A Vacancy at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Principal Pharmacist Medicines Information & Safety
Department: Pharmacy
Band 8a £53,755 - £60,504 Per annum
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you a pharmacist passionate about ensuring medication safety and providing top-tier medicine information?
Do you have a keen eye for detail and a commitment to improving patient care?
Do you have experience in running high-quality, patient-centered pharmacy services?
If so, we want you to join us...
We are looking for a Principal Pharmacist for Medicine Information and Medication Safety to join our dynamic team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in the delivery of exceptional pharmaceutical care, as part of a newly restructured department dedicated to patient safety and clinical excellence.
We are specifically looking for someone with extensive experience in hospital pharmacy or medicine information, at a Band 7 or 8a level, with a strong understanding of medication safety practices and the latest strategies for investigating medicine information enquires. You will be responsible for leading a team focused on managing medication advise and safety delivering accurate, evidence-based medicine information to the multidisciplinary team.
If you would like to discuss the role further or find out more about what makes this opportunity so special, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!
Interview date: w/c 3rd February 2025
• To be professionally and managerially responsible for the development and delivery of the Medicines Information service for Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) NHS Foundation Trust.
• To support the Medicines Safety team in the planning, development, and implementation of the Medicines Safety initiatives across the Trust.
• To support the Formulary & Interface Pharmacist in the delivery of their portfolio
• To participate in the provision of Pharmacy services across the organisation.
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
'83% of this staff group report that their immediate manager shows a positive interest in their health and well-being, cares about their concerns and provides adequate support.' (NHS Staff Survey 2023).
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
• Free on-site parking
• Free tea and coffee
• Great flexible working opportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• On site nursery (chargeable)
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Trust Responsibilities
· To ensure that appropriate levels of service are provided, in the areas you are responsible for, in accordance with statutory requirements and professional standards.
· To be part of the Pharmacy team and work with staff within the Pharmacy Department and across the Trust, to enable the objectives of the Trust to be achieved.
Medicines Information Responsibilities
• To deliver, manage, evaluate, and develop the Medicines Information service for MKUH in accordance with relevant standards and guidance.
• To deliver and oversee the Medicines Information service across the Trust, in accordance with its changing needs and developments
Medicines Safety Responsibilities
• To support the Medication Safety Officer in the development, implementation, and evaluation of medicines safety initiatives across the organisation in line with relevant guidance
• To support the Medicines Safety team to plan, develop and co-ordinate the implementation and maintenance of Medicines Safety initiatives across the Trust, in accordance with its changing needs and developments.
Clinical Practice Role
• To practice in compliance with the General Pharmaceutical Council code of professional conduct within scope of practice, being responsible and accountable for own decisions, actions, and omissions.
• To demonstrate a critical understanding of broadened level of responsibility and autonomy and within the limits of own competence and professional scope of practice, including when working with complexity, risk, uncertainty, and incomplete information.
Leadership and Management
· Identify and lead on negotiations with BLMK ICS and the Trust on obtaining appropriate pharmacy resources for interface and formulary services.
· To ensure that formulary and interface procedures are adhered to at all times and that any trends of concerns are addressed and escalated when appropriate.
Education
· To critically assess and address own learning needs, negotiating a personal development plan that reflects the breadth of on-going professional development across the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.
· To engage in self-directed learning, critically reflecting to maximise clinical skills and knowledge, as well as own potential to lead and develop both care and services.
Research
· To critically engage in research activity, adhering to good research practice guidance, so that evidence-based strategies are developed and applied to enhance quality, safety, productivity, and value for money.
· To evaluate and audit own and others’ clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, then acting on the findings.
Departmental Responsibilities
· To contribute to the provision of all routine day to day pharmacy services in accordance with departmental and Trust requirements.
· To be part of the team providing End of Day, Weekend, Bank Holiday and On Call services.
Professional Responsibilities
· To ensure appropriate levels of service are provided in accordance with statutory requirements and the General Pharmaceutical Council and Royal Pharmaceutical Society professional standards.
· To respect confidentiality of information relating to patients and management and to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act.
Please refer to Job Description for further details
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
As the Principal Pharmacist, you will collaborate with prescribers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to optimise medication use and reduce the risks of medication errors. Your passion for improving patient outcomes will be key in fostering a culture of safety, continuous learning, and improvement.
In return, you will be part of a supportive and collaborative pharmacy team. You'll have access to ongoing professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and make a tangible impact on the quality of care we deliver. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape and lead a critical service in a modern, well-equipped setting, while contributing to a high standard of medication advise and safety.
This advert closes on Friday 24 Jan 2025