Advanced Specialist Cannabis Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

Job SummaryTo effectively assess, manage and evaluate patients with prescribed medical cannabis. To effectively assess patients, ensure effective treatment plans are implemented and supply of medicines are made within the protocols and policies of Sapphire. This includes providing phone and online health screening to the patients to assess for suitability for treatment in line with the Sapphire Clinics protocols and adhereing to the highest standards of care.

To support patients through their journey from the initial enquiry to shared prescribing of medical cannabis from initial contact at Sapphire Clinics to queries at CBPM Access Pharmacy.

To provide clinical advice on the management of patients taking cannabis to other professionals. Undertaking the relevant courses and competences to independently deliver these services.

To provide therapeutic interventions and treatments for patients taking cannabis, monitoring progress and patients outcomes for a range of inidcations. Prescribe and review medical cannabis as part of the shared care agreement within the scope of practice and managing prescribing requests.

To provide health promotion advice, education and management options to patients including their carers, relatives and other professionals.To provide evidence based clinical nursing practice in line with current research and guidelines and assist the team with pain management audits, research projects and quality improvement projects.Support will be given to the post holder to undertake the necessary training and to develop a specific competency training for pharmacists.Responsibilities and Duties

Provide an effective and patient focused cannabis service which is considerate and compassionate.

Organises, prioritises and evaluates workload based on accepted referral criteria and discharge criteria in line with operational protocols. Supporting patients and other staff in all parts of the process.

Provide clinical, social and psychological support to their patients using excellent communication skills, education and health promotion to enable them to reach their optimum level of independence and health.

To provide advice, supervision and support to their defined caseload and peers.

Responsible for providing evidence based practice.

Using clinical knowledge and skills to ensure junior clinic staff are equipped with the necessary skills to competently assess, deliver and evaluate individual patients requirements within the limits of the job role.

Deal effectively and professionally with patient / service user issues, collaborating with complaints as appropriate and take a proactive approach to resolving issues and learning from complaints and escalate when unable to resolve.

To maintain accurate appropriate and concise patient records within agreed databases and electronic systems.

Contribute to the multi-professional approach in the management of patients /carers within the specialist area in relation to ongoing care needs.

To review and follow-up on patients as appropriate and ensure relevant information is provided within your own sphere of competency and refer to other members of the Team as appropriate.

To attend and contribute to MDT meetings

To actively involve service users in providing feedback of their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvements.

To be fully aware of Sapphires operational and clinical policies

To supervise Junior Staff

To provide patients and relatives with relevant and accessible written information regarding their treatment

Skills

Ability to maintain and monitor high standards of care

Ability to direct and co-ordinate programmes of care working autonomously and collaboratively

Understanding of the roles, values, procedures and standards of the Sapphire Clinic

Effective organisational skills

Evidence of experience in embracing and implementing change to provide high quality health outcome

The ability to work in a changing, demanding and stressful situation

Friendly and approachable

Good presentation of self, enthusiastic, innovative and flexible

Self motivated, positive and committed

Continue education by attending courses/study days as deemed useful for professional development

Must keep abreast of changes and progress in treatments

Have ability to work on own initiative, acknowledging limitations and recognising when referral is needed.

Maintain accurate, comprehensive records of all consultations and treatment

Education and Research

To assist and participate in the delivery of education programmes and events

To participate and assist with research projects, audits and quality improvement developments

To attend all statutory and mandatory training

Management

Cover for other non-medical prescribers when they are on leave etc.

Work alongside the MDT in reviewing the service and supporting the implementation of changes

To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self in the working environment to follow safe working practices for self and colleagues and to comply at all times with health and Safety Policies and Procedures.

To comply with measures to actively manage and reduce risk to patients. Ensuring the formal reporting and recording of adverse incidents in line with Sapphire policy.

To utilise and maintain information systems to aid audit.

Maintain contemporaneous and accurate treatment record.

Personal Professional Development

To undertake relevant training and develop relevant skills and knowledge to achieve a range of clinical competencies required for this post.

Identify own training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/education as required.

To keep up-to-date with current literature and research in the speciality.

To maintain your own personal and professional development in accordance with Revalidation, attending mandatory study sessions as required.

To undergo and actively participate in own performance appraisals

To adhere to the GPhC Code of Professional conduct working within and accepting responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of competence.

To be aware of and work within own professional limitations and scope of practice

STAFF HEALTH AND WELLBEING

You must take responsibility for your workplace health and wellbeing:

Be physically active at work (i.e. take breaks away from your desk, taking the stairs where possible)

When required, gain support related to Occupational Health Human Resources or other sources.

Familiarise yourself with the health and wellbeing support available.

in addition to the above, it is expected you will:

Champion health and wellbeing.

Encourage and support staff engagement in delivery of the service.

Encourage staff to comment on development and delivery of the service.

Ensure during 1:1s / supervision with employees you always check how they are.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK

Sapphire Medical will take all reasonably practical steps to ensure your health, safety and welfare while at work. You must familiarise yourself with our Health & Safety policy, and its safety and fire rules. It is your legal duty to take care for your own health and safety as well as that of your colleagues.

INFECTION CONTROL

It is the responsibility of all members of staff to provide a high standard of care to patients they are involved with. This includes good infection prevention practice.

All staff have a responsibility to comply with Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures.

CONFIDENTIALITY

You may not process or disclose any information of a confidential or personal nature relating to Sapphire or in respect of which Sapphire has a duty of confidence to any third party other than where you are obliged to disclose such information in the proper course of your employment or as required by law. Any failure to comply with this term of your employment will be treated as an act of misconduct under the Sapphire disciplinary procedure.

SAFEGUARDING

To be fully aware of and understand the duties and responsibilities arising from the Childrens Act 2004 in relation to child protection and safeguarding children and young people as this applies to the workers role within the organisation.

To also be fully aware of the principles and practice of safeguarding applies to adults, in line with The Care Act 2014, in relation to the workers role, which will include recognising the types and signs of abuse and neglect.

The workers line manager should be made aware and kept fully informed of any concerns which the worker may have in relation to safeguarding adults and/or child protection.

Everyone within Sapphire has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, at risk of abuse / neglect, and children and young people ensuring that they are protected from harm.

Knowledge, skills & personal qualities

Essential

• Knowledge of cannabis treatment assessment, management and evaluation.
• Experience of caring for a patient with a range of medical conditions
• Willingness to undertake training and/or certification in cannabis
• Abiltiy to work as part of a team
• Embrace challenge &change and learning new skills
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Give and receive constructive feedback
• Be open, honest, flexible and reliable

Desirable

• Teaching/presentation skills
• Good communication skills
• Service development and improvement

Qualifications

Essential

• GPhC Registered Prescribing Pharmacist
• Post graduate clinical qualification
• Relevant post registration course
• Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (or ability to demonstrate the same competency)
• Independent Prescriber (IP)

Desirable

• Mentorship/supervision course

Experience

Essential

• 3 years (minimum) post registration experience within a clinical setting.
• Clear knowledge of role and evidence of leadership / People management and teaching
• Previous experience of working and prescribing
• Previous experience of prescribing for a range of indications
• Understanding and experience of research and audit processes as well as writing SOPS and clinical 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).