Job overview
An exciting and unique opportunity has arisen for a registered Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician to join the homecare team at Barts Health NHS Trust. The Homecare Team currently look after approximately 14,000 patients across 12 Homecare Providers. We are looking for a pro-active, collaborative and motivated individual, who is forward-thinking and ready for a challenge, to join our Team.
You will be responsible for supporting the Lead Pharmacist, Homecare, in delivering high quality homecare pharmacy services across Barts Health including the Royal London hospital, Whipps Cross hospital, Newham hospital and St Bartholomew’s for a range of clinical specialities.
The Homecare Medicines Service team at Barts Health are keen to explore new initiatives for Homecare, including digital programmes, and the post-holder will play a vital part in scoping and implementing the use of new technologies within the service.
You will be supported to further develop your abilities as a senior leader via a combination of internal and external training programmes, alongside developing your proficiency in homecare service delivery.
We welcome applications from individuals with excellent communications skills who demonstrate excellent attention to detail and a keenness to develop collaborative relationships within the Trust, the wider NHS and our external stakeholders. You will require excellent prioritisation skills and have a passion for service review and quality improvement.
Main duties of the job
• To support the Lead Pharmacist for Homecare Medicine Services in the safe and effective delivery of the Homecare Services at Barts Health in-line with national (i.e. RPS Professional Standards for Homecare Services) and local (Trust Homecare Medicines Policy) recommendations.
• To lead on the handling of complaints and incidents relating to homecare and high-cost drugs.
• To lead in the education and training for Pharmacy and other Trust staff on Homecare functions.
• To support and lead on the implementation, monitoring of compliance and updating of trust policies relating to homecare services and medicines optimisation, working in partnership with hospital directorates and divisions as needed.
• To be responsible for the monitoring of Key Performance Indicators for the Homecare service and where required escalate concerns / performance exceptions to the Lead Pharmacist.
• Alongside the Senior Pharmacy Technician – Homecare Medicines Service, implement new homecare medicine services and policies including the setting up of service level agreements (SLAs) and ensuring compliance with legal and professional standards.
• Work with the Lead Pharmacist – Homecare Medicines Service to develop systems for homecare services that promote safe medication practices to reduce clinical and operation risks.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• Work closely with commissioners and finance teams to develop processes to manage funding challenges from high cost and homecare related medicines. Ensure compliance with Blueteq requirements, where applicable.
• Identify areas for, and carry out, audits which contribute to patient care, safety and experience in relation to homecare services.
• To support the development of services within Homecare in line with the Pharmacy Department and Barts Health Strategies, including scoping, implementing and managing the change for digital initiatives available for service improvement.
• To support in the maintaining of the Trust Homecare database, ensuring that contracts held are valid and compliant.
• To support the Lead Pharmacist in undertaking the annual Homecare audit and follow-through on identified action plans.
• To support in regular service review meetings with Homecare Providers, and ensure that Provider performance is monitored and reviewed in line with nationally set and locally agreed Key Performance Indicators.
• To support the Lead Pharmacist to achieve Trust Performance Targets.
• To contribute to regional and national Homecare work streams as advised by the Lead Pharmacist.
• Act as a link and provide support and advice to specialist clinical areas where high-cost drugs and homecare services are provided.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
“We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.”
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
1. Demonstrable significant experience post registration in a hospital based post
2. Demonstrable successful performance in a previous post
3. Broad clinical pharmacy expertise and experience
4. Knowledge of Homecare Services
5. Experience of providing evaluated information on drug expenditure
6. Experience of successfully managing and supervising staff, performing appraisals and giving feedback
7. Evidence of basic teaching and tutoring in a hospital setting through training others e.g. trainee / junior pharmacists / other HCPs
Desirable criteria
8. Successful experience of managing & leading projects
9. Experience of providing Homecare services
10. Experience of working in Formulary and Medicines Management and/or medicines procurement
11. Experience of preparing papers for, and presenting to Committees
12. Experience of managing medication incidents.
13. Experience of working with regional teams (e.g.,LPP) involved in homecare
Skills
Essential criteria
14. Be able to provide highly complex homecare medicines information and impart knowledge to all levels of healthcare professionals (up to and including senior consultants/professor level)
15. Able to complete documentation accurately with attention to detail
16. Effective verbal and written communication skills
17. Demonstrates numeracy skills and ability to perform accurate, complex calculations
18. Demonstrates an ability to plan, prioritise and organise own workload, to work under pressure and act with autonomy whilst retaining a sense of own capabilities and escalate when necessary.
19. Able to analyse highly complex information relating to medicines and their uses.
20. Able to make sound judgments and act as a specialist for homecare medicines issues in the Trust
21. Demonstrates initiative
22. Demonstrates novel ways of working to enhance services
23. Demonstrates critical appraisal skills
24. IT literate; able to use Microsoft office with intermediate IT skills including, accurate data entry and use of specialist computer programmes
25. Demonstrates effective customer service skills
26. Demonstrates ability to deliver staff training
27. Effective pharmaceutical care skills
28. Ability to motivate and act as a role model
Desirable criteria
29. Experience in local implementation of national standards and guidelines.
30. Demonstrated ability to negotiate with and influence senior medical staff and senior management
31. Actively seeks to improve the services provided, including staff development
Knowledge
Essential criteria
32. Understanding of GPhC revalidation requirements
33. Knowledge of medicines management and pharmacy stock control systems
34. Up to date knowledge of legislation relevant to pharmacy practice, e.g. controlled drugs, Health and Safety at Work
35. Knowledge of Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines requirements
36. Understanding of the importance of adherence to SOPs and legislation
37. Knowledge of the law and relevant guidance relating to medicines, pharmacy, rationing decisions in the NHS, Payment by Results (PbR) and commissioning
38. Demonstrates a good understanding of patient safety initiatives
39. Knowledge of national homecare medicines strategy for the NHS
Desirable criteria
40. Knowledge of risk management issues relevant to the patient group and root cause analysis
41. Understands the impact of change on staff & performance
Qualifications
Essential criteria
42. MPharm or equivalent (Pharmacist only)
43. Registered as a pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC
44. Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy / Pharmacy Practice or equivalent
Desirable criteria
45. Management qualification or equivalent experience
46. Independent prescribing qualification, or willing to work towards (Pharmacist only
Other
Desirable criteria
47. Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) or the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK)
Skills
Essential criteria
48. Excellent interpersonal skills
49. Good team worker
50. Assertive, diplomatic, persuasive with ability to negotiate
Other
Essential criteria
51. DBS – Enhanced check with a check of the barred lists required as patient facing may interact with adults / children
52. Reliable with a good attendance record
53. The post holder will be required to participate in the on-call, bank holiday and weekend rota at a hospital within the Barts Health group
Desirable criteria
54. Flexibility with regard to working hours for late and early meetings
55. Flexibility with travel across site at short notice