Job summary Medication Safety Lead Pharmacist/ Medication Safety Officer Band : 8b (£58,972-68,525) Hours: Full time An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled, knowledgeable pharmacist to join our team. We are looking for an experienced pharmacist with an interest in medication safety to join our team and lead the medication safety agenda across the organisation Main duties of the job This is an exciting opportunity to to make a real difference in the lives of our patients through influencing patient safety across our organisation, driving improvements in medicines management and optimisation and ensuring the Trust has safe processes in place and is compliant will all relevant safety guidance. The postholder will be supported by our excellent medication safety team comprising of Pharmacists, Pharmacy technicians and Nurses to: Undertake the role of Medication Safety Officer (MSO) for UHL Be responsible for delivering, managing and developing the medication safety strategy across the Pharmacy Service. Be the lead pharmacist for medication safety in the Trust, developing and implementing strategies for quality improvement ensuring risks associated with medicines management activities are reduced or removed. Develop a broad range of plans to address complex medicines safety challenges within UHL, ensuring appropriate action plans are in place, monitored and adjusted according to changing priorities and risk, balancing long and short-term actions to develop and maintain a culture of safety. Represent pharmacy at CMG and Trust level to promote the highest standards of medicines management and provide pharmacist input into the implementation of national safety standards related to medicines. Lead in the monitoring of medicines management across the Trust through regular performance reporting About us We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children's Hospital and run one of the country's leading heart centres. Our team is made up of more than 17,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030). We have four primary goals: high-quality care for all, being a great place to work, partnerships for impact, and research and education excellence And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities. Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all: we are compassionate, we are proud, we are inclusive, and we are one team This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve. About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/ Date posted 08 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8b Salary £62,215 to £72,293 a year p.a. Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 358-6864811-CSI Job locations Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester LE1 5WW Job description Job responsibilities Key result areas Medication safety To be the designated Medication Safety Officer (MSO) on behalf of the Trust. Ensuring medicines incidents are reported, and reviewed in a timely and appropriate manner and to promote effective reporting of medicines-related incidents. To lead or support the investigation of incidents and prepare incident reports. To undertake analysis of highly complex information where data sets may be incomplete and identify recommendations for action and monitor these to ensure they are delivered. To take professional responsibility for highly complex decision making in relation to medicines safety, balancing potentially conflicting opinion from different professional groups within and external to the Trust and taking account of risk and analysis of potential consequence to develop and implement solutions utilising highly developed professional analysis and judgement. To improve the quality of medicine incident reporting across UHL Develop and implement strategies and policies to reduce the risks related to medication use both within pharmacy and across the Trust. Monitor effectiveness of these through audit and user feedback To represent pharmacy on the Trust Policy and guideline Committee and the CSI audit committee To lead on reviewing all medicines management policies for the trust and ensure that these are in date and reflect current practice Work with Quality and Safety leads across CMGs in reviewing medication related incident data, utilising the System Engineering Imitative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework and other tools to promote changes in practice following an incident. To provide analysis of medicines related incidents to the Medicines Optimisation Committee (MedOC). Assist the corporate safety team to review medication incidents as required, meeting with patients or relatives, responding to medication related questions. Support staff in attending coroners inquest and assist the inquest / claims department in responding to incidents relating to medicines To coordinate data collection and reporting for spot checks in relation to medicines security and controlled drugs To lead on multi-disciplinary medicines safety-related improvement work and projects, ensuring timely achievement of objectives and agreed KPIs To assist the Chief Pharmacist in the collation and review of evidence for Care Quality Commission (CQC) and external medication standards To support the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO) in auditing the use of controlled drugs across the Trust, monitoring prescribing and usage trends, identification of areas for concern. To prepare reports on controlled drug incidents within the Trust and actions taken to resolve these for the CD Local Intelligence Network (LIN) on behalf of the CDAO. To support the CDAO in the investigation of CD discrepancies including developing and implementing recommendations from root cause analysis. To carry out risk assessments in relation to the use of medicines and appropriately communicate such risks; to support risk mitigation actions To lead on the design and delivery of audit activity in relation to medicines in conjunction with the clinical pharmacy team To support and advise CMG lead pharmacists on all aspects of medicines management To deputise for the CD Accountable Officer at CD LIN meetings as required To assist the Chief Pharmacist in the implementation of National patient safety alerts across the Trust To prepare medicines related bulletins for dissemination to staff across UHL focused on learning from medicines incidents and improving medicines safety To work with colleagues in Medicines Information and Procurement to respond to MHRA Drug reports; specifically to ensure any impact on medicines management is considered To advise Procurement and Medicines Information staff on medicines safety issues, including purchasing decisions To provide expert advice on all aspects of medicines management to staff of all disciplines across UHL and the Alliance contract To liaise with organisations and colleagues across the Integrated Care System to develop and maintain the Leicestershire Medicines Code To support the Chief Pharmacist in delivering the Medicines Optimisation Committee (MedOC) terms of reference, including preparing papers for MedOC Work with clinical governance / medication safety leads from other local healthcare providers and network with national organizations eg NHSE and MSO network to share information, learning and increase a uniform approach to patient safety, particularly the implementation of National medication safety alerts across the healthcare community. To represent UHL at Regional Medicines Safety Network meetings, sharing best practice for improving medicines safety. To actively represent UHL on the National Patient Safety Network, including acting as the main contact for NHS England and MHRA and contributing to development of strategy nationally. To regularly review information from the Learning From Patient Safety Events System (LFPSE) and the MHRA to support improvements in reporting. To support dissemination of this information across UHL. To receive and respond to requests for more information about medication error incident reports from the Patient Safety Domain in NHS England and the MHRA, including responding to requests for additional or highly complex data in relation to medication errors which requires full analysis and interrogation of databases. To develop a framework for monitoring medicines safety in UHL To support the development and implementation of a strategy for the improvement of medication information to patients, responding to patients needs identified through patient polling. To be active in developing and promoting methods for increasing patient adherence. To lead for pharmacy on education for medical, nursing and pharmacy staff in relation to medicines management, including ensuring learning from incidents. To support staff undertaking audit in relation to medicines management Management and Leadership To be the lead for reviewing medicines management standards through regular audit of the Leicestershire medicines code, working with CMG leads to co-ordinate action plans. To take the lead in medicines management audit across pharmacy services, to underpin practice evidence for medicines management. Work closely with the Trust clinical audit team, actively participating in medicine related audits across the Trust. Assist in the co-ordination of joint audits across Leicestershire. To have direct management responsibility for the Medicines Safety Team ensuring that each person has an annual appraisal and personal development plan in accordance with Trust criteria. Ensure that all staff have access to effective and timely HR advice. In conjunction with General Managers, support the pharmacy clinical risk and governance agenda to ensure that all aspects of pharmacy services are operating in a safe manner in accordance with local and national standards, producing and implementing local actions, policies and procedures as necessary. To support the training of pharmacy staff in clinical risk and clinical governance Undertake the pharmacist role and duties within the dispensary weekly subject to rota. Contribute to the business and strategic planning for the UHL pharmacy service and play a central role for improving patient care and processes. Manage and develop the pharmacy part of UHL connect, assist in developing tools for improving communication to staff. Job description Job responsibilities Key result areas Medication safety To be the designated Medication Safety Officer (MSO) on behalf of the Trust. Ensuring medicines incidents are reported, and reviewed in a timely and appropriate manner and to promote effective reporting of medicines-related incidents. To lead or support the investigation of incidents and prepare incident reports. To undertake analysis of highly complex information where data sets may be incomplete and identify recommendations for action and monitor these to ensure they are delivered. To take professional responsibility for highly complex decision making in relation to medicines safety, balancing potentially conflicting opinion from different professional groups within and external to the Trust and taking account of risk and analysis of potential consequence to develop and implement solutions utilising highly developed professional analysis and judgement. To improve the quality of medicine incident reporting across UHL Develop and implement strategies and policies to reduce the risks related to medication use both within pharmacy and across the Trust. Monitor effectiveness of these through audit and user feedback To represent pharmacy on the Trust Policy and guideline Committee and the CSI audit committee To lead on reviewing all medicines management policies for the trust and ensure that these are in date and reflect current practice Work with Quality and Safety leads across CMGs in reviewing medication related incident data, utilising the System Engineering Imitative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework and other tools to promote changes in practice following an incident. To provide analysis of medicines related incidents to the Medicines Optimisation Committee (MedOC). Assist the corporate safety team to review medication incidents as required, meeting with patients or relatives, responding to medication related questions. Support staff in attending coroners inquest and assist the inquest / claims department in responding to incidents relating to medicines To coordinate data collection and reporting for spot checks in relation to medicines security and controlled drugs To lead on multi-disciplinary medicines safety-related improvement work and projects, ensuring timely achievement of objectives and agreed KPIs To assist the Chief Pharmacist in the collation and review of evidence for Care Quality Commission (CQC) and external medication standards To support the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO) in auditing the use of controlled drugs across the Trust, monitoring prescribing and usage trends, identification of areas for concern. To prepare reports on controlled drug incidents within the Trust and actions taken to resolve these for the CD Local Intelligence Network (LIN) on behalf of the CDAO. To support the CDAO in the investigation of CD discrepancies including developing and implementing recommendations from root cause analysis. To carry out risk assessments in relation to the use of medicines and appropriately communicate such risks; to support risk mitigation actions To lead on the design and delivery of audit activity in relation to medicines in conjunction with the clinical pharmacy team To support and advise CMG lead pharmacists on all aspects of medicines management To deputise for the CD Accountable Officer at CD LIN meetings as required To assist the Chief Pharmacist in the implementation of National patient safety alerts across the Trust To prepare medicines related bulletins for dissemination to staff across UHL focused on learning from medicines incidents and improving medicines safety To work with colleagues in Medicines Information and Procurement to respond to MHRA Drug reports; specifically to ensure any impact on medicines management is considered To advise Procurement and Medicines Information staff on medicines safety issues, including purchasing decisions To provide expert advice on all aspects of medicines management to staff of all disciplines across UHL and the Alliance contract To liaise with organisations and colleagues across the Integrated Care System to develop and maintain the Leicestershire Medicines Code To support the Chief Pharmacist in delivering the Medicines Optimisation Committee (MedOC) terms of reference, including preparing papers for MedOC Work with clinical governance / medication safety leads from other local healthcare providers and network with national organizations eg NHSE and MSO network to share information, learning and increase a uniform approach to patient safety, particularly the implementation of National medication safety alerts across the healthcare community. To represent UHL at Regional Medicines Safety Network meetings, sharing best practice for improving medicines safety. To actively represent UHL on the National Patient Safety Network, including acting as the main contact for NHS England and MHRA and contributing to development of strategy nationally. To regularly review information from the Learning From Patient Safety Events System (LFPSE) and the MHRA to support improvements in reporting. To support dissemination of this information across UHL. To receive and respond to requests for more information about medication error incident reports from the Patient Safety Domain in NHS England and the MHRA, including responding to requests for additional or highly complex data in relation to medication errors which requires full analysis and interrogation of databases. To develop a framework for monitoring medicines safety in UHL To support the development and implementation of a strategy for the improvement of medication information to patients, responding to patients needs identified through patient polling. To be active in developing and promoting methods for increasing patient adherence. To lead for pharmacy on education for medical, nursing and pharmacy staff in relation to medicines management, including ensuring learning from incidents. To support staff undertaking audit in relation to medicines management Management and Leadership To be the lead for reviewing medicines management standards through regular audit of the Leicestershire medicines code, working with CMG leads to co-ordinate action plans. To take the lead in medicines management audit across pharmacy services, to underpin practice evidence for medicines management. Work closely with the Trust clinical audit team, actively participating in medicine related audits across the Trust. Assist in the co-ordination of joint audits across Leicestershire. To have direct management responsibility for the Medicines Safety Team ensuring that each person has an annual appraisal and personal development plan in accordance with Trust criteria. Ensure that all staff have access to effective and timely HR advice. In conjunction with General Managers, support the pharmacy clinical risk and governance agenda to ensure that all aspects of pharmacy services are operating in a safe manner in accordance with local and national standards, producing and implementing local actions, policies and procedures as necessary. To support the training of pharmacy staff in clinical risk and clinical governance Undertake the pharmacist role and duties within the dispensary weekly subject to rota. Contribute to the business and strategic planning for the UHL pharmacy service and play a central role for improving patient care and processes. Manage and develop the pharmacy part of UHL connect, assist in developing tools for improving communication to staff. Person Specification Qualifications and experience Essential Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council Previous significant managerial experience and responsibility for Pharmacists and other associated staff groups Significant experience of facilitating and managing change Experience of medicines policy and guidelines development Desirable Relevant medicines safety training accreditations e.g. PSIRF Contribution to national and regional medicines safety policies/ initiatives Qualifications Essential Post-graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice /research Desirable Project management qualification or relevant experience Analytical and judgement skills Essential Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills will be required for assessment of service delivery plans of multiplicity of organisations and formulation of improvement strategies where opinion may differ on the best course of action Communication and relationship skills Essential Experience of communicating highly complex drug information or medicine related information to prescribers, clinicians, where professionals may challenge the advice Highly developed interpersonal, negotiation, influencing and conflict management skills Desirable Experience of attending and presenting at high level committees Knowledge Essential Understanding of medicines legislation and guidance i.e. Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, Medicine Guidance Notes, MHRA Alerts Person Specification Qualifications and experience Essential Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council Previous significant managerial experience and responsibility for Pharmacists and other associated staff groups Significant experience of facilitating and managing change Experience of medicines policy and guidelines development Desirable Relevant medicines safety training accreditations e.g. PSIRF Contribution to national and regional medicines safety policies/ initiatives Qualifications Essential Post-graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice /research Desirable Project management qualification or relevant experience Analytical and judgement skills Essential Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills will be required for assessment of service delivery plans of multiplicity of organisations and formulation of improvement strategies where opinion may differ on the best course of action Communication and relationship skills Essential Experience of communicating highly complex drug information or medicine related information to prescribers, clinicians, where professionals may challenge the advice Highly developed interpersonal, negotiation, influencing and conflict management skills Desirable Experience of attending and presenting at high level committees Knowledge Essential Understanding of medicines legislation and guidance i.e. Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, Medicine Guidance Notes, MHRA Alerts Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Address Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester LE1 5WW Employer's website https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)