Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

HIV Lead Pharmacist

The closing date is 08 June 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you have a wealth of post diploma clinical experience and a keen interest/ specialism in HIV care?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated clinical pharmacist (part time 30-hour per week) to work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering high quality patient focused care for patients living with HIV within Worcestershire and Hereford.

If you have enthusiasm, drive and willingness to learn to be part of a team delivering care to these patients, we would love to hear from you!

The post offers a pharmacist prescriber the opportunity to deliver and develop HIV services alongside a skilled group of medical, nursing and healthcare staff. You will provide highly specialist HIV care to patients in an outpatient setting ensuring safe and effective use of medications. The role includes providing adherence support, continuity of supply, participating in MDT meetings, adhering to commissioning guidance, providing guidance to healthcare staff for patients who are living with HIV and much more.

You will have experience of pro-actively influencing prescribing within a secondary care environment, hold a post graduate clinical diploma, be an independent prescriber and above all, be a team player.

We are committed to achieving a balance between high quality service delivery and professional development. We can offer you a supportive environment, within a friendly, committed team.

Previous applicants need not apply

Main duties of the job

Practice as a non-medical prescriber to lead and deliver the day to day pharmacy service to HIV within Worcestershire and Hereford through a multidisciplinary team approach. Support patients via a mix of face to face and remote pharmacist-led clinics on treatment choice, adherence, interaction management and follow up. Be able to travel to face to face clinics across the county and within Hereford. Work as an integral member of the MDT, preparing cases and executing decisions. Act as an expert resource across the trust and contribute to driving an agenda of improving care for patients with HIV Represents pharmacy in relevant specialist networks, and in joint work with Clinical Commissioning Groups and other bodies at local or regional level.

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

  • Best services for local people
  • Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
  • Best use of resources
  • Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-25-0468

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Hereford County Hospital

Stonebow Road

Hereford

HR1 2BN


Job description

Job responsibilities

See additional information for full Job Description

General Duties:The post holder will

Provide pharmacist led HIV clinics (face to face or via telephone) as per BHIVA standards of care (annual medication review, treatment start/switch, complex adherence, adverse effect management and prevention, medicines optimisation appropriate to patient factors e.g. frailty ) to include patient education regarding antiretroviral medication and drug interactions support to patients.

Identify the medication needs of individual patients and design and deliver pharmaceutical care to them through a counselling and supportive approach to facilitate optimal adherence especially identified by loss of virological control following MDT discussion. This will generally involve checking that the prescribed medication regime suits their lifestyle, and negotiating with the patient and/or carer for the medication to be taken as intended, and giving them the information and understanding that they need in order to self-medicate safely, ensuring high risk patients are targeted.

Take an active part in medically-led multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) and/or case discussion meetings. Preparing for the meetings in conjunction with the ID team, attending and supporting the execution of any decisions.

Prescribe medicines in their capacity of an Independent Prescriber in line with current legislation, local policies and within their own level of experience and competence.

Undertake Medicines Reconciliation with patients and in HIV clinics and review and action appropriately.

Access and evaluate information from clinical notes and in particular pathology results (haematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, virology).

Access databases dedicated to the control of high-risk medications, cross check against prescriptions, and to create records where appropriate.

Screen prescriptions (inpatient and outpatient) and identify anomalies such as interactions, contraindications, inappropriate doses, failures to respond to pathology results.

Influence prescribers to change their drug choice or rectify an error with an emphasis on generic prescribing when possible and adherence to regional and/ or national HIV prescribing guidelines.

Support and optimise the home delivery of medication through the two homecare providers across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Record clinical interventions so that areas for concern can be highlighted and addressed. To participate in any changes in practice which are needed in order to reduce a risk which has been identified.

Maintain a general awareness of medication practice within the outpatient setting and wards and to identify where practice goes outside safe limits.

To enforce good practice and apply the guidelines in the Trust Medicines Management Policies including the Medicines Policy.

Highlight any practice which has an implication for primary care, the Health & Justice system or which requires particular attention at the interface when patients are admitted or discharged.

Leadership and Management responsibilities

The post holder will

Manage the day-to-day service to the HIV service through a pharmacy team approach and that the best level of service is provided in terms of available resource and capacity.

Collaborate with Homecare service team to ensure appropriate provision for HIV patients on behalf of the HIV medical team.

Ensure that service provision in the area of responsibility complies with the legislations concerning use of medicines and with related policies and procedures concerned with the control, custody prescribing and use of medicines.

Identify and respond to medication related errors, completing appropriate error reporting forms (DATIX) and providing investigation to support the root cause analysis and prevent future events.

Financial Responsibilities

The post holder will:

Undertake regular updating of drug prescribing databases and national reporting as directed by specialist commissioning requirements (eg: NHSE or equivalent)

Produce reports, analyse prescribing trends and provide guidance and advice on medicines expenditure, prescribing patterns and high cost medicines use within the post holders specialism to ensure cost effective prescribing.

Advise on proposed new medicines for use within the post-holders clinical area and if needed assist with compiling evidence-based reviews for submission to the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Medicines and Prescribing Committee for formulary and funding approval

Identify and implement measures to keep the Divisions medicines expenditure within agreed budgets.

Discuss and influence medicines expenditure and its management with key medical staff and matrons.

Support / monitor the appropriate completion of Blueteq applications to ensure appropriate reimbursement of drug costs.

Liaise with the high-cost drugs pharmacy and trust finance teams to manage the drug expenditure, appropriate costing and reimbursement of relevant medications

Service Development and Business Planning

The post holder will

Act as the link between the clinical specialty and the pharmacy directorate, interpreting the needs of the specialty to pharmacy, and communicating the aspirations and limitations of pharmacy to the specialty.

Influence Clinical Directors and Directorate (General) Managers, so that the needs of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical needs of patients are taken into account when the specialty develops its business plan and service development plans.

Ensure that the Medicines Policy assures safety in the way in which a specialty operates but does not hinder it.

Make the specialty aware of the opportunities that projects in pharmacy will deliver. These include but are not limited to pharmacist prescribing, robotics, electronic prescribing, dispensing for discharge, and outsourcing of outpatient dispensing

.Horizon scan and consider the implications of new drugs, drugs in development, or service developments and changes coming into clinical practice in the relevant Directorate specialty area. This will include maintaining a knowledge of relevant guidelines eg NICE guidance, BHIVA guidelines and national commissioning.

Support the specialty with the implementation of Electronic Prescribing and Homecare related developments and additions.

Research and Clinical Audit

The post holder will:

Ensure all pharmaceutical aspects of research in the post-holders clinical area complies with relevant legislation

Plan and conduct pharmaceutical practice-based research/audit in the pharmacy and infectious disease directorate.

Contribute to a culture which encourages all staff to contribute to research and audit and use your expertise to support staff in this process.

Develop and promote the role of an advanced pharmacist through contribution to professional publications and conference papers.

Lead in the creation, implementation and audit of clinical guidelines, SOPs, protocols and other documents relating to all areas of medicines use within the post-holders area.

Education, Training and CPD

The post holder will:

Actively engage in the Trust skills development review (PDR). Agree service and personal objectives with the Clinical Pharmacy Team Lead and be responsible for self-audit to demonstrate both achievement of objectives and evidence of value to the Trust.

Maintain a personal development portfolio in line with trust policy and professional registration.

Identify and address the training needs of junior pharmacists and other staff in relation to post holders specialism.

Provide advice and support regarding medication use within the post holders specialism to other members of the pharmacy and wider multidisciplinary team

Deliver teaching and training on the post holders specialist area to pharmacy, medical and nursing staff including pharmaceutical induction for new medical and nursing staff.

Ensure pharmacy staff are regularly updated in new developments within post holders specialism.

Train, assess and provide feedback for clinical and technical pharmacy trainees as allocated, proactively promoting the workplace as a positive learning environment. This may include acting as a designated supervisor for prescribing trainees.

Deliver advice and information to patient self-help groups on the use of specific medication

Demonstrate and maintain a commitment to continuing professional development

Dispensary and other Operational Responsibilities

The post holder will:

Undertake limited routine dispensary work as a contributor on rotation to evening and weekend and public holiday cover.

Participate in a rota in which contracted working hours may be worked over a 7-day period to include bank holidays

Take on the role of the Responsible Pharmacist as appropriate

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:

As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role.

Applicants will be prompted in the application form to declare if they wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and their response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

If you have any queries about expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please contact Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) in confidence via email robert.saunders1@nhs.net.

Job description

Job responsibilities

See additional information for full Job Description

General Duties:The post holder will

Provide pharmacist led HIV clinics (face to face or via telephone) as per BHIVA standards of care (annual medication review, treatment start/switch, complex adherence, adverse effect management and prevention, medicines optimisation appropriate to patient factors e.g. frailty ) to include patient education regarding antiretroviral medication and drug interactions support to patients.

Identify the medication needs of individual patients and design and deliver pharmaceutical care to them through a counselling and supportive approach to facilitate optimal adherence especially identified by loss of virological control following MDT discussion. This will generally involve checking that the prescribed medication regime suits their lifestyle, and negotiating with the patient and/or carer for the medication to be taken as intended, and giving them the information and understanding that they need in order to self-medicate safely, ensuring high risk patients are targeted.

Take an active part in medically-led multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) and/or case discussion meetings. Preparing for the meetings in conjunction with the ID team, attending and supporting the execution of any decisions.

Prescribe medicines in their capacity of an Independent Prescriber in line with current legislation, local policies and within their own level of experience and competence.

Undertake Medicines Reconciliation with patients and in HIV clinics and review and action appropriately.

Access and evaluate information from clinical notes and in particular pathology results (haematology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, virology).

Access databases dedicated to the control of high-risk medications, cross check against prescriptions, and to create records where appropriate.

Screen prescriptions (inpatient and outpatient) and identify anomalies such as interactions, contraindications, inappropriate doses, failures to respond to pathology results.

Influence prescribers to change their drug choice or rectify an error with an emphasis on generic prescribing when possible and adherence to regional and/ or national HIV prescribing guidelines.

Support and optimise the home delivery of medication through the two homecare providers across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Record clinical interventions so that areas for concern can be highlighted and addressed. To participate in any changes in practice which are needed in order to reduce a risk which has been identified.

Maintain a general awareness of medication practice within the outpatient setting and wards and to identify where practice goes outside safe limits.

To enforce good practice and apply the guidelines in the Trust Medicines Management Policies including the Medicines Policy.

Highlight any practice which has an implication for primary care, the Health & Justice system or which requires particular attention at the interface when patients are admitted or discharged.

Leadership and Management responsibilities

The post holder will

Manage the day-to-day service to the HIV service through a pharmacy team approach and that the best level of service is provided in terms of available resource and capacity.

Collaborate with Homecare service team to ensure appropriate provision for HIV patients on behalf of the HIV medical team.

Ensure that service provision in the area of responsibility complies with the legislations concerning use of medicines and with related policies and procedures concerned with the control, custody prescribing and use of medicines.

Identify and respond to medication related errors, completing appropriate error reporting forms (DATIX) and providing investigation to support the root cause analysis and prevent future events.

Financial Responsibilities

The post holder will:

Undertake regular updating of drug prescribing databases and national reporting as directed by specialist commissioning requirements (eg: NHSE or equivalent)

Produce reports, analyse prescribing trends and provide guidance and advice on medicines expenditure, prescribing patterns and high cost medicines use within the post holders specialism to ensure cost effective prescribing.

Advise on proposed new medicines for use within the post-holders clinical area and if needed assist with compiling evidence-based reviews for submission to the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Medicines and Prescribing Committee for formulary and funding approval

Identify and implement measures to keep the Divisions medicines expenditure within agreed budgets.

Discuss and influence medicines expenditure and its management with key medical staff and matrons.

Support / monitor the appropriate completion of Blueteq applications to ensure appropriate reimbursement of drug costs.

Liaise with the high-cost drugs pharmacy and trust finance teams to manage the drug expenditure, appropriate costing and reimbursement of relevant medications

Service Development and Business Planning

The post holder will

Act as the link between the clinical specialty and the pharmacy directorate, interpreting the needs of the specialty to pharmacy, and communicating the aspirations and limitations of pharmacy to the specialty.

Influence Clinical Directors and Directorate (General) Managers, so that the needs of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical needs of patients are taken into account when the specialty develops its business plan and service development plans.

Ensure that the Medicines Policy assures safety in the way in which a specialty operates but does not hinder it.

Make the specialty aware of the opportunities that projects in pharmacy will deliver. These include but are not limited to pharmacist prescribing, robotics, electronic prescribing, dispensing for discharge, and outsourcing of outpatient dispensing

.Horizon scan and consider the implications of new drugs, drugs in development, or service developments and changes coming into clinical practice in the relevant Directorate specialty area. This will include maintaining a knowledge of relevant guidelines eg NICE guidance, BHIVA guidelines and national commissioning.

Support the specialty with the implementation of Electronic Prescribing and Homecare related developments and additions.

Research and Clinical Audit

The post holder will:

Ensure all pharmaceutical aspects of research in the post-holders clinical area complies with relevant legislation

Plan and conduct pharmaceutical practice-based research/audit in the pharmacy and infectious disease directorate.

Contribute to a culture which encourages all staff to contribute to research and audit and use your expertise to support staff in this process.

Develop and promote the role of an advanced pharmacist through contribution to professional publications and conference papers.

Lead in the creation, implementation and audit of clinical guidelines, SOPs, protocols and other documents relating to all areas of medicines use within the post-holders area.

Education, Training and CPD

The post holder will:

Actively engage in the Trust skills development review (PDR). Agree service and personal objectives with the Clinical Pharmacy Team Lead and be responsible for self-audit to demonstrate both achievement of objectives and evidence of value to the Trust.

Maintain a personal development portfolio in line with trust policy and professional registration.

Identify and address the training needs of junior pharmacists and other staff in relation to post holders specialism.

Provide advice and support regarding medication use within the post holders specialism to other members of the pharmacy and wider multidisciplinary team

Deliver teaching and training on the post holders specialist area to pharmacy, medical and nursing staff including pharmaceutical induction for new medical and nursing staff.

Ensure pharmacy staff are regularly updated in new developments within post holders specialism.

Train, assess and provide feedback for clinical and technical pharmacy trainees as allocated, proactively promoting the workplace as a positive learning environment. This may include acting as a designated supervisor for prescribing trainees.

Deliver advice and information to patient self-help groups on the use of specific medication

Demonstrate and maintain a commitment to continuing professional development

Dispensary and other Operational Responsibilities

The post holder will:

Undertake limited routine dispensary work as a contributor on rotation to evening and weekend and public holiday cover.

Participate in a rota in which contracted working hours may be worked over a 7-day period to include bank holidays

Take on the role of the Responsible Pharmacist as appropriate

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:

As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role.

Applicants will be prompted in the application form to declare if they wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and their response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

If you have any queries about expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please contact Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) in confidence via email robert.saunders1@nhs.net.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Member of the GPhC
  • Clinical specialist knowledge acquired through post graduate level training eg: Diploma in clinical pharmacy
  • Current post diploma or equivalent experience in delivering specialist clinical services to a medical specialty.
  • Practicing independent prescriber

Desirable

  • Masters or equivalent in advanced clinical practice
  • Member of BHIVA/HIVPA

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in running pharmacist led clinics
  • Evidence of working across professional boundaries to achieve shared targets/goals
  • Experience influencing senior clinicians in relation to optimal medicine treatments for patients
  • Experience in supervising and training healthcare professionals

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering a clinical pharmacy service to HIV/ infectious disease patients
  • Experience liaising with national commissioning teams
  • Experience submitting data reports to commissioners to demonstrate meeting prescribing targets.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

  • As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Member of the GPhC
  • Clinical specialist knowledge acquired through post graduate level training eg: Diploma in clinical pharmacy
  • Current post diploma or equivalent experience in delivering specialist clinical services to a medical specialty.
  • Practicing independent prescriber

Desirable

  • Masters or equivalent in advanced clinical practice
  • Member of BHIVA/HIVPA

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in running pharmacist led clinics
  • Evidence of working across professional boundaries to achieve shared targets/goals
  • Experience influencing senior clinicians in relation to optimal medicine treatments for patients
  • Experience in supervising and training healthcare professionals

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering a clinical pharmacy service to HIV/ infectious disease patients
  • Experience liaising with national commissioning teams
  • Experience submitting data reports to commissioners to demonstrate meeting prescribing targets.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

  • As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

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).

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.

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

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Team Lead Pharmacist

Lindsay Stewart

lindsay.stewart4@nhs.net

01905760612

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-25-0468

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Hereford County Hospital

Stonebow Road

Hereford

HR1 2BN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)