Lead Pharmacist, Planned and Critical Care - Band 8b in Epsom

As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19. At Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, above all we value respect. We put respect at the heart of all we do, by living up to our shared behaviours of kindness, professionalism, positivity and teamwork. This enables us to provide great patient care and make ESTH a great place to work. When you sign up to work with us, you sign up to this and we welcome applicants who share our values.

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

Main duties of the job:

• To manage, provide, co‑ordinate and evaluate clinical pharmacy services to Intensive Care, High Dependency and Surgical wards, in liaison with the Lead Pharmacist for Planned and Critical Care as appropriate.
• To act as a specialist practitioner in Critical Care providing highly specialised evidence‑based clinical advice and information to nursing and medical staff on the care and treatment of patients and ensuring a high level of clinical pharmacy input to the critical care units across site.
• To actively participate in key multi‑disciplinary ward rounds and clinical meetings for Critical Care.
• To attend the Trust nutrition round and work with the other members of the Nutrition Team to advise on appropriate parenteral nutrition and order parenteral nutrition from the supplier for all patients on parenteral nutrition throughout the Trust.
• 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), ICSI and local Medicines Management Committee decisions.
• To highlight when clinicians are not following agreed guidelines or formulary choices and address similar issues raised by ICSI 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.

Further details are listed in the JD.

Working for our organisation:

• Work within agreed Trust and departmental policies and procedures and to accepted standards of practice.
• Work on other sites in the Trust by agreement.
• 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.

Person specification:

• BTEC or NVQ Level 3 in Hospital Pharmacy Services
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

• Post qualification hospital experience.
• Experience in supervision of staff.
• Computer literate for dispensing and stock keeping purposes.
• Staff training.
• Patient/carer counselling.
• Multidisciplinary team work.
• Experience with the CMM pharmacy computer system.
• Knowledge and experience of appraisal.
• Knowledge of NVQ process.
• Dispensing/supply of clinical trials and GCP.
• Understanding of and participation in data collection for KPIs and audit.

• Good interpersonal skills.
• Good communication skills – verbal and written.
• Ability to meet objectives and targets.
• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Ability to organise own workload and that of others.
• Good time management.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work.
• Problem solving skills.
• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Competent in all areas of dispensing practice.
• Ability to identify and solve problems.
• Proven organisational skills, self and others.
• Customer Care.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Accurate numeracy skills.
• Ability to lead a team.
• Demonstrates initiative.
• Good IT skills.
• Assertiveness skills.
• Ability to manage change.

• Professional appearance.

• Good attendance record.
• Commitment to CPD.
• Participate in weekend, Bank Holiday and late duty work.
• Good time keeping.
• Efficient.
• Reliable.
• Friendly.

Our mission: ‘to put the patient first by delivering great care to every patient, every day.’ There’s never been a better time to join the Epsom and St Helier team. Our hospitals are facing a bright and busy future, and our staff have a proven track record in providing high quality, compassionate care for our patients. Boasting incredible staff benefits and dedicated training schemes, working for us will not only take your career forward, but could help to transform the lives of our patients and visitors. We offer all employees some fantastic staff benefits, and are the only hospitals in Surrey to offer staff the London high cost area supplement. Our hospitals also benefit from great locations, so whether you’re attracted to the bright lights of the city or the countryside of Epsom Downs, both are within easy reach.

FURTHER INFORMATION: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POSITION MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE STATED CLOSING DATE IF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED. IF YOU WISH TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, YOU ARE ADVISED TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CONTACT ALL APPLICANTS VIA EMAIL AND NOT BY POST. YOU ARE ADVISED TO CHECK YOUR RECRUITMENT SYSTEM ACCOUNT ON A REGULAR BASIS. YOU CAN ACCESS THIS ACCOUNT VIA OUR WEBSITE.

Work for Us Current Vacancies My Job Account. For new entrants into the NHS, your pay under the Agenda for Change or Medical & Dental Pay Bands, will normally be set at the minimum of the pay band as advertised. If you apply for this position and do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been short‑listed for interview on this occasion. ESTH values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. As a Disability Confident Employer we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve. Internal applicants from underrepresented minority groups are encouraged to seek development support such as work shadowing and interview skills coaching. Please contact the recruitment team for more information.