Specialist Clinical Pharmacist

The Medicines Optimisation team at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHST Trust are looking to expand into patient facing roles throughout the organisation.


Our new team are ward based and you will be involved in the implementation of our medicines optimisation strategy while working closely with the wards and our Pharmacy provider.


An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to take up a post within our Medicines Optimisation Team, based at our new state-of-the-art, therapy-led centre, which will provide a supportive and comfortable environment for 48 patients.


The restorative environment at Willow Therapy Unit will enable patients to make steady, step-by-step improvements and gain independence as they prepare to return to the community. Patients will be supported to play an active role in their own care and feel confident about performing daily activities when they leave.


You will work with the existing senior pharmacists and share lead responsibilities for managing and delivering key elements of the medicines optimisation strategy of across the Trust.
Your responsibilities include providing assurance that Norfolk Community Health and Care is compliant with all legal, regulatory and governance frameworks, including those of the Care Quality Commission and support the Accountable Officer to ensure that controlled drugs are managed appropriately within your areas. You will be responsible for the development and implementation of relevant strategies, policies and patient group directions as well as the participation in regular audit.


You will also be responsible for providing a clinical Pharmacy service to inpatient areas, following our clinical pharmacy standards and ensuring effective medicines optimisation through a patient centred approach.


The post requires travel between sites and therefore the post-holder must have a driving license and access to their own transport.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust (NCH& C) provides community-based NHS health and care via more than 70 locations across Norfolk, as well as providing a specialist Early Supported Discharge service to stroke patients in Norfolk and Suffolk.


Serving a population of nearly 900,000, NCH& C delivers community dentistry, services for children, young people and families, therapies, community nursing, end of life care and specialist nursing, among others. We believe that people are better looked after locally and this belief drives us to work hard to bring expert care to patients in our seven community hospitals, within GP surgeries and in patients' own homes. Working in the community will provide you with the opportunity to develop longer-term and more personal relationships with patients, carers, and other professionals.


NCH& C is proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an 'Outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. Praising NCH& C's compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels, the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.


We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Optimising patient care with respect to medicines (across multiple specialties) in liaison with health care professionals, including medical and nursing staff
Delivery of a full clinical pharmacy service covering multiple specialties
Monitoring expenditure on drugs and providing feedback (including transportation of medicines to patients home addresses)
Participate in and lead where required on novel pharmacy projects identify and undertake research to inform practice developments and underpin delivery of an effective, evidence-based pharmacy service.

Medicines reconciliation
Liaising with community pharmacy where appropriate and where consent has been given, particularly on discharge

Non-medical Prescribing:


~ This will include the initiation of therapies in line with approved patient care management plans and/or in response to clinical presentation requiring treatment with medicines endorsed through local formularies.


Be familiar with and work in line with the national legislation governing the scope of practice for non-medical prescribers.


Liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team in the provision and development of clinical pharmacy services, including complex drug or medication related information, and act on any associated problems which may arise.


The post holder will be expected to function within any national, regional or local policy and procedures, regulations, protocols and guidelines, relevant to the management and delivery of the L& SC and Place-based Partnerships, and the manner in which their duties and responsibilities are discharged


Support the development and maintenance of appropriate information systems, computerised and/or paper based, for the prime purposes of robust audit trails and the generation of relevant reports to assist in both programme and project monitoring and the provision of a timely response to a range of external and/or internal requests for associated information.


Information for GPs and community pharmacies.
Provide advice and training to other health care staff, including medical and nursing staff, in relation to medicines use


Be a pharmaceutical expert and give advice to the clinical pharmacy team and other health care staff throughout the organisation in relation to medicines and services


Have an active presence on the ward to ensure the optimum use of antimicrobial agents in accordance with approved antibiotic policies.


Implement a system to monitor prescribing and make proactive interventions in individual patient's therapy, particularly in relation to high cost/high risk agents.


Contribute to the identification and investigation of drug-related incidents, medication errors, concerns and complaints arising from the ward


Act as the pharmacy link with the specialist medical and nursing team(s) and disseminate information arising to the whole pharmacy team.


Develop and implement policies to support service development.


Liaise with governance leads in Pharmacy and to address any risk management issues with medicines to ensure safe practice in the prescribing, administration and disposal of medicines.


Participate in general clinical pharmacy ward cover if necessary to facilitate continuous clinical pharmacy services during absences.


Education & Professional Development


Participate in post-graduate education and training events organised at national, regional and local level.


Participate in the training and clinical supervision of other members of the medicines optimisation team.


Undertake training to become familiar with the computerised and communication systems used within Pharmacy Services and the ward


Supervise the activities of other pharmacy staff.


Supporting professional development of the team members
Delivery of consistent high-quality advice and services throughout the Trust
Responsibility for the implementation of all policies in relation to staff as appropriate
Training and development

Master's degree in pharmacy or equivalent plus Postgraduate clinical qualification in relevant field
Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Significant experience of working in a pharmaceutical environment
Significant clinical pharmacy knowledge and experience
Significant experience of working in hospital/primary care/community
Teaching and training experience to a range of healthcare professionals students and undergraduates
Experience of working in a range of environments e.g. community hospital primary care
Knowledge of national guidance relating to medicines and pharmaceutical practice
Able to interpret complex clinical data

To have excellent written and verbal communication skills to enable complex discussions, presentations and patient data recording


oMust hold full and valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle


Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
Norwich Community Hospital