Advanced Specialist Pharmacist

Job Overview

• To deliver an advanced comprehensive medicines management service to Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) patients and the multidisciplinary treatment team responsible for their care.
• To provide input into policy and procedures affecting the use of pharmaceuticals at both local and trust wide levels.
• To liaise with acute Trust pharmacy staff to support an effective dispensing and supply service.
• To deputise for the Lead Pharmacist in his or her absence and take own agreed management responsibilities as appropriate.
• To lead on clinical supervision and CPD for Band 6/7 pharmacists within the team

Main duties of the job

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated pharmacist with good leadership skills to join the clinical mental health pharmacy team in Brent for a 9 month period to cover maternity leave

The CNWL pharmacy department is currently undergoing significant developments including the implementation of an EPMA system and innovative clinical roles to improve medicines optimization across the Trust.

The post holder will have a leading role in delivering and supporting the provision of clinical pharmacy services to the newly transformed community mental health services.

This will involve working with the multidisciplinary teams within the community services to provide high quality, professional and specialist input into the delivery of clinical pharmacy services.

This post offers an excellent opportunity for a candidate with a keen interest in mental health to work in a highly skilled team that is well integrated with local health and social care services. You would provide input into policy and procedures affecting the use of pharmaceuticals at both local and Trust wide levels as well be responsible for communicating and interpreting relevant CNWL Trust policies on medicines to directorate and local care quality group meetings.

You will be encouraged and supported in developing your skills to support the development of specialist pharmacists through supervision of their practice and have the opportunity to deputise for the lead pharmacist in her absence.

Working for our organisation

Frequent continuing education events open to all pharmacy staff across CNWL will allow you to network across the Trust.

The Trust has a strong commitment to advancing pharmacy practice and embedding effective medicines optimising systems into patient care.

CNWL strives to develop services and medicines optimisation is an integral part of this growth and development. We have a consultant pharmacist, independent pharmacist prescriber, a patient help-line and awards and prizes which we are proud of.

We welcome applications from pharmacists who can contribute to our continued growth and achievement.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• Work across traditional boundaries as part of a fully integrated multidisciplinary team.
• Manage and make appropriate referrals to other members of the multidisciplinary team and within the pharmacy department.
• Provide advice to clinicians on unlicensed medicines use and areas of practice where the evidence base is lacking and medical opinion may differ.
• Reduce risk associated with medicines use by contributing to the safe medication practice agenda. This will include identification and reporting of medicines related errors.

Clinical Practice

• Ensure safe and appropriate use of medicines in order to maximise benefit and minimise risk to patients. This includes regular review of prescriptions, identification of significant drug interactions, advice for clinical monitoring, compliance with legal aspects (Medicines Act, Mental Health Act) of medicine supply and compliance with the Trust formulary.
• Be responsible for providing clinical pharmacy input at ward level, and to the multidisciplinary team caring for outpatients (e.g. as part of the Community Mental Health Teams)
• To ensure junior pharmacy staff providing a service to CNWL have adequate competencies to deliver services.
• Be responsible for providing a clinical pharmacy service to groups of patients:
• Review prescriptions for accuracy and legality and identify actual or potential Problems.
• Ensure the effective supply of medicines suitable for use as an inpatient and appropriately labelled for discharge if applicable.
• Ensure the effective outcomes of treatment with medicines
• Monitor patients for potential and actual adverse effects of their medicines
• Take steps to ensure patients understand the purpose of their medicines and deal with any practical issues that may prevent the optimal use of their medicines
• Support the planning of patient discharge with respect to medication, including the transcription of requests for dispensing.
• Demonstrate professional accountability to patients.
• Work across traditional boundaries as part of a fully integrated multidisciplinary team.
• Manage and make appropriate referrals to other members of the multidisciplinary team and within the pharmacy department.
• Provide advice to clinicians on unlicensed medicines use and areas of practice where the evidence base is lacking and medical opinion may differ.
• Reduce risk associated with medicines use by contributing to the safe medication practice agenda. This will include identification and reporting of medicines related errors.
• Be able to critically appraise the literature and give accurate interpretation in order improve use of medicines.
• To demonstrate expert clinical knowledge in the specialist of mental health pharmacy services and motivate and inspire others.
• Act as a clinical role model and demonstrate the ability to provide safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of medicines for junior pharmacists.
• Demonstrate innovation and extend the boundaries of the profession.
• The post holder will continually update their skills and knowledge as part of continuing professional development.
• Be familiar with the use of breakaway techniques.

Person specification

Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Vocational Master's Degree in Pharmacy OR equivalent years experience + pre-registration training
• Advanced Theoretical Knowledge acquired through Diploma (Higher Degree) level training
• Certificate in Pharmacy Practice or equivalent training / experience e.g. Post Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Therapeutics
• Registered as a practicing pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Desirable criteria

• Accredited Membership of RPS Faculty / Credentialed Membership of College of Mental Health Pharmacy
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Non-medical prescriber or working towards
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Previous Experience
Essential criteria

• Demonstrate the ability to appropriately recommend, substantiate and communicate medicine related therapeutic options to patients with mental health issues, carers and clinical staf
• Previous evaluated experience of mentorship and training skills
• Monitoring and advising on drug expenditure
• Supervision and line management of staff
• Handling complex medicines information queries/undertaking clinical reviews and providing tailored medication advice/ treatment plans for individual patients
• To have undertaken clinical auditor QI projects
• Training and education of staff
• Post registration training relevant to hospital pharmacy

Desirable criteria

• Staff management experience (e.g. recruitment / appraisal / training / leadership /)
• Previous experience in providing clinical mental health services.
• Monitoring and advising on drug expenditure
• Clinical pharmacy practice relevant to acute hospital and either community health services or integrated care settings

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
Essential criteria

• Meet set targets
• Good oral and written communication and presentation skills to convey complex and potentially sensitive information
• Teaching and presentation skills

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of collaborative working across boundaries

ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates ability to meets set targets
• Meets expected levels of practice as defined by others