Senior Specialist Clinical Pharmacist

Nottingham University Hospitals is one of the UK's largest and busiest acute teaching hospital Trusts and has a national and international reputation for many of its specialist services and expertise.


An exciting 6 month opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, motivated and forward thinking Specialist Clinical Rheumatology Pharmacist to deliver and lead on developing pharmacy services within Rheumatology at NUH.


The successful post holder will be working directly with our Rheumatology Consultants and nurse specialists and will be an integral part of our Rheumatology Multidisciplinary Team. The role involves participating in outpatient clinics and having an active role as an independent prescriber conducting patient assessments and being involved in the prescribing of DMARDs, biologics and specialist medicines.


This post will also support clinical governance processes, such as development of guidelines, policies and procedures,


Although this role provides an excellent opportunity for an experienced clinical pharmacist to develop further as an Advanced level practitioner, however we welcome applications from pharmacists with varied Rheumatology experience. Hospital experience is desirable but not essential as role development support will be provided.
To provide highly specialist clinical pharmacist input to the Rheumatology Specialty and wider Rheumatology outpatient service


To proactively deliver, develop and evaluate specialist clinical pharmacy services to Rheumatology patients across NUH.


To participate in outpatient Rheumatology clinics providing highly specialist Pharmaceutical care to a defined group of patients, either as a member of the multidisciplinary team alongside medical consultants and specialist nurses, or as an independent practitioner with a defined patient case load.


To provide specialist advice on drug monitoring and facilitate dose adjustments where required.


To be involved in reviewing, writing and developing procedures, policies and guidelines within Rheumatology, and to contribute towards developing education and training material.


This includes risk assessments for new drug therapies and to provide support for clinicians in the preparation of new product evaluations within Rheumatology for the Trust's Drugs and Therapeutics Committee.


The pharmacy department at NUH is forward thinking and constantly implementing innovative ways of working to deliver the best possible patient care. We continue to extend the ideal model of delivering medicines optimisation and pharmaceutical care where pharmacists are fully integrated in to the medical teams, supported by a team of medicines management technicians and assistants.


You will also be joining the trust at an exciting time as we are currently in the process of implementing electronic prescribing and administration.


The post will be predominately based at the Treatment Centre Campus and Queens Medical Centre, but there may be the odd expectation to travel to the City Hospital Campus. You will be required to participate in a rostered flexible shift working system including evening, weekend and bank holiday arrangements over a 7 day period and support the on-call pharmacists through the senior pharmacist back-up rota.
To work as an independent prescriber and to participate in outpatient clinics alongside Consultant Rheumatologists for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or other conditions under the care of the Rheumatology team, providing highly specialist Pharmaceutical care and contributing to medicines optimisation and safe, cost -effective prescribing.


To take an active role as a prescriber within the service, taking responsibility for prescribing DMARDs, biologics and supportive medicines independently but with support from the Rheumatology multidisciplinary team.


To provide a highly specialist and expert clinical Pharmaceutical service to the Rheumatology department and become as expert within the speciality.


To review prescriptions, challenge treatment choices and communicate highly complex drug and therapeutic information to senior clinicians, senior managers and other professionals in order to influence treatment options and ensure compliance with medicines legislation.


To review, write and develop procedures, policies and guidelines within Rheumatology, and contribute towards the provision of education and training.


To act as a role model for specialist clinical pharmacists, junior medical staff, students and others in the management of medication, demonstrating advanced skills in drug utilisation review and evaluation .


To monitor drug usage, prescribing patterns and expenditure in order to support the service in achieving a balanced drugs budget and planning for new drug developments.


To attend Multidisciplinary meetings within Rheumatology e.g. Rheumatology Clinical Governance meetings and represent Pharmacy views.


If you have any further questions about the post please do not hesitate to get in touch and contact Harjinder Dhillon Lead Divisional Pharmacist via email: Harjinder.dhillon@nuh.nhs.uk or mobile number: Pharm / BSc (Pharmacy) or MPharm
Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (MRPharmS)
Play an active role in a relevant national network / specialist pharmacist group

Broad previous experience (post-registration) of clinical pharmacy, particularly in acute settings
Experience of provision of specialist clinical pharmacy review and advice relating to the safe use of medicines
Experience of developing and implementing medicines and service related policies for a specialty
Some experience of line management, including effective performance management, recruitment and allocation of staff
Experience of training and education of both pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals
Experience of multidisciplinary and team working at Pharmacy, Trust and regional level
Demonstrable knowledge of caring for people who require Disease Modifying Anti- rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics used for Rheumatology conditions

Experience in undertaking, supervising and reporting/presenting audit / research work at local (Trust) level
Experience in project management (including department-wide roles) and evidence of completed outcomes
Able to assess and minimise risk in medication processes
Experience in making judgements involving complex facts, which require analysis, interpretation and options appraisal e.g. drug expenditure medicines optimisation
Ability to work alone and make decisions within agreed parameters and appropriate referral / escalation as necessary
Critical evaluation of literature and literature searching skills for analysing, interpreting medicines information, production issues, drug therapy decisions and patient information.

Competent ICT skills, word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, databases, retrieval of information from internet.


High level IT skills (e.g. website or database design)


Other requirements specific to the role (e.g. be able to drive or work shifts
Prepared to work flexible hours over 7 day shifted pattern of work

Planning and organisation skills
Ability to plan and organise existing and new clinical pharmacy services to a specialty. Ability to be flexible and manage change in a complex and changing healthcare environment.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
Queens Medical Centre