Job responsibilities
Clinical
/ Professional
To be
responsible for and lead the provision of a high quality, specialised clinical
pharmacy service to ensure the safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient
use of drugs within substance misuse.
To be
responsible for the delivery of the clinical pharmacy services to substance
misuse, including attendance at MDTs, providing expert pharmaceutical advice
and setting standards for junior pharmacists and other team members to emulate.
To be
an independent prescriber, or working towards, and be part of the prescribing
team within the substance misuse service managing a caseload of clients
To be
responsible for the provision of professional pharmaceutical advice to
healthcare colleagues, patients/clients and carers as necessary.
To
develop and monitor pharmacy initiatives such as keeping medicines records
updated, communicating with other teams, e.g. community pharmacy, hospital
pharmacy, PCN pharmacy teams, GPs to promote seamless transfer of care and
information
To be
responsible for the development of pharmaceutical care initiatives e.g.
client/patient and carer counselling, assessing concordance and improved
communication with primary and secondary healthcare professionals.
To
lead on and develop policy or service changes within Substance Misuse which
improve services and be responsible for their implementation.
To
provide training both internally and externally regarding prescribing
interventions and their effective delivery.
To
promote and monitor compliance with the South and West Devon Joint Formulary
and to assist in formulary applications and review for medicines to be used in
Substance Misuse.
To be
responsible for monitoring prescribing practice to promote cost-effective and
economic use of resources and contribute to the establishment and
implementation of prescribing guidelines within substance misuse.
To be
lead on and be responsible for reporting and review of clinical and other
pharmacy/medicine related audits within substance misuse
To be
responsible for the development of junior pharmacy staff within substance
misuse including rotational pharmacists and trainee pharmacists
To
provide evidence of Continuing Professional Development on an annual basis at
appraisal, in accordance with guidance issued by the General Pharmaceutical
Council (GPhC).
Analytical and Judgmental skills
Have highly developed skiIls for analysing drug
information in substance misuse in order to provide advice on medicines,
illicit drugs, dosages, production issues/ in areas where information is
lacking and medical or other opinion differs
To request and facilitate, clinical screening
of prescriptions, to ensure prescriptions are safe and appropriate, and to
encourage use of take home naloxone and provide Blood Bourne virus information
and Dry Blood spot testing.
Prescribing appropriate medications for a case
load of clients within the substance misuse service as part of the wider MDT
and Harbour team and take part in the Duty prescriber rota giving advice and
support to a range of professionals and health and social care providers
including GPs and UHP.
Responding to and recording medicines
information requests from clients, prescribers and other healthcare
professionals relating to substance misuse and providing advice on medicines
proactively. In many cases this is a complex task involving highly specialist
up to date knowledge, effective search strategies, evaluation of the evidence
base and formulation of an appropriate response.
To be responsible for the investigation and
monitoring of medicines related incidents relating to substance misuse,
recommending and implementing change as required to improve patient safety,
collating these for discussion at substance misuse and pharmacy team meetings
and at the Medicines Governance Group (MGG).
To work alongside the head of Clinical Services
and Medical Lead within the Plymouth Alliance partnership to assist
developments in: alcohol specific interventions including ambulatory
detoxification services; hospital liaison initiatives; Buvidal pilot;
development of the enhanced GP service and other initiatives depending upon the
needs of the system/ service.
Clinical
Governance
To be responsible for and lead on clinical
governance and risk management through interventions which optimise the
management of medicines in substance misuse, supporting best practice
throughout all areas of responsibility
To
participate in and lead multidisciplinary groups in the review and development
of selected medicines related policies and procedures relating to substance
misuse and present to the MGG.
To
lead on the development and review of documents e.g. Patient Group Directions,
Policies, Guidelines and Protocols relating to substance misuse and presenting
reviewed documents to the MGG
To support professional leads in identifying
and addressing evidence-based medicine practice consistent with the
requirements of clinical governance and of national directives
To work with the Pharmacy Senior Management
Team and Substance Misuse team to lead on continuous quality improvement
projects and audit within substance misuse
Managerial
To
provide leadership on development of the substance misuse service under the
guidance of the Clinical Service Lead and Medical Lead. In particular all
aspects of changes to prescribing interventions and the assessment of their
effectiveness. To support service delivery changes that support the services
goals and priorities.
To provide mentoring, training, supervision and line management of rotational
pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff and students as
required or other more junior members of the substance misuse team, including
appraisals and performance reviews.
To
organise the trainee pharmacist timetable when they rotate through substance
misuse
To
act as trainee pharmacist Designated supervisor annually as required.
To
mentor/buddy other NMPs within the substance misuse team. To take part in clinical supervision
structures and line management structures as directed by the
ClinicalManager and Medical Lead.
To
Act as a Designated prescribing practitioner, Educational supervisor or
Practice supervisor as appropriate for members of the team undertaking their
independent prescribing training.
Freedom to Act
Pharmacists are expected to work largely
unsupervised and to act on their own professional judgement.
Clinical supervision from another health
professional can be arranged and is to be encouraged.
Technical roles are defined by standard
operating procedures which should always be followed.
Clinical roles are supported by policies within
which the pharmacist is allowed professional discretion / interpretation.
This
role includes setting the parameters under which other pharmacy staff will
operate.
Training and Education
To lead on the training and development of
staff within substance misuse relating to medicines and members of the pharmacy
team as appropriate.
To plan, develop and deliver appropriate
training and education to healthcare colleagues, carer groups and outside
agencies in order to promote the safe use and clinical application of medicines
within substance misuse, e.g. community pharmacists.
To
be responsible for and lead on the induction of new staff within substance
misuse on medicine related policies
To assist and lead, where appropriate, on the
training provided to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and other pharmacy
staff
Health, Safety and
Security
To
work safely in the dispensary, ward and office environments ensuring any risks
identified to health and safety are managed or escalated to line manager
To
ensure safety and security of medicines, prescription stationery and patient
identifiable documents according to locally agreed standard operating procedures.
To
inform line manager of any breaches of safety or security or if agreed
procedures are thought to be inadequate to manage the risk.
Communications and Relationships
The ability to communicate highly complex drug
or medicine related information to prescribers, clinicians, service users, and
their relatives: patients who may have language difficulties, physical or
mental disabilities and other professionals, who may challenge advice.
Well-developed verbal and written communications
skills (including telephone and email) are essential to the role.
To liaise with all levels of healthcare staff
and professionals working in the multidisciplinary team within mental health
and substance misuse.
To liaise with patients and carers, the acute
hospitals, doctors, GPs, community nurses and community pharmacists to ensure
appropriate supply of medicines.
To communicate pharmacy / medication issues
clearly and concisely at team meetings and governance groups e.g. Medicines
Governance Group
Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary
team and with pharmacy colleagues.
To work virtually through use of technology
where required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
OF THE JOB
There is a need to travel between units in a
timely fashion, therefore ability to drive and to use own car is an advantage.
Good keyboard / computer skills are essential.
Limited manual handling of static loads.
