patient information to ensure the optimal clinical outcome
·To act as a role model for pharmacy staff.
Education and Training
·To participate in the regular clinical training and supervision of Foundation and other grade pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
·To participate in regular specialist training in-house and in local and national specialist training events
·To provide education and training for patients and their carers on the safe and effective use of their medicines
·To plan, deliver and evaluate education and training to pharmacy and other staff, including medical and nursing staff, in relation to safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines
·To participate in the provision and evaluation of training in pharmaceutical care for undergraduates, pre-registration and all grades of pharmacists including those studying for a Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy. This may include being a pre-registration pharmacist tutor and/or a Diploma Educational Supervisor
·To participate in the provision and evaluation of training in prescribing for junior medical staff
·To contribute to the development of strategies to meet the training needs of staff providing patient care within the specified patient population or speciality
·To develop recognition as a national expert within the speciality, using the RPS Faculty or equivalent processes where appropriate and to demonstrate excellence level expert professional practice.
·To personally fulfil the General Pharmaceutical Council CPD requirements and support managed staff to do the same
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree
GphC registration
Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Practice
Desirable criteria
Independent prescriber
Clinical Diploma tutor/Educational Supervisor
Management/Leadership courses
Experience
Essential criteria
Substantial experience in secondary care, including experience in Acute/Admissions wards
Experience in training and supervising staff
Policy, audit and service development experience
Desirable criteria
Staff line management experience
Experience of Education & Training to pharmacist and other MDT members
Demonstrable evidence of undertaking research and audit and using the results to improve patient care.
Skills
Essential criteria
Good written and verbal skills
Ability to influence other professionals & communicate at consultant level
Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
Desirable criteria
Ability to lead & implement directorate level strategies
Team player
Enthusiastic about development of pharmacy services
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust
Lewsey Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU4 0DZ
Telephone
