Job summary
Medicine Use and Quality Manager
Department: Pharmacy
Band:8b £58,972 - £68,525 Per annum
Hours: per week, plus on-call, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
The Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MKUH) pharmacy service has continued to grow in size and influence. We are now embarking on our next big step forward with significant investment into the growth of our team. Our services to MKUH and to the wards are being developed to offer patients, nursing and medical staff more time with pharmacists working in clinical areas, to ensure that all patients receive safe and quality care.
We have recently built a new Aseptic Unit, refurbished our main pharmacy department including the installation of a state of the art dispensing robot and opened a new Outpatient Pharmacy.
To support this next step, the pharmacy department is currently looking for an outstanding pharmacist to join our team as our Medicine Use & Quality Manager to lead the Medication Safety team, Governance and Medicine Information services.
Applicants to the position must be passionate about providing high quality patient care, medication safety and ensuring safe processes through robust governance across the Trust.
For additional information about this post, please contact: Sanil Patel, Associate Director of Pharmacy, Operations Quality and Governance on 01908 995737 or
Interview date: w/c 23rd September 2024
Main duties of the job
We are looking for someone willing to show their commitment to delivering excellence and working with us to develop our Pharmacy service even further, for all staff in our wider team and the organisation. A can-do approach and commitment to self and service development is essential to enable the person appointed to be able to train and develop others in partnership with other pharmacy staff members.
Weekend work to supply immediately needed medication, including TTOs, is required of all pharmacy staff. The post holder will also participate in the on-call rota.
1. To be professionally and managerially responsible for the development and delivery of the formulary service for Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) NHS Foundation Trust and across MK Place.
2. To collaborate with the Medicines Value & Commissioning Manager and the Associate Director of Pharmacy to deliver quality improvement, medicine value and waste reduction programmes relating to medicines.
3. To be take responsibility for medicines management related Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance across the organisation.
4. To support the wider Medicines Value Programme through ensuring best-value prescribing and evidence-based practice.
About us
MKUH staff scored highest for 'I look forward to coming to work' (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:
5. Free on-site parking
6. Free tea and coffee
7. Great flexible workingopportunities
8. Discounted gym membership
9. Lease car scheme
10. Generous annual leave and pension scheme
11. On site nursery (chargeable)
12. 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To represent MKUH and be an essential member of the Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Formulary Group and Area Prescribing Committee (APC), actively supporting robust critical appraisals to manage the entry of new medicines onto the formulary, assisting Consultants and other Health Care Professionals with formulary applications.
Ensure appropriate clinical, safety and economic assessments are undertaken in conjunction with the BLMK Formulary Group and APC
To manage the use of non-formulary and unlicensed / off license medicines across the Trust
To lead on the management and oversight of medicines related policies and procedures.
To provide clinical input in the management of supply chain shortages.
Be professionally and managerially responsible for the development and delivery of Pharmacy Medicines Safety (MS), Medicines Information (MI) and Governance elements of the Pharmacy Service
To participate in the provision of Pharmacy services across the organisation
Trust Responsibilities
13. To support the effective and safe use of medicines within the CSUs, in line with agreed Trust priorities, and in line with pharmacys activities to optimise medicines management across the Trust and at the interfaces with primary and tertiary care.
14. 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.
Leadership and Management
15. To be accountable for planning, delivering, managing and developing the medicines use support unit to ensure a high-quality service which meets the needs of the trust. To be accountable for delivery of agreed key performance indicators. This unit includes:
Formulary
Medicines information services
Clinical Audit and Effectiveness
Medication safety and clinical governance services
16. To lead, with the support of the principal pharmacy for MI, the planning, delivery and continuous development of the provision of pro-active medicines information and medicine use evaluation to the Trust and to other users of the service, which complies with medicines legislation, national guidance and best practice.
Medicines Effectiveness
17. To assist where needed with the implementation of quality improvement, medicines value and waste reduction projects to optimise cost-effective use of medicines within MKUH NHS Foundation Trust and the wider BLMK area. This will include clinical assessment, risk assessment, stock management, committee approval, programme management, patient information, education of healthcare professionals, and adoption/ development of clinical prescribing guidelines.
18. Undertake clinical risk assessments where appropriate on contract changes which offer medicines saving opportunities across the Trust and develop methods to ensure full mitigation of risks
Formulary Responsibilities
19. To be professionally responsible for the content of the MKUH NHS Foundation Trust formulary with editorial responsibilities (until BLMK Formulary merge is complete).
20. To lead the formulary processes at MKUH via Prescribing & Medicines Governance Committee (PMGC) for hospital only products.
Governance
21. To lead the management and oversight of medicine policies and procedures where necessary, supporting processes through Pharmacy Clinical Improvement Group (CIG) and Prescribing and Medicines Governance Committee.
22. To lead on a programme of work to ensure robust governance on the safe and secure handling of medicines across the organisation, liaising with relevant stakeholders to ensure legislative and best practice is adhered to.
Clinical Practice Role
23. 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.
24. 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.
Education
25. 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.
26. 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
27. 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.
28. To evaluate and audit own and others clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, then acting on the findings.
Departmental Responsibilities
29. To contribute to the provision of all routine day to day pharmacy services in accordance with departmental and Trust requirements.
30. To be part of the team providing Weekend, Bank Holiday and On Call services.
Professional Responsibilities
31. To be professionally accountable for actions and advice and ensure that appropriate levels of service are provided in accordance with statutory requirements and professional standards as described in 'Medicines, Ethics and Practice' and Professional Standards for Hospital Pharmacy issued by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and as described in the General Pharmaceutical Councils standards for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
32. To respect confidentiality of information relating to patients and management and to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act.
Please refer to the 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
33. BSc /B. Pharm./M. Pharm
34. Registered with the GPhC
35. Post-graduate degree / Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (level 8) or equivalent experience
36. Evidence of on-going CPD (in line with GPhC requirements)
Desirable
37. Independent prescriber
38. Member of the RPS
39. Evidence of a good understanding of medicines management issues at the interfaces between primary, secondary, and tertiary care
40. Formal teaching or mentoring training
Experience
Essential
41. Significant post registration experience including in a hospital or commissioning role at senior level
42. Experience of writing evaluations or reviews of medicines and critically appraising evidence.
43. Experience of identifying and successfully delivering waste reduction, quality improvement and/or cost-effectiveness opportunities
44. Experience of managing drug expenditure for a specialty and understanding of budgetary mechanisms
45. Experience of working with commissioners to manage drug use
46. Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide patient care
47. Experience of audit work and research
48. Experience of managing and writing medicine related policies and procedures
49. Experience of appropriately navigating medicine governance processes
50. Service development
51. An awareness of current national standards, guidelines and service delivery issues relevant to patients
52. Experience of supervising, developing and appraising staff as well as giving feedback
53. Proven experience of working at a strategic level with senior clinicians and managers, as well as experience of working in an integrated team.
Skills
Essential
54. IT, presentation skills and report writing
55. Meets targets and identifies a vision for the delivery of pharmacy services to patients
56. Excellent inter-personal skills, with the ability to liaise and influence senior managers and consultants
57. Meets expected levels of practice as identified by others and identifies new areas of practice
58. Understands local and national priorities in care and the ability to reconcile these with local realities
59. Demonstrable ability to manage time, people and resources to deliver outcomes
60. Integrates research evidence and audit results into practice; documented experience of own research & audit
61. Identifies and manages risk
62. Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to clinical governance and medicine safety agendas
63. Demonstrates expert clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and judgement; manages difficult and ambiguous problems
64. Identifies own training needs, actively seeks training opportunities, and maintains a portfolio of practice
65. Works autonomously and can delegate authority appropriately
66. Evaluates the quality of own work and can evaluate service quality.
67. An ability to prioritise a complex workload and work accurately under pressure.
Personal and people development
Essential
68. Experience as a trainer
69. Experience of supervising, developing and appraising staff as well as giving feedback.
Communication
Essential
70. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
71. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
72. Evidence of team working
73. Evidence of effective and timely project delivery