Deputy Head of Pharmacy

Job Title: Deputy Head of Pharmacy

Salary: up to £67,000 depending on experience

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Responsible to: Head of Pharmacy

Accountable to: Head of Pharmacy, Director of Operations, PCN Clinical Director overseeing Prescribing

Key Relationships: Head of Pharmacy, Director of Operations, PCN Business Manager, Project Team, Service Managers, PCN Clinical Directors, Practice Managers

BACKGROUND

Healthcare Central London (HCL)/ CLH is the GP Federation covering the Central London area of North West London Integrated Care System (ICS). The organisation supports 32 General Practices and 4 Primary Care Networks (PCNs). We operate a number of NHS contracts including a Care Navigation Service, a Clinical Pharmacy Service, a Community Dermatology Service, and the Network Direct Enhanced Services (DES) contract.

Our vision is to be recognised as a leading GP provider network, run by clinicians for the benefit of our local population. We will achieve this by working with patients and partners to ensure that general practice remains sustainable and independent.

Our approach is to deliver exceptional assistance to our 32 General Practice members and to operate our NHS contracts in a manner that supports our Practices and their patients by providing services economically, locally, promptly, and in a familiar environment.

JOB ROLE and PURPOSE

A primary responsibility of this role will be to provide effective operational oversight, management, and coordination of the integration of the Clinical Pharmacists recruited under the Network Contract DES Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) within PCN’s.

As the Deputy Head of Pharmacy, you’ll be responsible for all delegated aspects of pharmacy leadership, medicines management and optimisation as well as clinical and strategic development of pharmacy services in the organisation. This includes the implementation of the Medicines Management Enhanced Scheme (MMES) and any pharmaceutical and medicines management elements of the enhanced services. You’ll lead a team delivering on a range of areas including structured medication reviews and long term condition management clinics, supporting safe and effective medicine administration and optimisation in the practices.

This post holder will be instrumental in advancing our PCN development plans and promoting sustainable services for delivery via HCL/CLH. The post holder will also work with member practices to break down challenges to implementation across our population.

The post holder will develop strong relationships and engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the PCNs to ensure collaborative approaches to service development and delivery. In doing so the post holder will improve integration with the broader community services as our networks mature. The post holder will be responsible for managing agreed projects with a focus upon developing the partnerships across primary care, community services, social care, mental health, the voluntary sector and secondary care that are enabling on-going MDT development.

The post holder will be responsible for developing medicines optimisation vision and programmes working closely with the ICB Medicines Management Team and implementing the relevant aspects into the PCN Pharmacist Team through clinical and patient engagement, workforce development, adhering to national medicines policy and local clinical priorities to deliver maximum value and outcomes for the local population, leading on the Quality and Safety for the PCN Clinical Pharmacy Service.

The post holder will also be responsible for leading any pharmacist support required at the various vaccine sites in Westminster, working with the Borough Lead to provide assurance with regards to all pharmaceutical aspects of delivering the vaccination programmes. This will include ensuring there is sufficient pharmacist cover at the clinics and also any preparation work such as stocktakes and fridge checks are carried out.

The role will be split (40% management time and 60% working in a patient facing role in General practice). From time to time there may be a need to flex this split depending on service need.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Management of Service Delivery

- Actively manage pharmacy service delivery, making optimal use of resources available.

- Provide professional pharmaceutical leadership of the pharmacy service.

- Work with key stakeholders to market the department and raise a positive internal and external profile.

- Be responsible for ensuring that staff are appropriately trained/instructed in their responsibilities and provided with the necessary equipment to carry out their function.

- Support the development of Clinical Pharmacy team Standard Operating procedures and ensure they remain up to date and relevant. Support the inclusion of medicines optimisation guidance in over-arching HCL SOPs where required

- Ensure delivery of a pharmacy service to comply with organisation/practice policies and national standards.

- To lead the Senior Pharmacists and ensure they are supported in developing and delivering their specific objectives.

- Ensure that clear, safe protocols are in place for the prescribing of pharmaceuticals

- Lead developmental/education meetings for Clinical Pharmacists, and Pharmacy Technicians.

- Support the Head of Pharmacy to produce reports to evaluate and improve the Clinical Pharmacy service

- Understand, highlight and document risks, issues and actions, ensuring early identification and proactive mitigation where possible and ensuring concerns are escalated promptly.

- Develop and implement a thorough recruitment and induction process for all Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

- Engage and where delegated lead on Clinical Pharmacy team meetings including the Clinical Pharmacy Forum, Senior Clinical Pharmacists meeting, Clinical meeting etc.

- Liaise with the Business Intelligence team and NWL IT team to create reports relevant to the pharmacy team (e.g. for SMRs, audits of Clinical Pharmacist consultations etc.)

- Oversee the production of the CP team rota on a quarterly basis

Human Resource Management

- Be responsible for the direct management of the Senior Pharmacists including providing supervision and oversight to the Senior Clinical Pharmacists and where needed directly to the Clinical Pharmacists they supervise

- Instigate, and be responsible for, performance management within the department.

- Continually review skill mix to be appropriate to service needs and professional standards in force at the time, reporting any deficits to the Head of Pharmacy with proposals for corrective action.

- Ensure that staff have adequate clinical supervision/mentorship and manage any poor performance actively with the organisations policies and procedures framework.

- Ensure that staff are aware of legal requirements and the Code of Ethics of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and monitor their compliance.

- Ensure that all organisations policies and procedures are adhered to at all times.

- Support the Head of Pharmacy to recruit, develop and motivate staff to ensure they can and do perform well in their job, contribute towards improvements to the service and achievement of the organisations/PCNs objectives.

- Implement new ways of working and ensure liaison with PCNs.

Clinical Governance

- Lead on and support safe prescribing across the borough, ensuring the PCN Pharmacists operate within their competencies.

- Ensure the organisation is compliant with and an evidence portfolio demonstrates compliance with the medicines management related standards developed by the Care Quality Commission.

- Ensure practice is evidence based, shared, and, wherever possible, patient focussed.

- Ensure that user views are accounted for in the planning and implementation of service delivery.

- Implement and monitor national initiatives and directives.

- Ensure errors, complaints and incidents are managed within the organisations guidelines.

- Develop audit processes within the department to ensure that all legal, professional and service requirements are met

- Produce reports on activity, audits, delivery etc. as delegated by the Head of Pharmacy

- Support the education and training of the team including delivering training, developing training programmes for student pharmacists and identifying team need for training – for escalation to the Head of Pharmacy

Communication

- Ensure appropriate and timely responses to all relevant correspondence.

- Contribute to weekly bulletin as appropriate and company website when required

- Act as a key member of the team to support effective communication and stakeholder management both internally and externally.

- Operate in a highly political and sensitive environment.

- Communicate information and issues, including briefings and reports to the Head of Pharmacy

Financial Management

- Support budgeting, forecasting and tracking spend of activities; ensuring that appropriate justification exists, and that authorisation has been granted for all expenditure. Supporting the development of business cases for resourcing and project expenditure.

- Continually strive to deliver business and function outcomes, ensuring value for money and greater efficiency.

- Contribute to the financial delivery of services, ensuring they are cost effective and delivered on time.

- Supply relevant information to the finance function required for effective financial management including Activity reports which trigger payments.

- Support delivery of the annual NWL Medicines Management Enhanced Scheme (MMES), promoting cost effective switches and awareness of GP prescribing budgets to clinical pharmacists

- Maintain records that might support financial reconciliation

- Support payroll reconciliation for the Clinical Pharmacy team

- In cooperation with the finance function maintain proper financial records relating to activity payments and medical equipment purchase and all income and expenditure.

Research & Development

- Actively participate in borough wide Clinical Audit, research and development. Support and encourage other pharmacy staff in this area and liaise with other specialties/departments as necessary.

- Establish an appropriate audit and feedback tool for evaluation and development of services in liaison with service users

Policy & Service Development

- Propose changes to own area of work, informing policy and making recommendations for more effective delivery.

- Contribute to the review and development of policy and service development

- Advise and actively engage with the standing up of Federation wide services and projects that may require Clinical Pharmacy input e.g. Vaccination clinics etc.

- Represent the Clinical Pharmacy team as lead for specific HCL/CLH wide projects as delegated by the Head of Pharmacy

- Represent the HCL Clinical Pharmacy team to internal and external organisations as delegated by the Head of Pharmacy e.g. PCN Board meetings, NWL wide meetings etc.

- Support delivery of the Network DES contract – including producing reports for the ICS, upskilling the CP team to deliver SMRs, chronic disease management etc.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and is indicative. The post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will be required to:

Maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including, but not limited to:

Internal External

Head of Pharmacy

Director of Operation

Service Managers

Senior Care Coordinators/ Navigators

Project Team

Business Intelligence/ Data Team

Human Resources and Finance

External

PCN Clinical Directors

Central London CCG/ North West London ICB

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH)

Central and North West London NHS FT (CNWL)

Healthshare Ltd

One Westminster

Westminster County Council

Requirements

Criteria

Education / Training / Qualifications

Essential

Master’s Degree in Pharmacy Registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council Clinical Pharmacy qualification (Diploma or MSc) Independent Prescriber Demonstrate

Desirable

Management qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

At least 10 years post registration pharmacy experience. Good practical and conceptual knowledge of healthcare improvement methods and practices. Experience of developing primary care provision. Knowledge of the regulatory and contractual frameworks for contracts within primary care, for example enhanced services QOF and the standard GP contract. Experience of performance management, including appraisal writing, staff development and disciplinary procedures. Demonstrated track record in project management. Experience of Risk identification and management. Working knowledge of governance. Good understanding of different pharmacy systems within NHS e.g. primary care, hospital, community, Previous similar role in a healthcare or public sector environment. SystmOne experience. Experience of successfully developing and implementing projects Experience of identifying and interpreting government policy. CCG Experience of workforce development.

Desirable

Previous similar role in a healthcare or public sector environment. Systmone experience. Experience of successfully developing and implementing projects Experience of identifying and interpreting government policy.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

Leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning. Able to interpret, translate and deliver key aspects of the DES Network contract. Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiation skills organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians. Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management as appropriate Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations as well as ability to listen. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft software applications (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint etc.) To be a strategic thinker and planner with the ability to consider and act upon complex issues. Excellent planning and organising capabilities, with exceptional Ability to pull together comprehensive draft reports, data and letters. A/I Page 8 of 8 Central London Healthcare attention to detail. Excellent time management skills. Able to respond to changing demands and reprioritise when necessary. Good problem-solving skills. Able to work without supervision to agreed deadlines. Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own and others workloads to changing and often tight deadlines.

Desirable

Ability to pull together comprehensive draft reports, data and letters

Interpersonal Skills

Well-developed interpersonal and oral/written communication skills. Able to communicate complex administrative information to a variety of stakeholders. Able to maintain effective working relationships at all levels and with staff in other offices. Able to deal with challenging conversations in a tactful yet assertive manner. Professional, calm and efficient manner. Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.