Job summary
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a lead specialist HIV and Sexual Health pharmacist. We are looking recruit an experienced pharmacist with a keen interest in antiretroviral medicine and sexual health clinical pharmacy to become an integral part of our well established multidisciplinary team.
The successful applicant will take lead responsibility to support and implement quality-driven Sexual Health services alongside our lead consultant and specialist nurses. This will ensure antiretrovirals and antimicrobials and are used in a safe, effective, prudent, patient-centred and efficient manner.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will promote safe and cost-effective antiretroviral prescribing across the Trust in collaboration with the consultant and lead nurse in sexual health. You will lead in drug usage analysis, identification of budget pressures arising from new products, co-ordination of projects and audits and the development and maintenance of guidelines, policies and protocols relating to HIV and sexual health treatment. You will have significant input into the choice of therapy prescribed for people with HIV based upon their comorbidities and response to treatment, and prescribing of appropriate treatment.
In addition to supporting our HIV and sexual health service, the post holder will provide a clinical pharmacy service to our acute medical wards.
The Trust is currently undergoing the implementation of EPMA and the post-holder will have a significant input into improved prescribing and therapeutic drug monitoring using electronic systems.
The post holder will benefit from significant training and support of their knowledge in HIV and sexual health medicine from the previous post holder.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our Services
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
o Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
o Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
o National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Designated Speciality role
1. To assist the Head of Pharmacy and all other pharmacy staff in providing and developing an efficient and comprehensive pharmaceutical service for the patients of St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
2. To assist the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager to develop and deliver comprehensive and progressive pharmaceutical services to the medical directorate in line with national and local medicines optimisation strategies.
3. To lead and deliver high quality clinical pharmacy services to HIV and Sexual Health Services at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, including the development of an advanced pharmacist role.
4. To develop competencies in HIV and Sexual Health Services and deliver ward based clinical teaching to band 6/7 pharmacists & pre registration pharmacists within the Trust.
5. To practice as a Trust approved Independent Non Medical Prescriber
6. To participate in clinical audit and practice research relevant to HIV and Sexual Health Services
7. To participate in the department rota to ensure a pharmacy service is provided efficiently over 7 days.
8. Assist the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager in providing clinical training and supervision to other departmental staff.
Clinical Role
9. To assist the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager to plan, manage, develop and deliver the pharmaceutical service toHIV and Sexual Health patients within the Trust in line with National strategy, in accordance with the changing needs of the NHS, the requirements of the Trust and taking into account feedback from users of the service.
10. Act as a pharmaceutical resource for the Trusts patients, medical staff, pharmacy staff, nurses, midwives, non-medical prescribers etc.
11. To work closely with pharmacy and other colleagues within local and national networks
12. To work closely with clinical pharmacy colleagues to support the safe use of medicines.
13. As a Trust approved Independent Non-medical prescriber, prescribe medication where appropriate in accordance with personal formulary
14. To assist the department in producing and reviewing guidelines and polices
15. To analyse medicines expenditure across an allocated directorate as directed by Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager and to identify prescribing trends and potential prescribing cost saving initiatives.
16. To produce reports of and present such findings at Directorate level as required.
17. To be involved in audit of current practice to identify compliance with HIV and Sexual Health Services prescribing or adherence to Trust guidelines, producing reports of results for presentation at a suitable forum.
18. To critically evaluate and interpret all information obtained from all sources and to apply professional judgement, to provide clinically sound, unbiased, up to date, evaluated information.
19. To apply sound professional judgement to complex legal and ethical issues and dilemmas.
20. Be aware of changes to national policies, guidelines, NICE guidance and other medicines/health directives and recommend amendments to the formulary and medicines management policies as appropriate.
21. Scan national medical and pharmaceutical news by using recognised medical and pharmaceutical databases and websites to identify current and future developments in the pharmaceutical care of surgical patients.
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To provide an advanced clinical pharmacy service to specified wards in accordance with professional, departmental and Trust policies. This will include:
- Taking drug histories on admission
- Checking medical notes of each new patient to ascertain presenting complaint, past medical history, working diagnosis and relevant biochemical, haematological and microbiological test results to ensure safe and effective medicines use.
- Ensuring each medicine has an appropriate indication and that each diagnosis has appropriate therapy.
- Ensuring that existing therapy is safe to take with, and has not contributed to, the presenting complaint.
- Ensuring that new treatments are compatible with the patients conditions.
- Making recommendations on changes to drug therapy in line with the above.
- Reviewing recommendations in the light of new results and treatment plans.
- Advising on which medications to continue and which to stop during the peri-operative period, if appropriate
- Monitoring for adverse drug reactions and submit yellow cards to the CSM where appropriate.
- Advising on therapeutic drug level monitoring for specific drugs where appropriate.
- Ensuring compliance with formularies, policies and procedures.
- Educating patients about their drug therapy.
- Developing evidence-based treatment protocols for use within specialities or across the Trust where appropriate.
- Providing advice on the availability of alternative formulations suitable for use in patients who are nil by mouth.
- Providing information on the use of drugs outside their licensed indications
- Monitoring use and ensure adequate stock levels of crucial drugs on a daily basis.
22. To participate in consultant ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings where appropriate
23. Provide specialist pharmaceutical information to medical and nursing staff and patients in your speciality and to General Practitioners and other staff where appropriate.
24. Liaise with General Practitioners and other primary care professional to obtain accurate drug histories.
25. Record clinical interventions in line with departmental policy.
26. Report any drug errors you detect to the Head of Pharmacy or their deputy. Ensure that the appropriate error form and prescriber feedback are completed.
27. Participate in the departmental therapeutic drug monitoring service, interpreting drug levels and providing advice to medical staff on appropriate dosage, including on call.
28. Liaise with appropriate healthcare professionals within local Primary Care Trusts to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources across the primary/secondary care interface and where necessary develop shared care protocols.
29. Provide professional and legal supervision to the dispensary. Duties will include:
30. Professional checking of inpatient requisitions and TTOs
31. Ensuring all prescriptions comply with the Medicines Act
32. Ensuring all prescriptions comply Misuse of Drugs Act where appropriate.
33. Final checking of prescriptions for accuracy prior to release
34. Labelling and dispensing of medication as required.
35. Providing advice to patients on how to take their medicines and potential side effects.
36. Advice to Doctors, nurses and other professionals as required.
37. Order, receive and dispense controlled drugs in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Act
38. To develop competencies in designated specialty and deliver ward based clinical teaching to band 6/7 pharmacists & preregistration pharmacists within the Trust.
39. Supervision of pre-registration graduates and junior pharmacists
40. Comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use safe custody and destruction of drugs within pharmacy and other areas of the hospital.
41. To assist medical staff in undertaking of such clinical trials as have been approved by the Ethical Committee and to arrange under the direction of senior members of staff of the Pharmacy department the necessary supplies and aspects of clinical trials protocol affecting the pharmaceutical service.
42. Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of The Clinical Pharmacy Standards across the pharmacy department.
43. To act as a clinical tutor for pharmacists undertaking the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy
44. To assist the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager in the recruitment of staff including participation on interview panels
45. To assist the department in the review of patient group directions
46. Return unwanted or patients own Controlled drugs from the wards in accordance with the departmental policy and the Misuse of Drugs Act
47. Assist in the delivery of pharmacist teaching of junior doctors.
48. Participate in the training of medical and nursing staff and other paramedical disciplines either within or external to the Trust.
49. Participate in individual performance review and the use of personal development plans including performing appraisals where appropriate.
50. To participate in clinical audit and practice research as instructed by senior pharmacists within the department including presentation of results where appropriate.
51. To assist in the organisation and participate in the weekly clinical meetings and continuing professional development feedback sessions for the pharmacists.
52. To attend appropriate training courses for pharmacists and to encourage other staff to undertake further training.
53. To participate in Continuing Professional Development and Professional Revalidation as per department policy and national guidelines from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
54. To assist other pharmacists in ensuring that work carried out in the departments at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is performed in accordance with the recommendation contained in the Guide to Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practice and its supplements, and the safe systems of work documentation.
55. To comply with Health and Safety at Work legislation, COSSH Regulations, Data Protection Act and other appropriate legislation
56. To participate in a rota which enables the department to provide a full 7-day service.
57. To participate in the on call, Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday and emergency duty rotas
58. To maintain the security of the in-patient and out-patient dispensaries especially whilst working alone (for example on call or whilst locking the department)
59. To participate in the department late night and locking up rota and ensure the safe custody of all pharmacy keys in your possession both on and off site.
60. To undertake any other related duties which may be required.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
61. Excellent verbal and written communication
62. Ability to affect and manage change
63. Clinical knowledge of the pharmaceutical care of HIV and Sexual Health patients
64. Good time management, decision making and organisational skills
65. Self-motivated and able to motivate/ inspire othersSelf-motivated and able to motivate/ inspire othersSelf-motivated and able to motivate/ inspire othersSelf-motivated and able to motivate/ inspire othersSelf-motivated and able to motivate/ inspire othersSelf-motivated and able to motivate/ inspire others
66. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
67. Ability to teach junior pharmacists the delivery of pharmaceutical care within speciality
68. Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development/ education
69. Committed to patient care
70. Approachable and flexible
71. Supportive to other members of Pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams
72. Computer literate
73. Financial awareness regarding the management of drug budgets
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
74. Experience as qualified pharmacist in acute Hospital Pharmacy
75. Good all-round knowledge of Clinical Pharmacy
Desirable
76. Experience in GUM and HIV Medicine
77. Line Management Experience
78. Previous Pharmacy Teaching Experience
79. Published pharmaceutical research in a peer-reviewed journal
Qualifications
Essential
80. Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
81. Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
82. Fulfilment of mandatory Continuous Professional Development/Revalidation requirements
83. Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy
84. Accredited tutor for post graduate clinical diploma
85. Accredited Independent non-medical prescriber or currently working towards accreditation
Desirable
86. Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Other
Essential
87. Use of VDU equipment
88. Able to work under pressure, remains calm and objective
89. Analysis of prescriptions. Interruptions for advice
90. Frequent concentration, work pattern unpredictable Concentration for reviewing prescriptions, calculations, statistics; may be interrupted by urgent requests for advice
91. Analysis and formulation of procedures and guidelines
92. Ability to rationalise complex issues
93. Complex dosage advice
94. Exposure to upsetting situations, high level of resilience to deal with distressing and/or challenging situations
95. Distressed patients with complex diseases
96. Professional appearance and hygiene awareness
97. Weekend, Late night, on call and Bank Holiday Working