Job summary Specialist Clinical and Medicines Advice Pharmacist Are you a passionate pharmacist eager to fully utilise your clinical skills while developing new, in-depth expertise? Join our Medicines Information and Advice Team today At Northampton General Hospital, we offer the flexibility to rotate through various clinical specialties every six months or focus on a specific area that you are passionate about we're interested in what drives you and your career goals. You'll collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe and effective medicines optimisation for our patients. In this dynamic role, you'll lead projects, contribute to guideline development, advance Patient Group Directions (PGDs), investigate medicine-related incidents, and train fellow healthcare professionals. We're committed to supporting your growth, helping you develop new expertise in information retrieval, interpretation, and evaluation. As you progress, you'll have the opportunity to mentor and train others, significantly contributing to service evaluation and development. At the heart of our department is a strong team ethos. You'll be supported by an experienced team of peers, senior pharmacists, and technicians, all dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Working closely with our team of clinical pharmacists, you'll be part of exciting advancements like the implementation of electronic prescribing and medicines administration across all inpatient wards. Hear from Our Team: Don't just take our word for ithere's what our current Band 7 pharmacists have to say about working with us: "An opportunity that I'm happy I didn't let get away." "Lovely." "Fully supportive of development." "Good energy." "Everyone was very welcoming." "Promotes good wellbeing." We are seeking innovative, proactive pharmacists eager to join our dynamic team. If you're ready to embrace the responsibilities and challenges of a senior role, contribute to our exceptional pharmacy ethos, advocate for pharmacy, and be a guardian of medicine safetywe want to hear from you Even if you don't currently hold all the required qualifications, we offer support through courses after your probation period. Candidates not meeting all essential criteria for this Band 7 post may be considered for a Band 6 to 7 progression with a comprehensive training program. The Trust provides ample opportunities for further professional development qualifications. Main duties of the job You will also support our Medicines Advice Service, working with a team of pharmacists and technicians to provide medicines advice to patients and healthcare professionals. You will be supported to develop new expertise in information retrieval, interpretation and evaluation. Over time, you will also get the opportunity to train and develop others in these areas. As a valued member of the team, you will be expected to contribute to service evaluation and development. Throughout our department, we have a very strong team ethos and you will have good support from your peers, the senior pharmacists and technicians. You will work closely with our team of clinical pharmacists. We are in the process of implementing electronic prescribing and medicines administration on all our inpatient wards. Applicants without the qualification will be supported through the course after the probation period. About us Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire. Our Excellence Values Compassion Accountability Respect Integrity Courage We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals. Date posted 23 October 2024 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year Per annum / Pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 265-6052044-E Job locations Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Billing Road Northampton NN1 5BD Job description Job responsibilities To work within the Pharmacy Clinical Team and Medicines Information & Advice Team, to provide a comprehensive Pharmacy Service throughout the locality. The split will be approximately 50% in each of these areas. To be part of the Team, working to maintain and develop the Medicines Information & Advice Service, to facilitate the safe and cost-effective use of medicines through the provision of robust, up-to-date advice. To use your pharmaceutical expertise for the benefit of patients and the organisation. To manage and develop staff to ensure that the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Service are achieved. Specialty Clinical Pharmacy Service: To provide information, advice and guidance on the safe, effective and economical use of medicines and to challenge poor practice. To maintain appropriate standards of service and safety; to enforce guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure standards are met. To optimise medicines management by reconciling drug histories, performing medication reviews and using patients own medicines. To optimise medicines, through prescribing role, operating within areas of competence (where appropriately qualified and authorised via the Trust NMP register) To undertake adverse drug reactions reporting where necessary. To record your clinical activity and to monitor the outcome of your advice. To monitor interventions in treatment, to identify training and information needs. To participate in CQUINs and QIPPs pertinent to your area of specialty. To lead and support on medicines audits. To implement countywide and local prescribing strategies within the Trust. To facilitate the expansion of the tools within EPMA. To support the development and implementations of medicines related guidance, policies and procedures within speciality area. To fulfil the requirements of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Good Professional Practice. To implement the Duty of Candour. Medicines Information and Advice Pharmacist: To develop specialist skills in the evaluation and provision of medicines related information and advice. To work in a team alongside pharmacist and technician colleagues, to provide an enquiry answering service offering expert advice to patients and other healthcare professionals. To train Pharmacy staff and other disciplines to enable them to provide safe, high quality advice on medicines; to be involved in the support and supervision arrangements for staff working in the Medicines Information & Advice service, such as Pharmacists undergoing the Clinical Pharmacy Diploma course and Trainee Pharmacists. To actively contribute to the development of the Medicines Information and Advice Service. To work with the wider Pharmacy team to facilitate staff to keep up-to-date with pharmacy practice and therapeutic developments within their areas of specialism. To provide information and advice to address local medicines issues, e.g. through production of guidelines, policies and bulletins. To provide support for the Trusts Formulary Medicines process to ensure that the best possible evidence is available for decision-making. To provide support for the development of county wide shared care agreements for medicines. To deputise for the Lead Pharmacist, Medicines Information & Advice Service as required. To promote the reporting of adverse drug reactions to improve the safe use of medicines. To maintain standards and to monitor the effectiveness of the service. To help to maintain efficient and effective systems for storing and retrieving information To ensure that activities are carried out in accordance with the latest UKMI advice. Education, Training and Supervision Attend clinical pharmacy team meetings and education/training schemes relevant to post. To take part in formal and informal training of pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals. To be a supervisor on the Clinical Pharmacy Diploma course. To supervise aspects of pharmacist trainee training. To line manage and lead those staff allocated, undertaking appraisals, supervision and identification of training and development of their skills and knowledge. To assist in the induction of staff into the service; to help identify training and development needs. To provide information to patients, parents and carers on admission, discharge and in outpatient clinics regarding treatment and medication to optimise patient concordance. To maintain up-to-date clinical knowledge in clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice to ensure a broad base of pharmaceutical knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgement. To take responsibility for own personal CPD by participating in education and training programmes to improve competence. To develop specialist expertise in chosen speciality area. To obtain/maintain prescribing qualification and support speciality clinics and ward rounds as appropriate. To help provide the training for Technicians enhanced patient counselling skills and Medicines Management Technician training. Other Duties To undertake duties elsewhere in the locality, if required. To undertake on-call duties To provide a pharmacy service at weekends. Job description Job responsibilities To work within the Pharmacy Clinical Team and Medicines Information & Advice Team, to provide a comprehensive Pharmacy Service throughout the locality. The split will be approximately 50% in each of these areas. To be part of the Team, working to maintain and develop the Medicines Information & Advice Service, to facilitate the safe and cost-effective use of medicines through the provision of robust, up-to-date advice. To use your pharmaceutical expertise for the benefit of patients and the organisation. To manage and develop staff to ensure that the objectives of the Trust and Pharmacy Service are achieved. Specialty Clinical Pharmacy Service: To provide information, advice and guidance on the safe, effective and economical use of medicines and to challenge poor practice. To maintain appropriate standards of service and safety; to enforce guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure standards are met. To optimise medicines management by reconciling drug histories, performing medication reviews and using patients own medicines. To optimise medicines, through prescribing role, operating within areas of competence (where appropriately qualified and authorised via the Trust NMP register) To undertake adverse drug reactions reporting where necessary. To record your clinical activity and to monitor the outcome of your advice. To monitor interventions in treatment, to identify training and information needs. To participate in CQUINs and QIPPs pertinent to your area of specialty. To lead and support on medicines audits. To implement countywide and local prescribing strategies within the Trust. To facilitate the expansion of the tools within EPMA. To support the development and implementations of medicines related guidance, policies and procedures within speciality area. To fulfil the requirements of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Good Professional Practice. To implement the Duty of Candour. Medicines Information and Advice Pharmacist: To develop specialist skills in the evaluation and provision of medicines related information and advice. To work in a team alongside pharmacist and technician colleagues, to provide an enquiry answering service offering expert advice to patients and other healthcare professionals. To train Pharmacy staff and other disciplines to enable them to provide safe, high quality advice on medicines; to be involved in the support and supervision arrangements for staff working in the Medicines Information & Advice service, such as Pharmacists undergoing the Clinical Pharmacy Diploma course and Trainee Pharmacists. To actively contribute to the development of the Medicines Information and Advice Service. To work with the wider Pharmacy team to facilitate staff to keep up-to-date with pharmacy practice and therapeutic developments within their areas of specialism. To provide information and advice to address local medicines issues, e.g. through production of guidelines, policies and bulletins. To provide support for the Trusts Formulary Medicines process to ensure that the best possible evidence is available for decision-making. To provide support for the development of county wide shared care agreements for medicines. To deputise for the Lead Pharmacist, Medicines Information & Advice Service as required. To promote the reporting of adverse drug reactions to improve the safe use of medicines. To maintain standards and to monitor the effectiveness of the service. To help to maintain efficient and effective systems for storing and retrieving information To ensure that activities are carried out in accordance with the latest UKMI advice. Education, Training and Supervision Attend clinical pharmacy team meetings and education/training schemes relevant to post. To take part in formal and informal training of pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals. To be a supervisor on the Clinical Pharmacy Diploma course. To supervise aspects of pharmacist trainee training. To line manage and lead those staff allocated, undertaking appraisals, supervision and identification of training and development of their skills and knowledge. To assist in the induction of staff into the service; to help identify training and development needs. To provide information to patients, parents and carers on admission, discharge and in outpatient clinics regarding treatment and medication to optimise patient concordance. To maintain up-to-date clinical knowledge in clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice to ensure a broad base of pharmaceutical knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgement. To take responsibility for own personal CPD by participating in education and training programmes to improve competence. To develop specialist expertise in chosen speciality area. To obtain/maintain prescribing qualification and support speciality clinics and ward rounds as appropriate. To help provide the training for Technicians enhanced patient counselling skills and Medicines Management Technician training. Other Duties To undertake duties elsewhere in the locality, if required. To undertake on-call duties To provide a pharmacy service at weekends. Person Specification Education, Training and Qualifications Essential MPharm degree. Member of GPhC. Achieved or working towards Clinical Diploma. CPD portfolio. Desirable Member of RPS. Working towards RPS faculty recognition Has Medicines Information training Independent prescribing or willing to work towards Independent Prescribing qualification Knowledge and Experience Formal management training Knowledge and Experience Essential Post-registration clinical pharmacy experience within hospital, PCN or community including some of the following specialities: Medicine (or medical specialities), Care of the Older Person, Surgery (or surgical specialities), Paediatrics, Medicines Information, Oncology/Haematology, Aseptics (this would normally be achieved over at least a 2 year period. Good clinical knowledge. Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Clinical audit / QI Service Improvement or practice research experience Desirable Experience of supporting Directorate Pharmacist or equivalent, to include financial reporting, formulary application, guideline writing Awareness of NHS arrangements, commissioners, NICE, Clinical Governance and how they relate to medicines optimisation Experience of managing others Experience of risk management Experience of prescribing within a specialty Skills Essential Demonstrates a level of clinical reasoning, problem solving and judgement Literature searching and critical appraisal of clinical trials evidence Numeracy Attention to detail Good interpersonal / excellent communication of highly complex information to a wide variety of audiences Ability to work under pressure Ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team Ability to prioritise Ability to delegate Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines Able to influence Information appraisal IT skills with WORD, Excel, Powerpoint Desirable Advanced IT skills (database, spreadsheets etc) Key competencies/personal qualities and attributes Essential Both full time and part time candidates should have the ability to work shifts that will cover 7 days of the week as the NHS moves towards 7 day service provision. Credibility with senior managers and clinical staff Professional manner Motivated and enthusiastic Innovative Willingness to learn and develop personally Ability to work in physically and emotionally challenging environment with emotive patient cohort Flexible approach to work Motivate others Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users. Person Specification Education, Training and Qualifications Essential MPharm degree. Member of GPhC. Achieved or working towards Clinical Diploma. CPD portfolio. Desirable Member of RPS. Working towards RPS faculty recognition Has Medicines Information training Independent prescribing or willing to work towards Independent Prescribing qualification Knowledge and Experience Formal management training Knowledge and Experience Essential Post-registration clinical pharmacy experience within hospital, PCN or community including some of the following specialities: Medicine (or medical specialities), Care of the Older Person, Surgery (or surgical specialities), Paediatrics, Medicines Information, Oncology/Haematology, Aseptics (this would normally be achieved over at least a 2 year period. Good clinical knowledge. Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Clinical audit / QI Service Improvement or practice research experience Desirable Experience of supporting Directorate Pharmacist or equivalent, to include financial reporting, formulary application, guideline writing Awareness of NHS arrangements, commissioners, NICE, Clinical Governance and how they relate to medicines optimisation Experience of managing others Experience of risk management Experience of prescribing within a specialty Skills Essential Demonstrates a level of clinical reasoning, problem solving and judgement Literature searching and critical appraisal of clinical trials evidence Numeracy Attention to detail Good interpersonal / excellent communication of highly complex information to a wide variety of audiences Ability to work under pressure Ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team Ability to prioritise Ability to delegate Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines Able to influence Information appraisal IT skills with WORD, Excel, Powerpoint Desirable Advanced IT skills (database, spreadsheets etc) Key competencies/personal qualities and attributes Essential Both full time and part time candidates should have the ability to work shifts that will cover 7 days of the week as the NHS moves towards 7 day service provision. Credibility with senior managers and clinical staff Professional manner Motivated and enthusiastic Innovative Willingness to learn and develop personally Ability to work in physically and emotionally challenging environment with emotive patient cohort Flexible approach to work Motivate others Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users. 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 Northampton General Hospital Address Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust Billing Road Northampton NN1 5BD Employer's website https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)