Associate Director of Pharmacy - Clinical Services Band 8C
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Job overview
Are you looking for a job:
- Where you work with an engaged pharmacy team to develop clinical services?
- Where you have established strong links with internal and external stakeholders to promote patient centred care and patient safety?
- You can use and further develop your strong leadership and management skills and clinical knowledge?
- Be part of the effective and visionary senior pharmacy leadership team?
Then read on……..
Due to the promotion of the previous post-holder, we are excited to be advertising the Associate Director of Pharmacy for Clinical Services. This position would be ideal for an experienced Clinical Pharmacist, or Clinical Pharmacy Manager, looking for their next step in their next step into a senior pharmacy management position.Is that you?
To discuss further, or to arrange an informal visit, see below contact details.
Main duties of the job
The primary responsibility of the Associate Director of Pharmacy – Clinical Services is to lead the delivery, management, and development of the Clinical Pharmacy Service to high standards of efficiency and effectiveness for North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT).
The clinical pharmacy service at NBT provides a range of services to secondary and tertiary care. This includes inpatients, discharges, pre-op clinics, outpatient clinics and the anticoagulation monitoring service. There are Pharmacist joint posts with Bath university (supporting undergraduate and post graduate pharmacy education), Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS trust and BNSSG ICB.
Be the professional lead for clinical pharmacy services and line manager to an established team of Senior pharmacists.
Effectively manage the clinical service staff budget.
Ensure that medicines related governance issues are raised and addressed with appropriate stakeholders.
Foster a culture of lifelong learning, to include provision for post-registration education, continuing professional education/development and vocational training of staff within pharmacy.
The post holder will support the Director of Pharmacy and will work collaboratively with the senior Pharmacy Leadership Team (PLT) to ensure that the NBT pharmacy services develop across the trust – this includes jointly co-ordinating provision of senior support with others in the senior team.
Working for our organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities.Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Associate Director of Pharmacy for clinical services is professionally accountable to the Director of Pharmacy and for the development of clinical pharmacy services within the division.
Leadership
Responsible for leading the delivery, management, and development of the Clinical Pharmacy Services to high standards of efficiency and effectiveness for North Bristol NHS Trust
Provide leadership, ensuring a professional, visible role model to all pharmacy staff.
Work strategically and corporately in partnership with clinical directors, general managers, and heads of nursing within the Trust plus external stakeholders.
As part of the Pharmacy Leadership Team (PLT), the post holder will contribute to the development of the strategic vision for the pharmacy service that is shared and owned by the pharmacy staff and has been consulted on widely both internally and externally to the department and the organisation.
Identify the use of innovation to create efficiencies, particularly the use of technology.
Function autonomously as a senior manager and member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team (PLT).
Be responsible for developing and implementing a clinical pharmacy strategy.
Deputise for certain aspects of the Director of Pharmacy and PLT in their absence.
Lead and support, the writing of business cases for additional resources to support clinical pharmacy services.
Negotiates for resources with stakeholders.
Develop initiatives ensuring cost-effective use of resources resulting in improved patient care, and more effective services.
Be a good role model for others.
Manage the clinical services budget within the approved funded establishment.
Ensure the clinical services team are aware of, and adhere, to trust HR polices to support the workforce, these include appraisals, recruitment, and sickness absence management.
To ensure that processes exist for effectively communicating with all staff, irrespective of working pattern, that staff involvement in decision-making is positively encouraged, and that staff are fully engaged in changes affecting them. To ensure that findings of the staff survey are openly discussed, and action plans developed and implemented.
Ensure the service provides an inclusive culture.
Clinical
Be responsible for ensuring that clinical pharmacy services are patient centred, evidence based and are compliant with Trust policies and procedures, medicines legislation and the code of ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Co-ordination of pharmacy involvement in Trust clinical policy development and management.
Develop, and review, robust and sustainable workforce plans in relation to clinical pharmacy services.
Provide ward based clinical services supporting safe prescribing and administration of medicines.
Be an active member of the Medicines Governance Group and Drug and Therapeutics committee.
Be the pharmacy representative in trust wide workgroups to improve service delivery which involve clinical pharmacy services, as required.
Report, and encourage others to report, adverse drug reactions.
Develops and maintains Trust standards for clinical pharmacy and ensures that all the clinical team follow these.
Ensure near misses and incidents, made by pharmacy and non-pharmacy staff, regarding medication safety are recorded and reviewed, via Datix.
Ensure all members of the clinical services team are engaged in identifying and supporting saving schemes regarding medicines usage.
Works closely with key stake holders to develop and maintain pharmacy best practice ward services.
Ensure key performance indicators are in place, reported on and monitored to develop and maintain an effective clinical service.
Chair the pharmacy clinical quality management meeting and ensure clinical risks are highlighted to the pharmacy governance board.
Use clinical judgement and professional knowledge when new medicines are requested, or when alternative products are sought urgently.
Research
To specify and review the departmental Clinical Audit Programme, as it relates to Medicines Management.
To develop and co-ordinate pharmacy related clinical research programmes encouraging all staff to participate.
To support the Director of Pharmacy in developing the Trust R&D strategy for pharmacy.
To participate in Trust-wide Clinical Audit, Clinical Trials and Research and Development. Support and encourage other pharmacy staff in this area, and liaise with other specialties/departments, as necessary.
To establish links with other researchers in both the Trust & local universities to develop joint research proposals.
To work to publish research undertaken in peer-reviewed journals or via conference posters and to encourage other pharmacy staff to do so.
Maintain appropriate audit and feedback tools for the evaluation and development of services in partnership with service users.
Education and Training
Provide training and support to the pharmacy staff on the application of clinical pharmacy services.
Promote and support teaching, learning and personal development within the department.
Ensure all the clinical services team have sufficient allocated time to undertake, and are up to date with, mandatory training.
Assist in the development of Trust wide input to staff induction and training processes relating to Medicines Management and Patient safety.
Foster a culture of lifelong learning, to include provision for post-registration education, continuing professional education/development and vocational training of staff within pharmacy.
Other Duties
To observe and have due regard to all appropriate legislation and guidance relating to pharmacy activity and the professional requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council and always maintain personal registration when employed within the Trust.
To record all continued professional development as required by the General Pharmaceutical Council and the knowledge and skills framework.
To maintain safe standards of work and appropriate records in connection with the requirements of the Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, DHSC directives and/ or departmental procedures.
To be aware of and operate within the current legislation for ‘Health and Safety at Work’ and ‘COSHH’, and corporate, clinical, and organisational governance.
Undertake any other duties as required by the Director of Pharmacy in accordance with the grade and nature of the post.
All Pharmacy staff involved in the supply of medicines need to ensure they and the process of supply is compliant with all relevant legislation.
For stock supply (including any medicine supplied under the WDA (H) Licence) Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01) must be followed at all times.
Staff have a personal responsibility to ensure that all activities undertaken within NBT Pharmacy Services are compliant with Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01) and all relevant department procedures are understood and followed appropriately.
All Staff must complete the required training sessions in relation to both GDP and WDA (H) annually as identified by the Pharmacy training team.
To ensure that all Trust policies are complied with, brought to the attention of all staff, and are readily and easily accessible.
Working Conditions / Effort
Participates in rotational schemes to cover weekends, late duties, and Bank Holidays.
Post will involve sitting at a desk for long periods of time using a display screen, intense periods of concentration, working to deadlines and analysis of data.
Flexibility required moving between tasks and responding to unpredictable interruptions and demands.
Requirement to react and respond to conflicting demands.
Future service reflecting constantly changing local and or national guidance and information.
Occasional requirements for driving/travelling to attend meetings or deliver presentations across the region or nationally. This may require carrying equipment such as laptops and projectors etc.
Frequently have difficult discussions with staff (pharmacy & wider NBT), commissioners and patients regarding safe, effective, and efficient use of medicines.
Resilience, determination, and personal strength of character needed to lead significant change at times of uncertainty and pressure.
Handling difficult situations with staff e.g. grievance, disciplinary and helping them through personal problems such as terminal illness, bereavement, and family breakdown.
Workload will be very variable, and the post holder will be expected to multi-task and be able at very short notice to make changes to their plans and respond to external requests.
Within the Pharmacy Department at North Bristol NHS Trust, we are committed to supporting the South West Inclusive Pharmacy Practice manifesto, creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We recognise that a diverse team enhances our ability to provide patients with the best possible care and innovative solutions.
We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or socioeconomic background. We are dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities in all aspects of employment, from recruitment to career development.We like members of our team to feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities and we actively promote a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect.
If you require any adjustments or support during the application process or in the workplace, please let us know. We are here to ensure that all candidates and employees can contribute fully and thrive in their roles.
Join us in making a difference—together, we can build a workplace that celebrates diverse perspectives and experiences.
Person specification
Education / Training Qualification
Essential criteria- Education to a GPhC recognised degree in Pharmacy
- Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Post graduate qualification relevant to pharmacy practice or a portfolio that demonstrates the acquisition and use of higher levels of specialist knowledge
- Be a non-medical prescriber
Work Experience
Essential criteria- Extensive post qualification experience in hospital pharmacy
- Experience with regulatory standards for pharmacy activities including GPhC registration, MHRA and CQC
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Essential criteria- IT skills incorporating all ‘Microsoft Office’ programmes and associated key board skills
Work Experience
Essential criteria- Significant demonstratable experience in leading and working effectively in a multi-professional team environment
- Experience of managing and actively participating in programmes of continuous improvement and change management in complex environments
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Essential criteria- Excellent Leadership & interpersonal skills to enable the postholder to develop positive working relationships with all groups of staff and key stakeholders across the Trust and wider local health economy
- Significant Negotiation skills for influencing senior internal & external stakeholders around performance delivery, service development and to ensure the needs of both the Trust and Pharmacy Services are met at a strategic level
- Highly developed analytical and interpretation skills enabling informed judgements to be made on a wide range of highly complex and frequently changing information
- Clear understanding of the modernisation agenda, the opportunities for redesigning services and the tools and techniques for assessing the impact of change in service provision including process mapping
- Well developed change management skills to allow the post holder to appropriately manage changes of practice, the adoption of new procedures to improve effectiveness and where there is resistance to change demonstrate tact, sensitivity and diplomacy
- Excellent oral, written and presentation skills to allow effective communication
- Be able to demonstrate prioritisation & time management skills
- Teaching skills – to support development of others, mentoring and coaching
- Demonstrate strong auditing and analysis skills
- Ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with other organisations to achieve shared goals
- 21. Excellent organisational skills to determine individual and organisational priorities.
- Research methodology skills
Personal Qualities / Special Circumstances
Essential criteria- Ability to act independently and on own initiative, implementing policies and acting authorititively within broad guidance and constraints agreed with the Director of Pharmacy
If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.
Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.
If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.
North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.
At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.
Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.