Advanced Clinical Pharmacist for Community Mental Health

Job responsibilities

SCOPE AND RANGE

As the Advanced Clinical Pharmacist for Community Mental Health, you will have input into the strategic development of Medicines Optimisation in teams within the Community Mental Health Services specifically supporting people suffering from psychosis.

You will work as part of an MDT within the community mental health team, specialist outreachrecovery team and Insight team as the medicines expert to help support people and will hold ahighly visible role within the organisation.

You will be a pharmacist with a passion and commitment in this area who wants to help developthe service whilst ensuring medicine related governance is in place, bringing the additional skillsof an experienced pharmacist to the teams.

You will also support and help develop the Mental Health pharmacy team and a range of otherhealthcare professionals within Mental Health, including NMPs in medicines optimisation andrelated initiatives to the highest clinical pharmacy standards.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical / Professional

To be responsible for and lead the provision of a high quality, specialised clinicalpharmacy service to ensure the safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use ofdrugs in mental health.

To be responsible for the delivery of the clinical pharmacy services to nominated areas,including attendance at consultant ward rounds, providing expert pharmaceutical adviceand setting standards for junior pharmacists to emulate.

To be responsible for the provision of professional pharmaceutical advice tohealthcare colleagues, patients, and carers as necessary.

To develop and monitor pharmacy initiatives such as medicines reconciliation onadmission and provision of discharge summaries to GPs, which promote seamlesstransfer of patients from secondary care to primary care and vice versa.

To be responsible for the development of ward/unit based pharmaceutical careinitiatives e.g. self-medication schemes, use of patients own drugs in hospital, one stop dispensing, patient and carer counselling, discharge planning, assessing patientconcordance and improved communication with primary care healthcare professionals within mental health.

To lead on and develop policy or service changes within Mental Health which improveward or community services and be responsible for their implementation.

To promote and monitor compliance with the South and West Devon Joint Formulary andto assist in formulary applications and review for medicines to be used in Mental Health.

To be responsible for monitoring prescribing practice to promote cost-effective andeconomic use of resources and contribute to the establishment and implementation ofprescribing guidelines within mental health.

To be lead on and be responsible for reporting and review of clinical and otherpharmacy related audits within mental health.

To be responsible for the development of junior pharmacy staff within mental healthincluding rotational pharmacists and trainee pharmacists

To provide evidence of Continuing Professional Development on an annual basis atappraisal, in accordance with guidance issued by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

To cover for ward pharmacists as required, during periods of absence.

Occasional dispensary cover including dispensing and checking of medication followinglocal SOPs.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Have highly developed skiIls for analysing drug, patient intimation in mental health inorder to provide advice on medicines, dosages, production issues/ in areas whereinformation is lacking and medical or other opinion differs.

Clinical screening of prescription charts and discharge prescriptions, to ensureprescriptions are safe and appropriate.

Responding to and recording medicines information requests from prescribers and otherhealthcare professionals relating to mental health and providing advice on medicinesproactively. In many cases this is a complex task involving highly specialist up to dateknowledge, effective search strategies, evaluation of the evidence base and formulationof an appropriate response.

To be responsible for the investigation and monitoring of medicines related incidentsrelating to mental health, recommending and implementing change as required toimprove patient safety, collating these for discussion at pharmacy team meetings and at the Medicines Governance Group (MGG).

Clinical Governance

To be responsible for and lead on clinical governance and risk management throughinterventions which optimise the management of medicines in mental health, supportingbest practice throughout all areas of responsibility.

To participate in and lead multidisciplinary groups in the review and development ofselected medicines related policies and procedures relating to mental health andpresent to the MGG.

To lead on the development and review of documents e.g. Patient Group Directions,Policies, Guidelines and Protocols relating to mental health and presenting revieweddocuments to the MGG

To support professional leads in identifying and addressing evidence-based medicinepractice consistent with the requirements of clinical governance and of national directives

To work with the Pharmacy Senior Management Team to lead on continuous qualityimprovement projects and audit within mental health

Managerial

To provide mentoring, training, supervision and line management of mental healthsubstantive and rotational pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and otherpharmacy staff and students as required, including appraisals and performancereviews.

To organise the trainee pharmacist timetable when they rotate through mental health.

To act as Designated Supervisor to a Trainee Pharmacist annually as required.

To mentor/buddy other NMPs within Mental Health.

To Act as a Designated Prescribing Practitioner, Educational supervisor or PracticeSupervisor as appropriate for members of the team undertaking their independentprescribing training.

Freedom to Act

Pharmacists are expected to work largely unsupervised and to act on their ownprofessional judgement.

Clinical supervision from another health professional can be arranged and isto be encouraged.

Technical roles are defined by standard operating procedures which shouldalways be followed.

Clinical roles are supported by policies and guidelines within which the pharmacist isallowed 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 pharmacy staff within Mental Healthand support training of other staff members within the team as appropriate.

To plan, develop and deliver appropriate training and education to healthcarecolleagues, carer groups and outside agencies to promote the safe use and clinicalapplication of medicines within mental health.

To be responsible for and lead on the induction of new pharmacy staff with mental health.

To assist and lead, where appropriate, on the training provided to pharmacystudents, trainee pharmacists and other pharmacy staff.

Health, Safety and Security

To work safely in the dispensary, ward and office environments ensuring any risksidentified to health and safety are managed or escalated to line manager.

To ensure safety and security of medicines, prescription stationery and patientidentifiable documents according to locally agreed standard operating procedures.

To inform line manager of any breaches of safety or security or if agreedprocedures are thought to be inadequate to manage the risk.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

The ability to communicate highly complex drug or medicine related information toprescribers, clinicians, patients, relatives within the mental health service.

Well-developed verbal and written communications skills (including telephone andemail) are essential to the role.

To liaise with all levels of healthcare staff and professionals working in themultidisciplinary team within mental health.

The ability to challenge and accept professional challenge from other health careprofessionals.

To liaise with patients and carers, the acute hospitals, doctors, GPs, community nursesand community pharmacists to ensure appropriate supply of medicines.

To communicate pharmacy / medication issues clearly and concisely at team meetingsand governance groups e.g. MGG.

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 touse own car is an advantage.

Good keyboard / computer skills are essential.

Limited manual handling of static loads.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL POSTS

The post holder is required to comply with all relevant policies and procedures pertinent to theirpost. Current versions can be found on the intranet or via your manager. The areas listed beloware those Livewell Southwest currently places particular emphasis on. Failure to follow correctpolicies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Well-motivated, conscientious and reliable
• Readily approachable, sensitive and supportive
• Strong professional values

Experience

Essential

• Experience as a practising pharmacist, including experience of working in mental health and as a member of a Multidisciplinary Team
• Experience of networking with other healthcare professionals across the full range of disciplines at all levels
• Experience of review and development of pharmacy / medication related policies, procedures and PGDs
• Experience of audit work
• Experience of delivering education to healthcare staff and patients / carers via workshops, informal discussion or formal lectures

Desirable

• Experience of preparing documents for clinical governance groups and presenting these to a committee
• Experience of leading on audit and producing reports
• Experience of mentoring, supervision and line management
• Experience of influencing, negotiating and implementing change in practice
• Experience of working in a hospital environment

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters Degree (or equivalent) in
• Pharmacy
• Registered Practising Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Specialist knowledge acquired by postgraduate diploma or equivalent evidence of specialist knowledge, competence and achievements in practice in mental health
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development and revalidation

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification in psychiatric pharmacy
• Member of specialist interest groups
• Working towards membership of the RPS Faculty or towards being a credentialed member of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy
• Independent prescriber or willingness to work towards

Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent knowledge of clinical pharmacy as it relates to mental health and substance misuse
• Knowledge and understanding of antimicrobial stewardship
• Understanding of non medical prescribing, patient group directions and other alternatives to medical prescribing
• Aware of current healthcare targets, NICE guidance and other national directives and the implications for implementation in primary and secondary care

Desirable

• Highly specialised knowledge of drug use within mental health and substance misuse
• Broad knowledge of the structure, organisation and priorities of the NHS and other healthcare services at a national and local level

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including verbal, written and formal presentation skills for a wide variety of audiences
• Computer literate including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email and Internet
• Excellent critical appraisal and analytical skills, with a sound understanding of evidence based medicine
• Good listening skills & excellent networking / negotiating skills
• Can work with and influence managers, nursing and medical staff
• Leadership and team working skills
• Ability to act as an excellent role model and mentor
• Self-motivated and able to motivate others with enthusiasm
• Able to reflect on and appraise own performance and that of others
• Ability to plan and prioritise own work and that of others with good organisational and time- management skills
• Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.

Desirable

• Ability to influence and negotiate with a range of stakeholders to implement change in practice
• Able to resolve conflict and disagreement
• Ability to manage change

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).