Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, self-driven pharmacist to join the Virtual Hospital Team at South & West Hertfordshire Health Care Partnership.
Our Virtual Hospital Service is a collaborative partnership between West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WHTH) and Central London Community Health Trust (CLCH). We currently provide care to patients across various pathways such as Heart Failure, Acute Respiratory Infections, Asthma/Bronchiectasis/COPD, Frailty, Post-op surgery and Respiratory Healthcare at Home, and are exploring the expansion of the service to support other specialist pathways in the future.
The team cares for acutely unwell patients in their own homes by preventing unnecessary admissions to hospital or by supporting early discharge from hospital. Remote technology is utilised to support the monitoring and care of these patients at home.
The post holder will provide specialist clinical pharmacy support to the Virtual Hospital, to deliver medicines-related care to patients, support the provision of medicines management services and participate in education and training.
Joining our team will provide you with opportunities to undertake further study to support your professional development. The post is substantive full time (37.5hrs/week) Monday to Friday. The post includes participation in the weekend, late and bank holiday dispensary rota.
Main duties of the job
This post is based within Watford General Hospital and involves significant travel to CLCH with the potential for home visits in the future.
You will provide specialist clinical pharmacy input to the Virtual Hospital to support the medicines related care of patients, support the provision and development of medicines management services and participate in training, education and research as required.
You will be expected to forge strong professional relationships with nurses, doctors and allied health professionals. The role requires a passion for clinical pharmacy and a genuine drive to help patients. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the team with a range of skills and clinical expertise. You need to be flexible, have excellent communication skills and appreciate the need for professional development within your practice to ensure we establish a responsive and effective team.
The post holder will have line management responsibilities and will be required to supervise junior colleagues.
About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us.
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imaging models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
We are a flexible working employer
At West Herts we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly. We are delighted to offer a variety of flexible working options for all staff. Please check out our web page for more information.
https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking/
We encourage and welcome people with disabilities. If you need help, please ask.
We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Support the Lead Pharmacist for Virtual Wards with the provision of a highly specialised pharmacy service for all Virtual Hospital (VH) pathways.
Support the Lead Pharmacist for Community Health Services- Hertfordshire with the development of community services to support the integration of VH pathways.
Deliver a high-quality Medicines Optimisation Service to improve medicines-related outcomes for high-risk and prioritised patients and ensure the safe, cost-effective and evidence-based use of medicines.
Deliver pharmaceutical care for high-risk patients across all pathways. This includes Medicines Reconciliations, medication reviews, clinical screening and interventions, counselling, providing clinical advice, therapeutic drug monitoring and antimicrobial stewardship.
Support the wider virtual care work at place - this may include the development and implementation of medicines management policies and procedures and medicines optimisation projects for the VH.
Participate in the multidisciplinary team and attend the daily MDT meetings to provide pharmacological input.
Work cross site between WHTH and CLCH based on operational need
For further details, please see the full job description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Support the Lead Pharmacist for Virtual Wards with the provision of a highly specialised pharmacy service for all Virtual Hospital (VH) pathways.
Support the Lead Pharmacist for Community Health Services- Hertfordshire with the development of community services to support the integration of VH pathways.
Deliver a high-quality Medicines Optimisation Service to improve medicines-related outcomes for high-risk and prioritised patients and ensure the safe, cost-effective and evidence-based use of medicines.
Deliver pharmaceutical care for high-risk patients across all pathways. This includes Medicines Reconciliations, medication reviews, clinical screening and interventions, counselling, providing clinical advice, therapeutic drug monitoring and antimicrobial stewardship.
Support the wider virtual care work at place - this may include the development and implementation of medicines management policies and procedures and medicines optimisation projects for the VH.
Participate in the multidisciplinary team and attend the daily MDT meetings to provide pharmacological input.
Work cross site between WHTH and CLCH based on operational need
For further details, please see the full job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- MPharm
- Registered with GPhC
- MSc/Diploma in Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent)
- Independent Prescribing Qualification or working towards this
- Management training
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification or evidence of course attendance
- Member of professional organisation e.g. RPS or UKCPA
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of automated systems and electronic prescribing
- Sound knowledge of prescribing, pharmacy and medicines management issues faced in primary and secondary care
- Up to date knowledge of national pharmacy issues
- Sound clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge
- Critical appraisal skills
- Preparation of written reports, guidelines and procedures
Desirable
- NHS organisational structure
Experience
Essential
- Post-qualification experience in hospital pharmacy including experience in respiratory, frailty and cardiology
- Ability to work within clearly defined occupational polices and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Proven ability to manage own workload and the workload of others, delegating supervision activities as appropriate
- Experience of assessing the work of others, feeding back appropriately and ensuring staff are working within defined SOPs
- Knowledge and experience of recording data, including sensitive information, on pharmacy computerised data record systems
- Experience of dispensing drugs for patients, clients in specialist area, providing advice to patients, carers
- Experience in organising daily activities of staff within a team
- Experience of conducting and reporting project & audit work
- Experience of working with a wide range of other health care professionals
- Experience of providing training
- Understanding of clinical governance issues
Desirable
- Experience in developing and implementing guidelines/ SOPs
- Experience of conducting medication reviews
- Experience using systems e.g Cerner/EMIS/SystemOne
- Experience working with primary care and community nursing teams
- Managing staff
- Experience of conducting a change management or service development project
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- MPharm
- Registered with GPhC
- MSc/Diploma in Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent)
- Independent Prescribing Qualification or working towards this
- Management training
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification or evidence of course attendance
- Member of professional organisation e.g. RPS or UKCPA
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of automated systems and electronic prescribing
- Sound knowledge of prescribing, pharmacy and medicines management issues faced in primary and secondary care
- Up to date knowledge of national pharmacy issues
- Sound clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge
- Critical appraisal skills
- Preparation of written reports, guidelines and procedures
Desirable
- NHS organisational structure
Experience
Essential
- Post-qualification experience in hospital pharmacy including experience in respiratory, frailty and cardiology
- Ability to work within clearly defined occupational polices and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Proven ability to manage own workload and the workload of others, delegating supervision activities as appropriate
- Experience of assessing the work of others, feeding back appropriately and ensuring staff are working within defined SOPs
- Knowledge and experience of recording data, including sensitive information, on pharmacy computerised data record systems
- Experience of dispensing drugs for patients, clients in specialist area, providing advice to patients, carers
- Experience in organising daily activities of staff within a team
- Experience of conducting and reporting project & audit work
- Experience of working with a wide range of other health care professionals
- Experience of providing training
- Understanding of clinical governance issues
Desirable
- Experience in developing and implementing guidelines/ SOPs
- Experience of conducting medication reviews
- Experience using systems e.g Cerner/EMIS/SystemOne
- Experience working with primary care and community nursing teams
- Managing staff
- Experience of conducting a change management or service development project
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).
