Senior Pharmacist – Operational Services and Dispensary, Band 8a
Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! We have an ambitious plan for our journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational, committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.
As a former winner of England for excellence award: Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.
As a hospital Trust we are currently involved in over 100 clinical trials and studies, whilst also providing acute elective and specialist services to a population of over 620,000.
By joining Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust new colleagues can look forward to a warm welcome and a future full of opportunities and support.
Job overview
Senior Pharmacist – Operational Services and Dispensary, Band 8a (15 hours a week)
Due to Maternity Leave, this unique opportunity has arisen to lead the pharmacist service in the clinical validation section of the dispensary, be part of the senior operational team for the department, and hold a clinical ward commitment.
This role provides great variety within its scope, also covering clinical pharmacy on a designated ward within an acute hospital. There is an excellent mix of clinical and operational, as well as governance aspects to this role.
The Trust and pharmacy department will support you in the role and your continued personal development through a wide range of opportunities and experiences.
Additional contract details: Part of weekend and late night rota
Main duties of the job
Full Details are in the attached Job Description and Personal Specification.
The post holder will:
- Be responsible for delivering a specialist pharmacy service, acting as professional lead within the dispensary.
- Provide operational support to the department as part of Senior operational team
- Provide experienced pharmacist input at both dispensary services and ward level.
- Provide clinical pharmacy ward cover as part of ward based clinical team.
- Lead the team of dispensary based pharmacists and rotational pharmacists within the dispensary
- Work closely with the senior technicians to provide an efficient and safe service
Working for our organisation
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHT) is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. Located between Birmingham (45 miles) and Bristol (32 miles), the beautiful Cotswolds and Forrest of Dean, the county is easily accessible by road including the M5 motorway, with convenient links to the M4 and the M50.Together with main line rail networks, this puts Gloucestershire within easy reach of many metropolitan areas and airports.
GHT supports staff with access to the well-being hub, exercise and activity classes and membership of our popular hospital choir.
The pharmacy department has over 200 staff across the two sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester, both sites provide full dispensary services, medicines information, procurement services and a full clinical service to wards. There is a regular free shuttle bus allowing easy transport between hospitals both of which are located in the city/town centres with access to shops and cafes.
The Pharmacy department is committed to supporting the Trust to deliver its vision of best care for everyone, we strive to provide the whole team with the necessary skills and ongoing support to make a real difference to patient care, include a program to develop prescribing roles within the department.We are at the forefront of many exciting projects including the recently introduced electronic prescribing system used in the Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Within the Pharmacy department at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHSFT, we are committed to supporting the South West Inclusive Pharmacy Practice manifesto (https://pwds.nhs.uk/associates/sw-ipp/ ), 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.
Full details in attached JD
Key Result Areas
Operational- Assist Associate Director with Operational requirements and plans within the department and beyond
- Be involved with departmental operational strategy
- Oversight of management of the Pharmacist On-call rota ensuring regular liaison with On call leads and reviewing on call activity and KPIs
- Responsible for drawing up and managing weekend pharmacist rota ensuring cover for all weekends
- Keeping relevant records of the above
- To act as management link for Health and Safety meetings, carrying out any duties or providing any input as required. Attend the meetings in this capacity.
- Oversee recording and monitoring of Datix incidents from the dispensary
- Act as Datix investigator where appropriate
- Provide reports on Datix trends and subsequent actions
- Provide Datix meetings to pharmacy staff on an annual basis
- Monitor and report on Near Miss Data in conjunction with Senior Technician
Dispensary Services
Work within the Dispensary, including acting as the lead Pharmacist daily and on occasions the sole Pharmacist. Work closely with the Associate Pharmacy Director – Operational services to ensure a safe and efficient service is provided from the dispensary.
Lead Pharmacist duties
Responsibility for Clinical Screening area, maintaining the workflow of prescriptions, in conjunction with the Senior Technicians.
Ensuring prescriptions are clinically assessed and validated
Ensuring any dispensary competencies for Pharmacists are completed and maintained.
Carry out entrance and exit interviews of Pharmacists who rotate through the dispensary
Ensure rotational Pharmacists are informed of any dispensary changes when starting a block
Overseeing weekly rota for Pharmacist cover in the dispensary.
Liaising with the other Senior Pharmacists to ensure appropriate Pharmacist cover within the dispensary
Liaising closely with the Senior Technician to ensure a safe efficient dispensary service.
Responsible for review and writing the Standard Operating procedures relevant to the Pharmacists role in the dispensary and others that are required, ensuring that they are the same cross site where possible.
Liaising closely with the Dispensary Pharmacists at both sites ensuring a close alignment of processes and SOPs where possible.
Acting as a support for the CGH dispensary-based Pharmacist when needed.
Responsible for maintaining the “Responsible Pharmacist” log required by the GPhC for maintaining the department’s registration.
Acting as a super user for the Pharmacy stock control system
Ensuring staff working in the dispensary have completed any regular competency tests that are required (e.g. Methotrexate counselling, Valproate counselling)
Act as the system manager for Promatica WebTracker software in liaison with Pharmacy Systems Team
Provide reports from WebTracker that are used for reporting KPI’s
Prepare reports for review at Pharmacy Board
Act as the responsible Pharmacist for undertaking the risk assessment for new unlicensed medicines received into the Pharmacy, maintaining the unlicensed medicines list on the SharePoint
To monitor the recording of action taken for MHRA Drug recalls, working closely with the purchasing manager if required for class 1 recalls.
To act as a link to the Pharmacy Manufacturing Unit (PMU) in CGH for any relevant issues
Liaison and Maintenance of Intrathecal file in the dispensary in conjunction with senior technician
Ensure technical staff are trained on handing out intrathecal medication in conjunction with senior technician
Liaise when necessary for pain clinic pump refills in conjunction with senior technician
Communicate any other issues related to items that link to CGH PMU
Supervising and training new Pharmacists working in the dispensary including induction training.
To oversee training junior pharmacists on clinical screening in dispensary
To act as a contact to the EJU department for any pharmacy related issues, checking with the Lead Pharmacist for Cancer Services if needed
To maintain processes for individualised haematology supply arrangements, e.g. compassionate stock arrangements
Pharmacist clinical validation duties:
Checking in-patient orders, out-patient, and discharge prescriptions for:
Legality & legibility, intention of prescriber, and suitability of medication for that patient, any errors in dose, frequency, form and route, and resolving them with the prescriber
Making decisions about whether to supply medication, what to supply, when the prescriber cannot be contacted.
Checking the dispensing performed by other staff.
Checking formula calculations for extemporaneously prepared medication
Effectively educating out-patients on how best to take their medicines, and responding to any queries they may have when referred to .
Respond appropriately to queries from medical staff and all other hospital staff.
Discharge Lounge
Overall clinical pharmacy responsibility for all pharmacy and medicines governance aspects of the Discharge Lounge (DL).
Controlled Drugs stock checks quarterly and investigating any discrepancies in CD balances
Controlled drugs storage audit annually
Investigating DL pharmacy related Datix and complaints
Responding to any escalations for patients in DL
Inputting into and/or writing where needed any pharmacy-DL policies/SOPs
Monitoring performance of pharmacy service to DL
Carrying out any pharmacy (or other) audits within DL
Point of contact for DL service changes
Answering any and all clinical queries on medication
Clinical pharmacy service to patients in the DL
Validation of TTOs and Contacting Drs for clinical queries on TTOs
Input into all the pharmacy aspects of the discharge process for DL patients
Patient counselling
Monitoring of DL Dashboard
Adapting to changes in pharmacy working routine for DL
Provision of Clinical Pharmacy Service to clinical area of responsibility.
During the visit the pharmacist will:
Review prescriptions to ensure they are legal, safe, cost-effective, clinically necessary and appropriate, accurate, and complete.
Undertake Medicines Optimisation
Arrange for drugs to be supplied to patients, ward(s) or department(s).
Provide information and advice to nursing staff on a daily basis, about drugs, doses, administration and potential side-effects.
Provide information and advice to junior medical staff on a daily basis, and to Consultants as and when needed, including suggestions for initiating and modifying treatment.
Educate patients as appropriate about changes to their medication, and how to take specific medicines (e.g. warfarin, inhaler devices).
Access and interpret clinical information for specific patients (e.g. e-PMA system (Sunrise Clinical Manager), Patient Administration system (TrakCare), Pharmacy computer system (EMIS) as well as case notes and Summary Care Record (SCR)), and use it to individualise and monitor treatment.
Document relevant clinical and pharmaceutical information during in-patient stay which may be used to prepare discharge prescription and/or communicated to patient, carer(s) or GP.
Review discharge prescriptions written by medical staff, using professional judgement to make a final decision about content and appropriateness of discharge prescriptions when a suitable prescriber cannot be contacted.
Participate in Consultant ward rounds as appropriate, providing pharmaceutical advice and information to medical staff, nursing staff, and patients as part of a multi-professional team.
Undertake risk management and ensure compliance with legislation and relevant national policies and guidelines, along with local policies and procedures including the Trust Formulary.
Work in an effective team with technicians involved in Trust Medicines Management scheme
Usually work unsupervised, although the post-holder can seek advice from a range of colleagues as and when required.
Communicate with junior medical staff (and occasionally Consultants) to clarify aspects of the prescription including drug, dosage, frequency, duration of treatment, and length of supply when necessary.
Use professional judgement to make a final decision about content and appropriateness of discharge prescriptions when a suitable prescriber cannot be contacted.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- GPHC Registration
- UK Recognised Pharmacy Degree
- Post Graduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma
- NMP
Experience
Essential criteria- Significant clinical experience
- Experience Delivering and developing a specific pharmacy service
Skills
Essential criteria- Self Motivated and able to use initiative
- Excellent communication skills
- Proficient in IT
- Management Training
- Proactive attitude
- Reliable, polite and approachable
The health and wellbeing of our staff and patients remains the priority of the Trust. Vaccination remains the best chance we have of conquering COVID and the Trust encourages everyone to take up this offer.
Please note, this vacancy may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received, so please apply as soon as possible if you are interested. The Recruitment Team are unable to accept any applications after the position has closed on NHS Jobs.
Committed to safeguarding our community
If applicable for the post, all successful candidates will be required to pay for their own Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The cost will be £29 (standard checks) or £46 (enhanced checks), and will be recovered through two instalments from the candidate's salary.Please contact [email protected] for further information.
The Trust is a safeguarding employer committed to the safeguarding and promotion of welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Trust is committed to safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults, and any appointment will be subject to satisfactory clearance.As part of the organisation's commitment to Safer Recruitment, candidates may request copies of relevant policies and procedures by contacting the Recruitment Team at [email protected]
Committed to supporting service personnel
As part of our commitment to support Service Personnel, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with the Career Transition Partnership, offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for all qualifying Service and Ex-Service Personnel.To qualify for a guaranteed interview, candidates must meet the essential criteria for the post and be either a current member of the Armed Forces, or be within the two year period of resettlement. If this applies to you please email the job reference number and your AR number to the Recruitment Team at [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @GHNHSFTCareers