Clinical Pharmacist - Community Inpatient Services

Job description

Job responsibilities

*To deliver a clinical pharmacy and medicine management service to designated physical health inpatient services, including attending relevant ward rounds, multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and guiding doctors and independent prescribers to ensure patients receive a high standard of pharmaceutical care.

* Work as a fully integrated member of the multidisciplinary team.

* Ensure safe and appropriate use of medicines in order to maximise benefit and minimise risk to patients. This includes regular review of prescriptions, identification of significant drug interactions, advice for clinical monitoring, compliance with legal aspects of medicine supply and compliance with the local formulary.

* To undertake medicines reconciliation and to support Medicines Management (MM) technicians in medicines reconciliation.

* Ensure the effective supply of medicines suitable for use as an inpatient and appropriately labelled for discharge if applicable.

* Monitor patients for potential and actual adverse effects of their medicines.

* Take steps to ensure patients understand the purpose of their medicines and deal with any practical issues that may prevent the optimal use of their medicines.

* Support the planning of patient discharge with respect to medicines.

* Facilitate seamless transfer of care for patients in respect of their medicines across all interfaces.

* Demonstrate professional accountability to patients.

* Actively promote self-medication on the rehabilitation wards in alignment with Trust policy.

* Be able to critically appraise the literature and give accurate interpretation thereby ensuring evidence-based practice.

* Reduce risk associated with medicines use by contributing to the safe medication practice agenda. This will include identification and reporting of medicines related errors.

* Develop and demonstrate expert clinical knowledge in appropriate areas.

* Act as a clinical role model and demonstrate the ability to provide safe, clinically effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines.

* Provide advice to health care professionals or patients who have been so far unable to access either information/advice, or require help where information is conflicting or difficult to interpret in the management of either individual patients, or groups of patients.

* Ensure advice provided is accurate, evaluated, impartial and up to date to ensure the safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of medicines.

* Assess medicine regimens both during enquiry answering and/or routine visits to the physical health inpatient services providing highly specific advice to other clinical teams' members on the management of often complex medicine related issues, such as complex drug interactions, medicine use in pregnancy, unlicensed use of medicines etc.

* To work towards quality improvement (QI) initiatives in line with the Trust's QI vision and with direction from a Principal Pharmacist.

* Facilitate the implementation of specified standards and policies, within current legal frameworks, regulations and best practice (i.e. safe and effective handling of medicines including controlled drugs) required to meet Care Quality Commission Essential Standards for Safety and Quality.

* Support the implementation of local and national recommendations, including local formularies, Medicines Management Group, NICE, MHRA and NHS England actions.

* Provide advice to ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines. Monitor medicines expenditure reviewing trends or by working closely with individual teams. Monitor drug expenditure feeding back results to relevant ward/team managers and clinicians.

* Act as an authorised witness for the disposal of controlled drugs in accordance with relevant legislation and Trust policy, regulations and guidance when required.

* To provide representation at relevant committees and groups where and when appropriate.

* To participate in training and supervision of undergraduate pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, junior pharmacists, medicines management technicians and induction of new staff including nurses and doctors as required.

* To provide co-ordinated medicines information to patients during their inpatient stay and as part of the discharge-planning process.

* To liaise with members of clinical team and external agencies as part of discharge planning and to undertake needs assessment for individual patients e.g. compliance aid requirement.

* To document clinical pharmacy contacts, interventions, and records such as drug histories and treatment plans in the patient's record.

* Ensure medicines related incidents are reported through the appropriate incident reporting systems and that any learning from incidents is shared and implemented.

* Assist the Principal Pharmacist in planning and delivery of medicines education and training to practitioners.

* Participate in clinical audit through data collection, setting objectives, analysing results, and report writing to ensure guidelines are implemented.

* Provide support to the Principal Pharmacist in reviewing and monitoring medicines related incidents; provide support in reporting back trends to clinical teams.

* Provide support to the Principal Pharmacist with ensuring that appropriate Trust policies, guidelines, PGDs and SOPs are kept up to date, safe and relevant.

* Be able to provide support to colleagues in the wider Medicines Management Team as needed, for example by being able to help provide cover to other wards, advice and support if required.

* The post holder will take responsibility for identifying own training and development needs and continually update their skills and knowledge as part of Continuing Professional Development.

* As applicable, to undertake duties as a non-medical, independent prescriber within competencies and as agreed within the Division.

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• [list=ul][li]Masters Degree in Pharmacy plus pre-registration/ foundation year training.[/li][li]Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.[/li][/list]

Desirable

• [list=ul][li]Postgraduate Diploma (or MSc) in Clinical Pharmacy Practice or equivalent experience (or willing to work towards this).[/li][li]Independent prescriber qualification.[/li][/list]

Experience

Essential

• [list=ul][li]Post registration experience working as a pharmacist.[/li][li]Demonstrate the ability to recommend, substantiate and communicate medicine related information appropriately to patients, carers, and clinical staff.[/li][li]Experience of delivering training and education.[/li][li]Experience of working in a constantly changing environment.[/li][/list]

Desirable

• * Post-registration experience working community health services and/or in primary care services.
• * Experience of ward based clinical pharmacy.
• * Experience of working with older persons.
• * Monitoring and advising on drug expenditure
• * To have undertaken clinical audit.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• * Able to manage own time.
• * Able to work both alone and as part of a team.
• * Good oral and written communication.
• * Aware and able to respond to customer needs.
• * Shows empathy towards patients' needs.
• * Able to cope with stressful situations.
• * Demonstrates assertiveness in difficult situations.
• * Good IT skills.
• * Negotiation.
• * Able to be flexible.
• * The ability to identify and prioritise work.
• * Communicates with medical, nursing and pharmacy staff in clear precise and appropriate manner.
• * The ability to identify and manage risks
• * Ability to evaluate own work.
• * Shows empathy towards patients' needs
• * Problem solving skills.
• * Methodical approach and attention to detail.
• * Proven communication and interpersonal skills.
• * Up to date and familiar with evidence-based medicine, medicines information and medicines knowledge.
• * Knowledge and understanding of prescribing and drug costs and how they relate to the local health economy.
• * Knowledge and understanding of the national agenda for prescribing, pharmacy services and medicines management.

Desirable

• * Teaching and presentation skills.
• * Demonstrates awareness of the clinical governance agenda.
• * To have an awareness of national and local priorities.
• * Understanding of local trust priorities.
• * Aware of effect of political changes on healthcare.
• * Sound knowledge of drug management of physical health disorders, including national guidance.
• * Clinical and critical appraisal skills
• * Able to influence all grades of medical staff
• * Evidence of writing procedures, clinical guidelines, and policy/protocols.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St. Mary's Hospital (IOW)

Parkhurst Road

Newport

Isle of Wight

PO30 5TG

Employer's website

https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)