Specialist Clinical Pharmacist

Job overview

Are you qualified pharmacist looking for a career change?

Perhaps a band 6 looking for a band 7 opportunity or  Pre-registration Pharmacist about to qualify?

Early career pharmacists or newly qualified who are yet to achieve a postgraduate diploma (or equivalent experience) will be considered for this post on a band 6 to 7 development basis.

Banding will be reflective of level of qualification/experience.  After a period of embedding as a clinical pharmacist, you will have the opportunity to apply to undertake a diploma in Clinical Pharmacy and the independent prescribing course. Progression from a Band 6 to Band 7 is automatic once the relevant milestones have been satisfied. All newly qualified pharmacists will be enrolled onto the HEE newly qualified Pharmacist pathway and will be supported by HEE accredited supervisors.

The Queen Victoria Hospital is an acute specialist surgical hospital providing a range of exciting opportunities for pharmacists wanting to develop their careers and skills.

You must be, or about to 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.

Ideally the postholder will be full time (37.5 hours/week) but part-time will be considered.

Main duties of the job

The Specialist Pharmacist role is varied and constantly evolving to meet the needs of the service as is the case of all the other posts in a small department.  These posts  allow post holders the opportunity to experience the full range of services provided by the trust (starting with the surgical specialities and progressing to Burns and CCU),  ensuring a more well-rounded and capable pharmacist.

You will have exposure to all the specialisms and will be promoting safe, cost-effective prescribing, medicines management and optimisation.  You will provide clinical services to all the wards on rotation as well as cover the dispensary as required.

You will be a lead pharmacist for a directorate and be expected to write and update guidelines as well as other indirect clinical activities. In particular you will cover plastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, burns, critical care, paediatrics, high cost drugs and formulary.  Time will be given to fulfil expected responsibilities.

We are looking to further expand and develop the role of our pharmacists into other clinical areas and you will have the opportunity to be actively  involved in this experience.

You should be able to work on your own initiative as well as within teams. team.  Good communication skills are essential.

Currently there are no weekend or on-call duties, but will be expected to provide some bank holiday cover.  You may also be expected to work some weekends or late nights in the future.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a member of the pharmacy team the post holder shares responsibility for the organisation, management and supply of pharmacy services to patients and healthcare staff for the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The pharmacy team is the hospital lead for all aspects of medicines management, including the safe and secure handling of medicines, and the clinical and cost-effective use of medicines.

The wards and specialties assigned will vary. Specialities involved include Plastic Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Burns, Critical care, Paediatrics, Sleep Disorder, McIndoe Centre, Radiology, High Cost Drugs and Formulary.  This will allow the postholders to develop a wider range of clinical, specialties and leadership skills ensuring a more well-rounded and capable surgical pharmacist. Main duties for the post holder include:

• Clinical ward pharmacy services
• Lead Pharmacist for one or more specialties
• Dispensary – acting as the Responsible Pharmacist as required
• Supervise more junior pharmacy staff

There is a drive to encourage independent prescribing within the Trust.  Being a pharmacist prescriber is desirable not essential and you would be supported in undertaking the qualification.

As with other posts in a small department, the post holder’s responsibilities are wide-ranging. Time will be given to fulfil expected responsibilities.