Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key results from the job holder

• Deliver highly specialist clinical pharmacist services to your area of responsibility within the Trust including directorate level support such as horizon scanning, cost benefit analysis, ensuring PGDs / Shared Care Protocols are appropriate and assurance reporting is provided to the Division.
• To be a non-medical prescriber.
• Working in partnership with other professionals and partners, to reduce the number and severity of medicines related adverse events by identifying and implementing new systems of work.
• Thematically review existing medication practices, incident reporting and other intelligence to support safer medication practices within specialist area.
• Investigate serious errors related to the use of medicines and report findings to manager.
• Develop, implement and audit unit wide policies, procedures and guidelines related to medication prescribing, supply, administration or disposal. Publish findings and undertake pharmacy practice research.
• Ensure compliance with medicines management guidance issued by the Trust, GMMMG or national bodies.
• Ensure compliance with Medicines Law and CQC requirements.

Planning and Organisational Duties

• As part of the Clinical Pharmacy Team, to be responsible for the provision of Clinical Pharmacy Services to patients.
• To have a commitment to dispensaries and to deliver the highest possible professional standards therein.
• In absence of a more senior Pharmacist to take professional responsibility for the dispensary including supervision of technicians, assistants and pre-registration pharmacists.
• Prioritise patients according to their clinical and pharmaceutical need.
• Obtain, validate & reconcile patient medication histories.
• To use clinical tests and patient notes to advise clinicians about required changes to patient medication and alternatives that may be suggested if the normal route of administration is unavailable.
• Analyse medicine charts taking into account the clinical presentation of the patient, any relevant history and plans made by clinicians.
• Make appropriate endorsements in line with relevant standards.
• Ensure VTE compliance has been undertaken where appropriate.
• Ensure antimicrobials are prescribed in line with current trust guidance.
• In conjunction with the medicines management technicians to ensure patient specific medicines are ordered.
• Ensure the effective re-use of patients own drugs.
• If deemed unfit for re-use to destroy medicines ensuring relevant procedures are followed.
• To receive, interpret, clinically check, dispense, accuracy check and handout prescriptions in line with departmental standard operating procedures.
• Ensure pharmacy stock is controlled effectively. To assist in the ordering, issuing and receiving of medication when necessary.
• Participate in clinical trials ensuring relevant details are maintained in trials documentation.
• Ensure ward Controlled Drugs and other departmental audits are completed to the prescribed schedule.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• Using professional judgement and in a professional manner, to communicate to patients, carers and healthcare staff any appropriate information about medicines which make their use safer or more effective.
• Assist other health professionals on wards to deliver the highest standards of care.
• Liaise with other members of the pharmacy team to ensure clinically effective services are provided.
• Refer to more senior pharmacists in team when appropriate.
• Provide ward cover for other clinical teams or for more senior colleagues within the team.
• To develop effective working relationships with other healthcare professionals within area of responsibility.

Responsibility for Finance

• Assist delivery of cost efficiencies, by advising how medicines should be used in line with locally agreed formularies or guidance.
• Handle cash, prescription charges & issue relevant receipts in line with trust SFI.
• Sign orders for pharmaceutical products including controlled drugs in the absence of a more senior pharmacist.

Responsibility for Human Resources

• Organise own work patterns within framework provided by line manager, demonstrating leadership qualities at all times.
• Deputise for Principal Pharmacist where necessary.
• Supervise and motivate clinical pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants.
• Ensure staff have an understanding of & implement relevant procedures.
• Suggest improvements to procedures through line management.

Responsibility for Health & Safety

• Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
• Ensure patients and staff are advised of risks with medicines and to minimise those risks through effective medicines management support and counselling.
• Ensure known risks are brought to attention of line managers.
• Ensure Datix is used to record and review medicines related incidents. In conjunction with Managers to ensure appropriate systems are put in place to prevent recurrence where possible.

Responsibility for Teaching

• Develop and deliver training packages ensuring they are relevant to all staff involved in the prescribing, supply, administration and handling of medicines.
• Provide teaching sessions to other healthcare professionals in line with knowledge and experience. To teach pre-registration pharmacists bearing in mind the expectations of the GPC and pre-registration tutor.