Job summary
To work as a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist within the Clinical Pharmacy Team, and liaise with professional staff and patients and carers; to deliver high quality pharmaceutical care for patients with complex, specialist mental health needs.
To deliver the clinical pharmacy service and promote medicines optimisation within own specialist area and support the responsible 8a Senior Clinical Pharmacist for the speciality/locality.
To support and be involved in clinical pharmacy service developments as needs or opportunities arise.
To participate in audit and clinical trials within own clinical specialism.
To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
To promote at all times a positive image of the Pharmacy department and profession and the wider Trust.
Main duties of the job
Are you looking for a challenge in a new clinical area based in the City of York and the beautiful North Yorkshire coast?
We are looking for experienced GPhC registered pharmacists to join our inpatient mental health services in our North Yorkshire and York locality.
The successful candidate will have the skills, enthusiasm, confidence and drive to make a real difference to the lives of patients with mental illness. Previous experience in mental health services is not essential, but you should be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of mental health matters and have experience of providing clinical pharmacy and medicines optimisation services in a hospital setting. You should have experience of patient counselling, prescription screening/checking and have underpinning clinical pharmacy skills and knowledge, ideally demonstrated through current study of, or attainment of a clinical diploma. Excellent communication skills are essential.
This specialist clinical pharmacist Band 7 post will work at both Foss Park and Cross Lane Hospital delivering of Medicines Optimisation to our in-patients alongside a team of pharmacy technicians. They will be supported by a very experienced team of 8a pharmacists and will have the opportunity to gain experience working with community mental health teams.
Funding is available for a permanent full time post but we will consider part-time or job share applications.
About us
We pride ourselves on the provision of a patient focused clinical service, supported by the whole pharmacy team, to ensure medicines optimisation across the range of specialities. We deliver services for adults, the elderly, children and young people, those with learning disabilities and; in both in-patient and community settings in the area.
We are committed to developing our staff and there will be an opportunity to undertake the Post Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Therapeutics, Non-Medical Prescribing certificate (if you are not already a prescriber); as well as developing your leadership knowledge and skills. The Trust is committed to Quality Improvement Systems and there will be opportunities to develop your skills using these tools.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities, Patient Contact
To deliver the clinical pharmacy and medicine optimisation service in line with nationally approved standards
To review prescriptions to:-
- Ensure legibility and legality
- Optimise drug treatments
- Reduce side effects and adverse drug reactions
- Ensure optimum administration times
- Inform prescribers of doses and uses outside of licence and ensure documentation is completed in line with Trust policy
- Ensure appropriate monitoring is carried out
- Ensure minimal polypharmacy and hypnotic use, advising on stopping medication no longer required
- Ensure appropriate use of trust guidance and Standard Process Descriptions
To undertake medication reviews of newly admitted patients and pharmaceutical care planning prior to discharge, to minimise risks with medication at the interfaces of care.
To be responsible for the delivery of self-medication programmes within designated clinical areas.
To support the introduction of medicines management tools to optimise medicines use within designated clinical areas, e.g. individualised patient supply, use of patients own medication and dispensing for discharge.
To use specialist skills to contribute to patients care, for example assessing patients adherence with medicines and advise medical and nursing staff about strategies to improve adherence including the use of compliance aids, and different formulations of medicines.
To advise on the unlicensed and off-label use of medicines for individual patients within own designated clinical area. This includes assessing the need for and appropriate use of covert administration of drugs, as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
To use highly specialist knowledge to advise medical, nursing and other clinical staff on evidence based prescribing in own specialist area, including most appropriate drug and dose for individual patients.
To be actively involved in the pharmacy services for patients on high risk medicines e.g. clozapine.
To cover clinical pharmacy services for annual leave, on own and other sites, under the direction of the Lead Pharmacist / Deputy Chief Pharmacist.
To ensure the pharmaceutical service is delivered in accordance with the general law and law relating to medicines, professional guidelines, DOH guidelines and Trust policies.
To report and investigate medication incidents making recommendations for changes in practice and procedures to the supervising 8a Clinical Pharmacist.
To advise on and support the monitoring of medication regarding efficacy and side effects , using rating scales where required. Interpret results (e.g. drug levels and physical parameters such as Urea & Electrolytes (U&E's), Liver Function Tests (LFT's), BP and Pulse) and advise accordingly.
To use non-medical prescribing skills to support safe prescribing and administration of medicines. This could include re-writing of prescription charts, leaves/discharges, correcting medication at interfaces of care (admission and discharge), initiating, amending, monitoring and discontinuing treatment.
To prescribe in line with their agreed scope of practice and Trust policies.
To professionally check prescriptions both on the wards and in the dispensary as required by the service.
To dispense and / or check medication and maintain patient records of medication issued on pharmacy IT system.
To dispense and / or check medication in a ward environment when needed.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities, Patient Contact
To deliver the clinical pharmacy and medicine optimisation service in line with nationally approved standards
To review prescriptions to:-
- Ensure legibility and legality
- Optimise drug treatments
- Reduce side effects and adverse drug reactions
- Ensure optimum administration times
- Inform prescribers of doses and uses outside of licence and ensure documentation is completed in line with Trust policy
- Ensure appropriate monitoring is carried out
- Ensure minimal polypharmacy and hypnotic use, advising on stopping medication no longer required
- Ensure appropriate use of trust guidance and Standard Process Descriptions
To undertake medication reviews of newly admitted patients and pharmaceutical care planning prior to discharge, to minimise risks with medication at the interfaces of care.
To be responsible for the delivery of self-medication programmes within designated clinical areas.
To support the introduction of medicines management tools to optimise medicines use within designated clinical areas, e.g. individualised patient supply, use of patients own medication and dispensing for discharge.
To use specialist skills to contribute to patients care, for example assessing patients adherence with medicines and advise medical and nursing staff about strategies to improve adherence including the use of compliance aids, and different formulations of medicines.
To advise on the unlicensed and off-label use of medicines for individual patients within own designated clinical area. This includes assessing the need for and appropriate use of covert administration of drugs, as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
To use highly specialist knowledge to advise medical, nursing and other clinical staff on evidence based prescribing in own specialist area, including most appropriate drug and dose for individual patients.
To be actively involved in the pharmacy services for patients on high risk medicines e.g. clozapine.
To cover clinical pharmacy services for annual leave, on own and other sites, under the direction of the Lead Pharmacist / Deputy Chief Pharmacist.
To ensure the pharmaceutical service is delivered in accordance with the general law and law relating to medicines, professional guidelines, DOH guidelines and Trust policies.
To report and investigate medication incidents making recommendations for changes in practice and procedures to the supervising 8a Clinical Pharmacist.
To advise on and support the monitoring of medication regarding efficacy and side effects , using rating scales where required. Interpret results (e.g. drug levels and physical parameters such as Urea & Electrolytes (U&E's), Liver Function Tests (LFT's), BP and Pulse) and advise accordingly.
To use non-medical prescribing skills to support safe prescribing and administration of medicines. This could include re-writing of prescription charts, leaves/discharges, correcting medication at interfaces of care (admission and discharge), initiating, amending, monitoring and discontinuing treatment.
To prescribe in line with their agreed scope of practice and Trust policies.
To professionally check prescriptions both on the wards and in the dispensary as required by the service.
To dispense and / or check medication and maintain patient records of medication issued on pharmacy IT system.
To dispense and / or check medication in a ward environment when needed.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Postgraduate qualification in psychiatric pharmacy; or currently studying for or willing to work towards.
- Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy or currently studying
Desirable
- Prescribing Qualification; or currently studying for or willing to work towards.
Experience
Essential
- Recent significant and relevant experience in community or hospital pharmacy, delivering medicines management activities to patients
- experience of service improvement within a multi disciplinary team
- experience of working in clinical pharmacy in a variety of settings
Desirable
- Experience of mental health pharmacy
- Supervised or managed more junior staff
- Audit experience
- project management experience
Skills
Essential
- IT skills
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Confident and articulate communicator both written and verbal
- Understanding risks of medications
Desirable
- Understanding of health service issues in primary and secondary care
- Medicines Information skills
Personal attributes
Essential
- Motivation to develop clinical pharmacy skills and specialist mental health knowledge
- Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
- Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
- Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Postgraduate qualification in psychiatric pharmacy; or currently studying for or willing to work towards.
- Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy or currently studying
Desirable
- Prescribing Qualification; or currently studying for or willing to work towards.
Experience
Essential
- Recent significant and relevant experience in community or hospital pharmacy, delivering medicines management activities to patients
- experience of service improvement within a multi disciplinary team
- experience of working in clinical pharmacy in a variety of settings
Desirable
- Experience of mental health pharmacy
- Supervised or managed more junior staff
- Audit experience
- project management experience
Skills
Essential
- IT skills
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Confident and articulate communicator both written and verbal
- Understanding risks of medications
Desirable
- Understanding of health service issues in primary and secondary care
- Medicines Information skills
Personal attributes
Essential
- Motivation to develop clinical pharmacy skills and specialist mental health knowledge
- Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
- Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
- Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
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.
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).
Additional information
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).
