Specialist Clinical Pharmacist

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist to join a team delivering a highly specialist clinical pharmacy and medicine management service to designated community hospitals, community health services, and mental health wards. This will include attending relevant consultant ward rounds and MDTs.

We are seeking a problem solver with a methodical approach and careful attention to detail with highly developed interpersonal skills.

To be able to apply, you will possess a Master's degree in pharmacy (or equivalent) and will have post-registration experience gained working in a hospital or community pharmacy. You should be familiar with the concepts of evidence-based medicine, medicines information and medicines knowledge, as well as prescribing and drug costs.

If this sounds interesting and you have these qualities, please apply, we would be very happy to meet you.

Main duties of the job

We have an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist to join a team delivering a highly specialist clinical pharmacy and medicine management service to designated community hospitals, community health services, and mental health wards. This will include attending relevant consultant ward rounds and MDTs.

We are seeking a problem solver with a methodical approach and careful attention to detail with highly developed interpersonal skills.

To be able to apply, you will possess a Master's degree in pharmacy (or equivalent) and will have post-registration experience gained working in a hospital or community pharmacy. You should be familiar with the concepts of evidence-based medicine, medicines information and medicines knowledge, as well as prescribing and drug costs.

If this sounds interesting and you have these qualities, please apply, we would be very happy to meet you.

About us

We have been working with other local NHS Trusts to create a new organisation, bringing together all community, mental health and learning disability services from across Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Subject to approvals, the aim is for the new Trust to be formed by the end of 2024.

Project Fusion is the name for the programme to create the new combined NHS Foundation Trust. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will be bringing the services into a single organisation will result in more consistent care, more equitable access to services irrespective of postcode, and a more sustainable workforce and services. The new organisation will operate locally to ensure services can best meet the needs of different communities.

The new Trust will be comprised of all the services currently provided by Solent NHS Trust and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, the community, mental health and learning disability services provided by Isle of Wight NHS Trust and child and adolescent mental health services delivered in parts of Hampshire by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Colleagues will transfer to the new organisation under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) -- known as TUPE on the day the trust is formed. TUPE is a legal process to ensure you transfer out of one organisation and into another, maintaining the terms and conditions of your employment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Clinical and Professional

* Provide support to the Advanced Clinical Pharmacist in reviewing and monitoring medicines-related incidents; provide support in reporting back trends to clinical teams.

* Provide support to the Advanced Clinical Pharmacist, ensuring that appropriate Trust policies, guidelines, PGDs and SOPs are kept up-to-date, safe and relevant.

* Ensure medication prescribing and administration adhere to the best evidence, practice, and Trust policy and promote multidisciplinary training regarding medication.

* Support and provide medicines optimisation to promote best pharmaceutical outcomes for patients in community hospitals, in the care of community nursing teams, and in mental health and related settings across Solent NHS Trust.

* Facilitate the implementation of specified standards and policies within current legal frameworks, regulations and best practices (, safe, and effective handling of medicines, including controlled drugs) required to meet Care Quality Commission Essential Standards for Safety and Quality

* Support the implementation of local and national recommendations, including local formularies, Medicines Management Group, NICE, MHRA and NHS England actions.

* Provide advice to ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines. Monitor medicines expenditure within Solent NHS Trust. This is achieved by attending regular ward rounds to promote the cost-effective use of medication and to minimise waste. Monitor monthly drug expenditure and feedback results to relevant ward managers and clinicians.

* Provide support to colleagues in the wider Medicines Management Team as needed, in the form of cover, advice and support if required.

Communication

* Facilitate seamless transfer of care for medicines across all interfaces by working positively with colleagues to maintain effective relationships.

* Act as an authorised witness for the disposal of controlled drugs in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations and guidance when required.

* Provide representation at relevant Committees and groups where and when appropriate.

* Provide co-ordinated medicines information to patients during their inpatient stay and as part of the discharge planning process.

* Liaise with members of the clinical team and external agencies as part of discharge planning and undertake needs assessment for individual patients, , compliance aid requirements.

Administrative

* To maintain up-to-date, accurate and complete patient records reflecting the post holder's work.

* To maintain records of work carried out in this post to provide feedback for Commissioners and support future service development.

* Participate in clinical audits through data collection, setting objectives, analysing results, and report writing to ensure guidelines are implemented.

* Collect and collate audit data associated with monitoring outcomes.

* Participate in assessing the patient experience of the Medicines Management Service.

* Document clinical pharmacy contacts, interventions, and records such as drug histories and treatment plans on the trust electronic system.

* Ensure medicines-related incidents are reported through the appropriate incident reporting systems and that any learning from incidents is shared and implemented

Finance

* Provide advice to ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines.

* Monitor medicines expenditure within Solent NHS Trust by reviewing trends or by working closely with individual teams.

* Monitor drug expenditure and feedback results to relevant ward/team managers and clinicians.

Knowledge, Education and Training

* Provide medicines management support to the Community Nursing Teams through the provision of education sessions, individual patient medication reviews when required, and support on any medicines management issues, including policy and operational standards related to medication management.

* Assist the Advanced Clinical Pharmacist in planning and delivering medicine education and training for practitioners within Solent NHS Trust.

* To participate in the training and supervision of pre-registration pharmacists, junior pharmacists, medicines management technicians and induction of new staff as required

* Undertake training and mentoring of staff and other groups as prescribed.

* To take responsibility for identifying own training and development needs, suggestions for improvements to the service and policy changes to the line manager.

* Compliance with Trust arrangements for continuing professional development.

* To support Senior Pharmacists in delivering Medicines Management support and training to other community services.

* To participate in training and supervising pre-registration pharmacists, medicines management technicians and induction of new staff.

Management and Leadership

Responsibility for ensuring that:

* Staff management and standards of work are maintained, and Trust policies for managing staff performance are adhered to.

* Appraisals of staff directly managed are undertaken and the appraisal process is maintained throughout the team.

* Appropriate health and safety and other mandatory statutory training are provided as prescribed and relevant records are maintained.

* Other records are maintained by the team ensuring compliance with the agreed record-keeping systems of the Trust.

* Informed consent is obtained where appropriate and documented following Trust procedures.

* New and replacement equipment is not used until it has been commissioned following Trust policy.

* Appropriate risk and other assessments are completed and documented promptly following Trust Policy.

* Defective equipment is reported and made safe without delay following Trust procedures

* Equipment is maintained following the Trust policy.

* All staff within their area of responsibility follow infection prevention and control procedures.

* Trust clinical governance requirements are followed by all staff.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Master's degree in pharmacy (or equivalent) Registered with GPhC

Desirable

Registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Post Graduate qualification in clinical pharmacy

Experience

Essential

Post-registration experience in a hospital or community pharmacy Experience of ward-based Clinical Pharmacy

Desirable

Experience of working with Older Persons

Additional Criteria

Essential

Problem-solving skills Autonomous worker Methodical approach and attention to detail Proven communication and interpersonal skills

Desirable

Proven ability to prioritise workload effectively

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