Lead Pharmacist - Medicines Hub (Durham Tees Valley)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationships

Internally:

• Information regarding clinical and cost effective prescribing in line with evidence based practice and disseminate information in a form most likely to influence clinical behaviour
• Highly complex, sensitive or contentious information where co-operation/ agreement is required with senior managers, other staff, partner organisations and user/carers at all levels e.g. funding for new clinical services
• The post holder will lead/chair working groups as appropriate in the field of medicines optimisation, medicines safety, service development, standard delivery of clinical service
• Effectively resolve informal or verbal complaints in the first instance before appropriate referral to the Chief Pharmacist. Support the Chief Pharmacist in the investigations of formal complaints.
• Contribute to Trust publications
• The post holder will develop the effective leadership of staff within their area of responsibility, ensuring that staff have up to date information
• Provide support to non-medical prescribers. If a non-medical prescriber themselves participate in group supervision and other activities in line with the Trust policy

Externally

• To develop and sustain constructive partnership relationships with a broad range of organisations and individuals including Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Local Authority, Acute Trust pharmacy services, private sector providers of pharmacy services, General Pharmaceutical Council, College of Mental Health pharmacists, police
• Liaises with CCGs, PCNs, GPs and community pharmacists to ensure the pharmacological management of patients is not compromised by organisational boundaries
• To maintain a strong network of pharmacy contacts, as agreed with the Chief Pharmacist, at local, regional and national and Department of Health levels in order to pro-actively influence the specialist mental health pharmacy agenda
• The post holder will communicate with service users and carers in order to ensure the smooth running of the service and the modernisation of the service in line with defined need
• The post holder will be required to communicate information regarding drug misadventures, complaints and unwelcome news to staff and users/carers

Planning and Organisation

• The post holder will be instrumental in initiating, implementing change and service development
• The post holder will contribute to new pharmacy and trust service developments
• The post holder will be involved in plans and objectives for the pharmacy service which takes account of national and local guidelines, critical incidents, good practice initiatives and local agendas/ need and which must always include details of change management arrangements
• To assist the Deputy Chief Pharmacist regarding continuity of service delivery to emergency planning / business continuity arrangements
• To maintain rotas as per service requirements
• To plan and deliver programmes of work such as clinical audit, clinical supervision and CPD training programmes

Patient and Client communication

• Accountable for own documentation and records of interventions and outcome data
• Provide specialist knowledge in Specialty meetings, Locality meetings and committees relevant to areas of responsibility when appropriate
• Use specialist skills and knowledge to identify and respond to the information needs of patients, families, carers, professional staff and other relevant agencies on an individual or group basis
• To be actively involved in the pharmacy services for patients on clozapine, lithium and medicines identified in patient safety alerts
• Assist the other Lead Pharmacists in analysing information and report to appropriate committees making recommendations for changes in practice and procedures
• Use specialist knowledge to lead the clinical pharmacy team advising medical and other clinical staff to ensure clinically and cost effective prescribing in line with evidence based practice and national guidance such as NICE
• Contribute to the preparation of the papers for Safe Medication Practice Group, Drug and Therapeutics committee and Governance groups regarding new policies and guidelines, cost effective prescribing and improvements to service delivery
• Assist with the implementation of the pharmaceutical component of national initiatives relevant to the needs of patients under the care of the Trust
• To take the lead and participate in clinical audits and identify and report on the necessary actions required as a result of these audits
• To lead in the development of and participate in shared decision making to improve patient choice and medicines adherence
• To advise, contribute and deliver education and training for pharmacy staff across the Trust
• To assist with the attainment of CQUIN performance indicators
• To participate in local Quality Improvement Systems to support the national quality and performance agenda
• Use Non-medical prescribing skills (if qualified) within scope of clinical knowledge and competence, in agreed clinical area(s) / patient groups to support safe prescribing and administration of medicines.
• This could include Independent and / or Supplementary prescribing using CMP, to re-write prescription charts, leaves/discharges, correcting medication at interfaces care (admission and discharge), initiating and monitoring treatment. The post holder will prescribe in line with their agreed scope of practice and Trust policies

Policy and Service Development

• To assist in the formulation of long term strategic plans for the development and delivery of a Trust-wide pharmacy service which takes account of and is responsive to the complex needs of patients with chronic mental health illnesses and the strategic changes in the delivery of mental health services
• Prepare business cases for/ costing out new clinical pharmacy services and developments
• To support the Chief / Deputy Chief Pharmacist to maintain effective clinical pharmacy service arrangements across the many Trust sites ensuring the Trust responds to new evidence/ safety advice about medication and raising the profile of the clinical pharmacy service related issues (financial, risk and quality) at senior Trust management level
• To participate in activities and programmes, both internally and externally, which enhance the growth, development and improvement of pharmacy and the Trust
• To advise on the content and support the implementation of the Pharmacy & Medicines Optimisation strategy / framework
• Implementation and review of the Trusts pharmacy and medicines standards and associated documentation (e.g. policies, procedures, guidance) to ensure quality, consistency and equity of clinical pharmacy service across the Trust
• Provide specialist advice in the development and delivery of clinical supervision within the pharmacy team

Responsibility for financial or physical resources

• Authorised signatory status within revenue expenditure limit
• To advise managers and clinical staff, within different specialities, on the budgetary and financial implications of medicine use
• To provide specialist advice, accurate, relevant and timely information on prescribing activity to clinicians, managers and budget holders
• To provide regular and ad-hoc reports of a highly complex nature regarding evaluation of clinical pharmacy service delivery, activity and resource implications to maintain safe and cost effective use of medicines to the Drug and Therapeutics Committee, directors, clinicians and senior managers to assist with decisions relating to the delivery of clinical pharmacy services within the Trust
• To provide reports regarding the Trusts performance in relation to standards for medicines optimisation for Care Quality Commission standards
• The post holder must at all times comply with the Trusts Health & Safety Policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the Trusts risk incident reporting system
• The post holder is required to inform their line manager of any safety issues that could affect themselves or others in the work place. The post holder is responsible for their own Health & Safety and must co-operate with the management at all times in achieving safer work processes and work places, particularly where it can impact on others

H.R

• To recruit pharmacy staff as necessary and guide the clinical pharmacy team through any service reconfiguration and staffing changes
• To performance manage and formulate personal development plans for pharmacists and lead pharmacy technicians under line management responsibility
• Implement process of appraisal and other HR policies for staff in line with Trust policy
• To lead on the implementation of the clinical supervision policy and is responsible for ensuring pharmacy team compliance with the policy
• The post holder must co-operate with all the policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion
• Undertake and maintain evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure continuing high standards of professional practice and participate in the trust appraisal system
• Take a pro-active role in helping their line manager identify personal development needs, including statutory and mandatory training and CPD for registration, in order to produce a personal development plan
• Participate and provide regular clinical supervision, in line with trust procedures, for reflection and development of practice

General

• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings
• Undertake relevant mandatory training
• Participate in the Trust on call service and weekend dispensary rota when required
• Handle controlled stationery and be a key holder when required
• To take minutes of meetings when required
• To move between units when required

See attached Job Description for full details

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree in pharmacy or equivalent
• Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Postgraduate qualification clinical and/or psychiatric pharmacy
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• NMP
• Recognised leadership qualification

Knowledge

Essential

• substantial mental health experience
• Understanding medicines issues in all care sectors
• Understanding risks with medicines
• Clinical experience in a variety of settings

Desirable

• Quality Improvement
• Change management
• Project management

Perssonal attributes

Essential

• Professional approach and manner
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Innovative

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Park Hospital

Edward Pease Way

Darlington

DL2 2TS

Employer's website

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