Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a (possible B7 development post)
Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday-Friday)
Job ref 220-WHT-2869
Employer Whittington Health NHS Trust
Employer type NHS
Site Hornsey Rise Health Centre
Town London
Salary £61,927 - £68,676 per annum inc. HCAs
Salary period Yearly
Closing 29/01/2025 23:59
Band 8a - Advanced Clinical Pharmacist for Virtual Ward
The advanced pharmacist will provide a highly specialist clinical and professional pharmaceutical service to the virtual ward at Whittington Hospital. They will need to support the wider multidisciplinary team in developing sound governance, building out pharmacy-related pathways across both the ICO and NCL, improve medication optimisation, ensure high quality, safe medication provision, and support education across the service in relation to prescribing and administration of medication.
These teams offer clinically stable patients an enhanced supported discharge from the acute hospital focusing on shortening inpatient length of stay by offering nursing care at home as an alternative to continued hospital stay, for up to two weeks.
The post holder will proactively manage a caseload of patients requiring complex case management in order to prevent hospital admissions and facilitate early discharge to improve patient health outcomes. Patients requiring case management in the virtual ward and Rapid Response services will be identified by case-finding in the Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) unit, Accident and Emergency department, Whittington Hospital, UCLH, LAS, Care Homes, Community Nurses, and via GP referral and NHS 111 referrals.
Main duties of the job
* Facilitate the early discharge (‘step-down’) of patients from Whittington Health and UCLH inpatient wards and complete their recovery in the home environment by working collaboratively with the AEC Consultant.
* Provide and develop a specialist clinical pharmacy service to improve the quality of patient care and to promote evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing and use of medicines. Identify risks related to medicines and manage these to ensure patient safety and improve patient experience.
* Help with overall governance of medication within the Virtual Wards.
* Lead on projects and audits to monitor the delivery of the pharmacy service as the virtual ward evolves.
* Ensure safe and secure handling of medications as dictated by the Whittington and RPS standards.
* Support the provision of clinical pharmacy services to patients requiring pharmaceutical support once discharged from the hospital to Virtual Wards.
* Provide day-to-day management of medication provision to Virtual Wards.
* Support medicines management and medication optimisation activities within the Virtual Wards and provide support to the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) in this area, when needed.
* Help with the integration of pharmacy services across adult community services and the acute site.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
* MPharm (or equivalent)
* Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Great Britain or an equivalent EU body
* Further post graduate qualification Diploma/MSc in Pharmacy Practice or Clinical Pharmacy, or equivalent
* Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
* Member of relevant professional clinical groups (e.g. UKCPA)
Skills and Abilities
* Able to communicate with patients and all grades of healthcare staff (verbally and in writing)
* Prioritisation and time management, and when under pressure
* Able to influence and inform decisions about the pharmaceutical management of patients
* Experience of providing education and training to pharmacy and nursing staff, doctors and other AHPs.
* Confident & assertive when dealing with other professionals
* Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex information combined with good negotiating and presentation skills
* Ability to communicate with patients particularly on sensitive or complex issues.
* Ability to manage difficult and ambiguous situations including those that may require prompt decisions when faced with highly complex drug information and situations.
* Ability to identify and manage risk
* Proven delivery of staff assessment and appraisal
* Excellent numeracy skills and analysis and interpretation of data
* Ability to interpret local or national guidance and translate them to front line clinical practice
Knowledge and Experience
* Previous experience of working within Acute Medicine or Elderly Care
* Knowledge of national priorities contributing to the development of Frailty and Acute Medicine services
* Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to the principles of clinical governance
* Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy department providing a wide range of services.
* Experience of working within Frailty units or Ambulatory Care environments
* Knowledge of the wider NCL healthcare system and priorities
* Knowledge of change management principles
* Experience of contributing or leading quality improvement projects
* Previous participation in audit and / or research.
* Understanding of health service issues in primary and secondary care.
* Experience of identifying cost-saving opportunities
* Experience of line management and / or team leadership
* Experience of MDT working
* Experience of development of clinical policies and guidelines
Personal Qualities
* Reliable
* Demonstrates initiative, motivation & enthusiasm for the post
* Demonstrates an active appreciation of the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion
* Self-motivated
* Flexible
* Ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail
* Able to work on own initiative or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Commitment to continuing personal development
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Other important information
* Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
* Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.
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