Job summary
Thepost holder supports the delivery of safe, effective and efficient pharmacy andmedicines management services to a defined group of patients and service users,including sessions on the Oncology ward.
To act as an authorisedPharmacist providing supervision of the Aseptic Unit.
To provide and support thedelivery and development of pharmacy and medicine management services withinthe trust, including involvement in research and audit.
The post holder willprovide clinical pharmacy services, with particular emphasis on medicinesreconciliation during transfers of care and medicines optimisation to bothin-patients, day cases and out-patient clinics as required.
To maintain and develop aportfolio of personal clinical activity within the Trust at a levelcommensurate with a specialist pharmacist.
To deliver education andtraining for pharmacists in the Cancer Services team.
Main duties of the job
Thepost holder is responsible to and managed by the Lead Pharmacist and isprofessionally accountable to the Chief Pharmacist
The post holder will act asthe Authorising Pharmacist if needed, and in so doing will be required tosupervise a team of clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacysupport workers, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and efficientclinical pharmacy and medicines management services to an agreed standard andto a designated group of patient and service users
Provide medicines management,medicines optimisation and medicines reconciliation services to help achievedepartment priorities and targets on a designated ward or group of wards, daycase units or clinics as decided by the Lead Pharmacist
They work closely withpatients and healthcare professionals including consultant staff and Care Groupleads to ensure services are developed and delivered in a manner that isconsistent with the priorities and needs of patients and other serviceproviders.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
From April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary £23,200, to apply you must have Right to Work in the United Kingdom. If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Job description
Job responsibilities
Tocontribute to the dispensing and preparation of Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatmentto patients within the Trust.
To act as an authorisedPharmacist, releasing pharmaceuticals prepared under a Section 10 exemption ofthe Medicines Act 1968.
To provide supervision tothe aseptic services unit under the direction of the Accountable Pharmacist.
To support the LeadTechnician and Accountable Pharmacist to ensure safe staffing levels within theaseptic unit in accordance with the capacity plan and recommended noticeperiods.
To participate in theAseptic Units Quality Management System.
To support senior pharmacyleaders in the delivery of the pharmacy strategic plan and the medicinesmanagement strategy with particular focus on medicines reconciliation andmedicines optimisation at appropriate places within the patient flow throughthe service.
To contribute to the implementationof clinical services development.
To deliver an agreedstandard of medicines reconciliation as set out by the departments MedicinesReconciliation policy.
To deliver an agreedstandard of pharmaceutical care and medicines management to identified patientson a ward. This would include: advisingnursing and medical staff regarding drug choiceand drug administration (includingtherapeutic drug monitoring)and on local prescribing policies & guidelines;educating patients about their medication and assuring safe medication practiceat all times.
To liaise with primary carecolleagues to implement and develop systems that improves pharmaceutical careacross the primary and secondary care interface.
To manage and develop themedicines management service according to the needs of the patients.
To supervise other pharmacystaff involved in the delivery of the medicines management service to theirspecified caseload, pharmacy technicians, pre-registration pharmacists,training-grade pharmacists. This willinclude planning day-to-day activities of the team, monitoring and reporting onactivity to ensure that services provided deliver an agreed standard ofpharmaceutical care.
To participate in wardrounds and provide specialist advice to nursing and medical staff regardingdrug choice and drug administration (including therapeutic drug monitoring) andon local prescribing policies and guidelines.
To co-ordinate aprofessional screen for out-patient, day case, in-patients and dischargeprescriptions.
To report allappropriate adverse drugreactions to theMHRA via thenational reporting scheme.
To continually audit ownpractice and identify areas for CPD.
Participate and develop theresearch and audit activities of the department. To contribute to work published by thedepartment.
To participate in the workof the dispensary and other operational elements of the service. Dispensaryduties will include the supervision of other pharmacy staff, initial checkingof all prescriptions, dispensing and final checking of prescriptions and wardorders if required and the counselling of patients when issuing outpatientprescriptions. Pharmacists will also beinvolved in the dispensing, checking, issuing and destruction of controlleddrugs in line with current legislation.
To participate in, andsupport the work of, pharmacist-managed out-patients clinics under thesupervision of a senior clinical pharmacist, or senior medical doctor. This may include acting as an Independent,non-medical prescriber.
To provide high qualitypatient education on medicines use. Thisincludes formal presentations to large patient groups as well as individualisedinformation.
To contribute to theeducation and training of pharmacy staff and other health professionals both ona one-to-one basis and through formal presentations.
To act as a mentor tojunior grades of staff, providing regular feedback and highlighting trainingopportunities. To support training-grade pharmacists to achieve the competenciesset out in the Foundation Level Framework and support their learning throughthe clinical diploma.
To review and advise onmedicines policies and procedures.
To support theimplementation of medicines management issues identified from national andlocal guidelines.
After appropriate training,the post holder may be required to undertake initial clinical checks and finalrelease checks on aseptically prepared products including chemotherapy where itis appropriate to their area of clinical work or in the absence of the SeniorClinical Pharmacist (Aseptic & Cancer Services).
An individual pharmacist,or a group of pharmacists, may be asked to undertake specific tasks or to takeon extra responsibilities within the department to meet the needs of thedirectorate and for their own personal development. These may include acting as pre-registration pharmacist tutors,first aid practitioners, COSHHand Health &Safety representatives or to sit on various working groups.
The dutiesof a pre-registration pharmacisttutor include recruitment,organisation of training programmes as well as on going supervision,objective setting and appraisal of the students.
Pharmacists are involved inthe administration of specific clinical trials and in the supply of clinicaltrial material to individual patients.
To take part in theemergency out-of-hours service; this will include provision of advice tohospital staff, outsideagencies and patientsand carers concerningall aspects of medicines management, the supply ofmedication to the trust or other trusts, the sourcing of supplies of medicinesnot held within the department and dealing with unexpected and unpredictablerequests from other hospital staff.
To participate in theextended opening hours of the Pharmacy department; this may include weekendworking and extended working days.
To participate in theinterview process for applicants applying to various positions within thedirectorate as appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
2. Completed a suitable postgraduate qualification (eg Clinical diploma) or demonstrated sufficient experience to meet RPS post-registration foundation competence standards.
3. Evidence of CPD and education.
4. Independent Prescriber or willing to work towards.
Desirable
5. Post qualification training or experience in the relevant subject area, preferably to Post graduate Masters level.
6. Formal training in Aseptic Services.
Experience
Essential
7. Sufficient experience to be able to provide near-patient clinical pharmacy services.
8. Able to work as an autonomous practitioner in all areas of pharmacy practice.
9. Ability to build working relationships with other healthcare professionals.
Desirable
10. Experience of delivery of formal education and training sessions.
11. Hospital pharmacy experience.
12. Experience within the relevant subject area/specialty.
Statutory Registration
Essential
13. Registered as a Practicing Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Desirable
14. Membership of RPS or a relevant Clinical Pharmacy Organisation appropriate to the subject area.
Special Skills and Knowledge
Essential
15. Good understanding of medicines reconciliation and how it fits into the larger function of hospital pharmacy.
16. Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to ward/clinic based situation.
17. Supervision and training of others.
18. Provision of complex information on medicines use, clinical pharmacy and financial issues to senior Consultants and managers.
19. Sound knowledge of MI resources.
20. Good understanding of current pharmacy/NHS issues
Desirable
21. Ability to demonstrate an area of expertise within a field of pharmacy practice.
22. Examples of clinical audit and involvement in service development.
23. Examples of development of evidence-based clinical guidelines and protocols.
Special Requirements
Essential
24. Good oral and written communication skills.
25. Able to build good relationships with colleagues, and influence the practice and behaviours of others in a positive way.
26. Self-motivation and ability to motivate others.
27. Team player.
28. Desire to develop clinical skills.
29. Able to prioritise own workload.
30. Reliable work record.