Job summary
In this role you will use literature research and analytical skills to provide scientific, pharmaceutical and clinical expertise supporting working groups to include clinical evidence and healthcare costs in the development of proposals and plans. Joining the Clinical Effectiveness team, you will help provide critical assessments of evidence to enable evidence based, cost-effective commissioning plans for drugs, surgical procedures and other treatments. You will develop and maintain clinical guidelines to support safe, cost effective prescribing, and use evidence assessment and analysis to inform broader commissioning plans. Technical skills in the team are high and it is a good environment to further develop your skills. It is also a great place to learn how the health system is managed and the national strategic drivers that influence change.
This is a maternity leave cover role for 1 year and provides an ideal opportunity for a pharmacist seeking to broaden their horizons into this intellectually stimulating and challenging area of work. If you have some experience of literature searching and the development of evidence based proposals for incorporation of drug therapies into clinical pathways this could provide an opportunity to extend your application of these skills. There is some flexibility in the hours worked and this might suit someone who wishes to work part time, or an individual who is looking to incorporate this into a portfolio of working arrangements.
Main duties of the job
Reporting to an experienced evidence reviewer you will undertake identification and critical appraisal of clinical literature to produce evidence reviews to inform commissioning policy decisions and care pathways. You will present summaries of your assessments to small working groups and at larger formal committees, engaging in dialogue with subject specialists as well as generalist policy makers. As your experience grows you will sometimes represent the team on multidisciplinary project teams where you would be the lead for evidence assessment.
About us
NHS Devon Integrated Care System
As an Integrated Care System (ICS), we recognise now more than ever that we can only provide the care that people really need by working together. Together for Devon therefore represents a partnership where health and care services work together with local communities to improve peoples health, wellbeing and care. It aims to transform health and care services so they are clinically, socially and financially sustainable.
Our vision is simple: equal chances for everyone in Devon to lead long, happy and healthy lives. To achieve this, we have set out six ambitions for the next five years that will help us transform services including: Effective and efficient care, embedding the Integrated Care Model, the Devon deal (a citizen-led approach to health and care), Children and young people, Digital Devon and ensuring Equality.
About NHS Devon
As part of the Devon ICS, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board is responsible for the majority of county's NHS budget, and develops a plan to improve peoples health, deliver high-quality care and better value for money. The organisation is led by a diverse board, with an aim to improve peoples lives in Devon wherever they live, to reduce health inequalities and make sure we can deliver these services for the long term.
For more information, visit our website
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job description and person specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.
1. Where the post is a temporary position there may be a possibility of the post becoming permanent.
2. All posts can be considered as development opportunities if applicants do not meet the essential criteria at the time of appointment but would be able to meet this in a reasonable time frame.
3. Vacancies may close early if a high volume of applications are received.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
4. Educated to masters' level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
5. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council
Experience
Essential
6. Broad based knowledge of evidence based prescribing
7. Familiar with sources of evidence, and literature searching
8. Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy
Desirable
9. Understanding of the public sector. An understanding of the relationship between NHS organisations and wider system, regional and national organisations
10. Experience of writing and presenting evaluations of therapeutic interventions
11. Experience of achieving results working through committee processes
Skills and Attributes
Essential
12. The possession of skills for critical appraisal of published clinical research
13. The ability to produce a well written synthesis and appraisal of an evidence base
14. Technical knowledge of techniques and methods used in critical appraisal of clinical evidence
15. Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required, to aid decision making
16. Skilled communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
17. Ability to analyse very complex issues, facts and situations where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources and develop a range of options in response
18. Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making
19. Numerate and able to understand complex issues combined with deep analytical skills
Desirable
20. Ability to appraise cost-utility analyses