Bank Principal Pharmacist - Medicine Band 8a | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust in London

Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust are looking for a Band 8a Principal Pharmacist for the Medicine division. This is a full-time bank role, if you are interested and available please see attached JD and apply today.

Key Duties Include:

• To provide a specialist clinical pharmacy service to designated wards in conjunction with other clinical and junior pharmacists.
• To provide advice and day to day clinical supervision for the pharmacy team working in the Medicines division promoting evidence-based, cost-effective use of medicines.
• To promote safe, responsible, cost effective prescribing and usage of medicines, in line with the formulary, to optimise clinical outcomes and minimise adverse reactions and errors.
• To lead and manage other pharmacy staff working in the Medicines team to ensure service delivery to agreed standards in line with business planning requirements.
• To liaise with appropriate MDT colleagues to ensure the implementation of National/Local guidelines related to medicines to optimise patient care and promote best practice.
• To work with senior pharmacy management team to monitor and evaluate medicines expenditure across the Trust, identifying and putting plans in place to address cost pressures and Cost Improvement Plans.

The post holder is required to:

• Work within agreed Trust and departmental policies and procedures and to accepted standards of practice.
• Work on other sites in the Trust as required.
• Undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade.
• Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
• Treat patients and customers with dignity and courtesy.
• Ensure that medicines do not fall into unauthorised hands.
• Have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare for self and others and to comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety regulations, including COSHH.
• Promote Equal Opportunities and to comply with the requirements of the legislation and the Trust’s policies.
• Attend such training courses and meetings as are necessary for the efficient performance of the post holder’s duties.
• Participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), maintaining own CPD portfolio.
• Participate in the Trust’s appraisal system.
• Comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• Comply with the Trust’s No Smoking Policy.
• Comply with Duty of Candour principles.

This job description is a reflection of the current position and may change in emphasis or detail in the light of subsequent service development. The Trust’s mission is ‘to put the patient first and deliver great care to every patient, every day’. Our priorities are to create a “one team, one trust” culture and focus on the delivery of the following five objectives to ensure we provide high quality, compassionate care to all of our patients:

• Delivering safe and effective care across our sites.
• Creating a positive experience that meets the expectations of our patients, their families and carers.
• Providing responsive care that delivers the right treatment, in the right place at the right time.
• Being financially sustainable.
• Working in partnership with our patients, commissioners, other health and care providers, local authorities, the voluntary sector, the NHS TDA, NHS England and Monitor in the interests of our patients and a sustainable local health and social care economy.

To manage, provide, co-ordinate and evaluate clinical pharmacy services to the medicines division, in liaison with the Lead Pharmacist for Medicine as appropriate.

To develop, implement, evaluate and monitor medicines management guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines, in liaison with the pharmacy senior management team.

To co-ordinate the introduction of new medicines into hospital practice, in liaison with appropriate senior pharmacists and MDT colleagues, advising on and producing protocols and guidelines where necessary, ensuring these are in line with NICE, Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee (RMOC), ICC and local Medicines Management Committee decisions.

To highlight when clinicians are not following agreed guidelines or formulary choices and address similar issues raised by ICC colleagues, putting in place appropriate action plans to improve prescribing practices and to address interface issues where clinicians are not following agreed guidelines or formulary choices.

To work in liaison with the Principal Pharmacist Medicines Information, and Chief Technician, Medicines Procurement to suggest alternatives when medicines shortages occur, liaising with clinicians as appropriate and disseminating this information in a timely manner.

To liaise with the Principal Pharmacist, Anti-infectives with regard to antimicrobial stewardship and implication of changes to formulary or prescribing guidelines.

To ensure Trust Medicine Matters Bulletins reflect current practice and new developments highlighting good practice in patient care.

To assist in the development of the clinical pharmacy services in liaison with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist Clinical Services.

To nurture key relationships with prescribers and other stakeholders in order to influence changes in prescribing practice and safer use of medicines.

To attend, with the agreement of the line manager, relevant local and national meetings to represent the Trust.

To identify and address prescribing issues across the interface and to ensure seamless transfer of pharmaceutical care for patients liaising with other acute Trusts, GPs, Community and ICC pharmacists as appropriate.

To ensure appropriate and effective use of the local formulary and prescribing policies as necessary.

To participate in departmental meetings and assist in the development of procedures to maintain and develop the pharmaceutical service in line with the national guidance and any future developments for medicines optimisation.

To assist in the provision of a comprehensive and effective pharmaceutical service in accordance with required standards of quality and professional practice.

To undertake training to become a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber (unless already qualified) and use this qualification as deemed appropriate within the Trust.