Job summary
Specialist Biologics and Homecare Pharmacist - Band 8a
We are a bright, diverse and forward-thinking Pharmacy department at Whittington Health keen to develop and innovate how we provide our services to best support our patients.
An excellent opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and experienced pharmacist to play a pivotal role to specialist areas within the Trust that actively utilise high-cost and specialist biologic medications. The post holder will provide specialist pharmacist input around biologics for Rheumatology, Gastroenterology and other areas, including homecare. You will be supported by senior and rotational colleagues, as well as by a team of experienced pharmacy technicians and assistants.
The role requires excellent organisation, time management and interpersonal skills. The post holder will be exposed to a variety of clinical and professional queries and will have the opportunity to drive key changes and improvement to the service and develop strong leadership skills.
Collaborative work with the pharmacy team and multi-disciplinary teams across the trust and region will be essential in this role. This will include clinical specialities at Whittington Health, NCL networks, homecare providers, commissioners and other regional groups.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work closely both with our pharmacy team and the multidisciplinary team to:
- Provide and further develop high value clinical pharmacy services for patients under Whittington Health Rheumatology, Gastroenterology and other specialties using biologics.
- Work collaboratively with the Whittington Health specialist teams, biologics infusion clinics, homecare providers and commissioners on the provision and monitoring of medication to patients.
- Lead on implementation of new biologics, including best value biosimilars and 'switch' process
- Run a pharmacist led clinic to review patients on biologics treatment.
- Lead and provide specialist pharmacist input into the Homecare service.
- Manage all clinical pharmacy aspects of the Homecare service with support from other colleagues.
- Work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Finance, Business and Performance and the Procurement Lead to ensure the Trust provides a high-quality Homecare service with robust governance.
There are excellent opportunities for quality improvement, audit & research and personal development, including independent prescribing training and practice.
Please see attached Job Description for more details.
About us
Medical services have been delivered on the Whittington Hospital site for over 500 years. On 1st April 2011, Whittington Health was launched as a new Integrated Care Organisation (ICO) comprising The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, NHS Islington and NHS Haringey. The Whittington and the community health services in Islington and Haringey are award winning organisations, delivering acute and community based health services to a population of 443,000 people.
The organisation is the biggest employer in the area, with over 4,500 staff; delivering healthcare not only on the acute hospital site which has 420 beds, but also from a variety of other community based health centres and through visits to patients homes across the boroughs to address the health needs of the local population. Whittington Health also works with other health, social care and voluntary sector partners to support patients and service users from their initial appointment whether it be with a community health team or at the hospital, all the way through to treatment and tailored after care.
We are one of the three main teaching campuses for the Royal Free and University College Medical School.
Our ICARE (Innovation, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence) Values not only help us shape what we do, but also how we do it and why. They are fundamental to the way we do business and care for our patients.
For more information, please access the following link: https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information regarding the main responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information regarding the main responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- MPharm (or equivalent)
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Further post graduate qualification Diploma/MSc in Pharmacy Practice or Clinical Pharmacy, or equivalent
Desirable
- Independent Prescriber
- Member of relevant professional clinical groups (e.g. UKCP, RPS)
- Leadership or Management qualification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- High-level clinical skills sufficient to engage in appropriate dialogue with senior clinicians around complex clinical cases.
- Good written and oral communication skills and able to communicate with patients and all grades of healthcare staff (verbally and in writing).
- Good negotiation skills and the ability to influence senior pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management.
- Experience of supervising, providing education training to pharmacy staff, nursing staff and doctors.
- Ability to evaluate and to plan service developments with proven leadership skills
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Relevant clinical experience from working in areas linked to Biologics and Gastroenterology/Rheumatology
- Experience as a line manager
- Involvement in the writing of clinical guidelines and policies
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to, or leading quality improvement projects
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Able to work under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
- Demonstrates initiative, and motivation & enthusiasm for the post.
- Commitment to continuing personal development.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- MPharm (or equivalent)
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Further post graduate qualification Diploma/MSc in Pharmacy Practice or Clinical Pharmacy, or equivalent
Desirable
- Independent Prescriber
- Member of relevant professional clinical groups (e.g. UKCP, RPS)
- Leadership or Management qualification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- High-level clinical skills sufficient to engage in appropriate dialogue with senior clinicians around complex clinical cases.
- Good written and oral communication skills and able to communicate with patients and all grades of healthcare staff (verbally and in writing).
- Good negotiation skills and the ability to influence senior pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management.
- Experience of supervising, providing education training to pharmacy staff, nursing staff and doctors.
- Ability to evaluate and to plan service developments with proven leadership skills
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Relevant clinical experience from working in areas linked to Biologics and Gastroenterology/Rheumatology
- Experience as a line manager
- Involvement in the writing of clinical guidelines and policies
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to, or leading quality improvement projects
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Able to work under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
- Demonstrates initiative, and motivation & enthusiasm for the post.
- Commitment to continuing personal development.
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.
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.
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).
