Senior Clinical Pharmacist–Palliative Care

Job summary

.Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital provide a comprehensive pharmacy service to Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool. We are seeking a compassionate and experienced Senior Clinical Pharmacist to join our expanding pharmacy palliative care team. In this pivotal role, you will support to the dedicated MDT and provide expert pharmaceutical care to patients with life-limiting illnesses.

As a Senior ClinicalPharmacist, you will play a crucial role in optimising medication management, ensuring patient safety, and enhancing the overall quality of life for patients. Your expertise will be instrumental in developing and implementing evidence-based pharmaceutical care pathways, collaborating with healthcare professionals, and providing comprehensive medication education to patients and their families.

This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of patients and their loved ones during a challenging time.

You will also have the opportunity to integrate with the wider pharmacy team at LHCH and undertake clinical responsibilites in a specialist tertiary Trust.

Main duties of the job

Provide and support the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care to meet the needs of palliative care patients within the Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice.

To work with palliative care practitioners and other professionals to facilitate the delivery of national and local health policy.

To participate in the palliative care education and training programmes of healthcare professionals and students.

About us

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.

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Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

Provide and support the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care to meet the needs of palliative care patients within the Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice. To work with palliative care practitioners and other professionals to facilitate the delivery of national and local health policy. To participate in the palliative care education and training programmes of healthcare professionals and students.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

CLINICAL

To undertake Clinical Pharmacist duties which include:

The routine monitoring of prescriptions for legality, legibility, safety and appropriateness in accordance with the Medicines Act and the Trusts Medicines Policy, which may involve concentration, frequent interruptions and may involve dose calculations.

The implementation and development where appropriate of local prescribing policies and formulary recommendations.

The formulation of individual pharmaceutical care plans, and the review and updating of care plans depending on response, results of investigations and adverse effects.

Assessing the appropriateness for use of patients own medicines according to departmental procedure.

The provision of pharmaceutical advice to patients and their carers in diverse situations and with diverse needs, often providing advice on complex conditions .

The provision of advice to medical and nursing staff on choice of drug, dosage, route of administration, duration of therapy, drug interactions and drug toxicity.

The monitoring and control of drug expenditure ensuring the cost-effective use of medicines within the Hospice.

The monitoring and recording of adverse drug reactions and onward reporting to MHRA when necessary.

The implementation of patient self-administration schemes in accordance with the Trusts policy.

The writing of discharge prescriptions and the provision of discharge information to Community Pharmacists and General Practitioners.

The provision of advice to Ward Managers on the safe and secure storage of medicines in line with current legislation, for example, the Medicines Act and the Duthie Report.

The routine recording of clinical interventions and activities in line with departmental policy and Trust procedures for the management of risk.

The undertaking of clinical audit and practice research within the pharmacy department and in clinical areas as required by local and national bodies, for example, the Drug and Therapeutics Committee, National Patient Safety Agency and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

The Investigation of any medicine related incidents within the designated ward areas and exploring ways of minimising risk of future re-occurrence or risk to staff.

Being responsible for safe dispensing, checking and issuing of medicines from the dispensary during periods of cover in accordance with the Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act and COSHH.

To participate in out-of-hours, bank holidays and weekend provision of pharmaceutical services and in so doing being solely responsible for the management of the service at these times, including the safety and security of the department. Management of staff and may involve moving and handling of medicines weighing up to 15kg.

To participate in the weekend pharmacy service on a rotational basis.

To cover the duties of other pharmacists during periods of sickness and absence and to undertake any other reasonable duties that may be required.

To provide a highly specialist clinical pharmacy services to the patients of Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice (as detailed above) as follows:

To attend the weekly multidisciplinary ward rounds.

To provide clinical and medicines information, keeping abreast of a wide range of clinical and therapeutic issues, to support the work of other team members.

When necessary, to establish communication with Primary Care professionals to facilitate the transfer of patient care.

Provide a clinical pharmacist support role to all Marie Curie Hospice patients.

To attend meetings at the request of the Chief Pharmacist or Hospice Senior Leadership Team

To act as an independent prescriber within palliative care when independent prescriber status has been achieved.

To act as an independent prescriber outside the above area of specialism for limited activities at LHCH. That is to include:

During ward rounds- prescribing as directed by the medical team

Following a medicines reconciliation process, the continuation of therapy previously commenced by another prescriber ( drugs missed off the in-patient prescription or medicines to be added at the discharge stage)

The Trusts NMP policy for both initiation and continuation prescribing should be adhered to.

MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP

To support and develop the annual Pharmacy Business Plan.

To be responsible for the interpretation and presentation of financial data at the Medicines Management meetings.

To be responsible for the interpretation of national legislation, policy or guidance applicable to the specialty and the consequent development and implementation of pharmaceutical guidelines and/or policies ( National Care Standards, Hazardous Waste Regulations, re-use of patients own drugs, verbal orders).

To manage the pharmaceutical aspects of service to the Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice including review of the SLA in conjunction with the Chief Pharmacist.

Review NICE Guidance in relation to palliative care and incorporate recommendations into the Trusts and Hospices prescribing policies and drug formulary following presentation at the Drug and Therapeutics Committee.

To provide the lead role in the management of medicines in palliative care, including the facilitation of evidence based, cost-effective prescribing and a strategy for the introduction of new drug treatments. This will include liaison with local Medicines Management Committees for local formulary approval.

Planning, developing and implementing prescribing guidelines and protocols for the palliative care team.

Involved in the recruitment of staff.

ORGANISATIONAL (Education & Training)

To educate patients and their carers on the safe and effective use of their medicines.

To participate in the multi-professional Hospice education programmes.

To support the Marie Curie North West induction programme for new members of staff

To suggest, promote and participate in appropriate regional audit projects in order to support Clinical Governance initiatives.

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To participate in the provision of in-service training for pharmacy staff.

To participate in the training of student technicians and pre-registration pharmacists.

PROFESSIONAL

To participate in continuing professional development as per departmental policy and national guidelines from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (and GPhC) and to participate in individual performance review and the use of personal development plans. To participate in practice research and clinical audit projects. To supervise the work of technical and assistant technical staff as required under the Medicines Act. To ensure that prescribing policies, Patient Group Directions and formulary guidelines comply with the Medicines Act and Misuse of Drugs Act. To perform all tasks in a manner appropriate to the profession as detailed in the Royal Pharmaceutical Societys / GPhCs Medicines, Ethics and Practice a Guide for Pharmacists publication. Person Specification

Qualififcation

Essential

Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent Registered member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain / General Pharmaceutical council Post-graduate qualification in Clinical Pharmacy

Desirable

Independent prescriber

Experience

Essential

At least three years' experience as a hospital pharmacist

Desirable

Experience in providing pharmaceutical care to palliative care patients Teaching experience Experience in developing prescribing policies

Skills and Abillities

Essential

Excellent communication skills - verbal and written Able to work independently and compute information from various sources quickly Excellent organisational skills Ability to meet deadlines whilst paying attention to details Proven ability to negotiate a positive outcome with senior colleagues from multidisciplinary backgrounds Demonstrable leadership skills and demonstrable motivational skills Ability to affect and manage change

Values & Behaviours

Essential

Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development/education Self-motivated Compassionate

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