Antimicrobial Specialist Pharmacist

Job overview

Are you looking for a new role that will invest in your skills, provide opportunities to work across the wider healthcare system? An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated and innovative Pharmacist to join our friendly, dynamic and professional team to support the co-ordination, design and delivery of  antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) for ASPH

The post holder will responsible for the leadership and operational delivery of a high-quality antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme in line with the agreed priorities for the Trust. They will be responsible for providing expert pharmaceutical advice, including specialist antimicrobial advice across all clinical areas of the Trust to prescribers, clinicians, nursing staff, pharmacy staff and patients, to deliver high quality pharmaceutical care and improve patient safety.

The ASPH pharmacy team is one of the friendliest in the South East and has been described as a family. We are a warm, diverse, welcoming, and fun department committed to supporting staff in providing excellent patient care. Opportunities for further post-graduate education & qualifications are available in both leadership and clinical areas. We pride ourselves on the development of our team and encourage progression.

Main duties of the job

• Promote safe and effective AMS practices across the trust
• Work alongside members of the AMS team to develop and implement trust antimicrobial guidelines in line with national guidance where relevant.
• To work in conjunction with the Consultant Microbiologists to develop training programmes and audit feedback to educate prescribers, pharmacists and nursing staff on the safe and effective use of antimicrobials.
• To participate in AMS and infection management ward rounds and give advice on antibiotic usage to medical, pharmacy and nursing staff. This may involve prescribing of antimicrobials.
• To be the point of contact for referrals on antimicrobial issue prioritising enquiries and providing advice as appropriate.
• Monitoring and optimising treatment for patients with complex infections.
• To develop and maintain appropriate systems for clinical data collection. Analysing and formulating reports on usage, trends and expenditure on anti-infective drugs.
• Undertake risk management of antimicrobials and ensure compliance with legislation and relevant national policies and guidelines, along with local policies and procedures.
• To initiate and undertake audit projects and quality improvement projects to review and optimise anti-infective use across the trust.
• To provide education and training to junior doctors, nurses and pharmacists
• To evaluate new anti-infective products for formulary consideration when including horizon scanning, reviewing latest research and NICE appraisals

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A can-do and flexible approach is essential as is a commitment to self and service –development. Please read the job description and person specification when applying for this post, if you have any queries please contact us.

This is an ideal opportunity for you to build a specialist knowledge of education and training whilst further developing as a clinical pharmacist.

Essential

• Post-graduate diploma / MSc in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• Pharmacy degree (Master level 4 years)
• GPhC Registered Pharmacist (or equivalent EU professional qualification)

Desirable

• Independent pharmacist Prescriber, or be willing to complete training as Independent Pharmacist Prescriber
• Membership of RPS
• Higher qualification (E.g. MSc, PhD)

PROFESSIONAL/SPECIALIST/FUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience of teaching MPharm students and/or trainee pharmacists
• Significant and current experience of providing a UK hospital clinical pharmacy service at NHS AFC band 7 level or above
• Supervision of undergraduates in a hospital pharmacy setting
• Experience of promoting good AMS practices
• Experience of managing and monitoring patients who are prescribed anti-infectives.
• Protocol development
• Practical experience of audit
• Ability to change systems while taking into account the needs of others (change management)
• Evidence of up to date CPD in clinical pharmacy
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Able to produce a range of written documents, including drug usage reports, SOPs, policies and guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Able to challenge inappropriate prescribing and influence prescribing decisions of all healthcare professionals including senior medical colleagues
• Be proficient in IT and applications including Word, Excel, Outlook

Desirable

• Management of staff including recruitment, appraisal

SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES FOR ROLE e.g. communication, problem solving, leadership

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Ability to work under pressure and cope with stress
• Able to make effective, prompt decisions when faced with variable, often highly complex information and situation
• Proactive attitude
• Positive and Enthusiastic about area of work and achieving results
• Reliable, polite and approachable

You must be registered as a Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Applications are welcome from all sectors of pharmacy practice, including hospital, community, primary care, industry and academia.

This is a full time post. Flexible hours will be considered.

For further information about this post, please contact: Sharmeen Ajaz, Clinical Lead / Educational Programme Director ([email protected]).