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Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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About
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 21 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
- CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
- SAFETY that is of the highest standards
- COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
- SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
- PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
As a Trust, our aim is to provide a high quality service to all our patients. We strive to meet the best standards for professional care whilst being sensitive and responsive to the needs of individual patients.
As a teaching hospital trust, we have well established educational and research relationships with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University. As Lead Employer, on behalf of the Mersey Deanery, we are responsible for over 5,000 trainee speciality doctors based in hospitals and GP practice placements throughout Merseyside and Cheshire.
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Advanced Clinical Pharmacist - Medicines Safety
Closed for applications on: 18-Mar-2023 00:00
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 18-Mar-2023 00:00
Key details
Location
- Site
- Whiston and St Helens Hospitals
- Address
- Warrington Road
- Town
- Prescot
- Postcode
- L35 5DR
- Major / Minor Region
- Merseyside
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Salary
- £48,526 - £54,619 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 8a)
Specialty
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Interview date
- 29/03/2023
Job overview
We are looking to appoint a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic clinical pharmacist with a keen interest in working in Medicines Safety to join our pharmacy team in the role of Medicines Safety Lead Pharmacist.
Your role will be to lead on managing the risk from medicines, improving our reporting and learning from medication incidents and promoting the safe use of medicines in our organisation. The post holder will also be the designated Trust Medicines Safety Officer (MSO) and you will work closely with the Senior Pharmacy Technician (Quality and Safety) and the Trust’s Quality and Risk Department
This role requires excellent organisational and interpersonal skills, alongside sound clinical knowledge and relevant experience. Good written and verbal communication skills are essential. You will be encouraged to develop and implement your own ideas within the role under the guidance of the clinical service manager and principal clinical pharmacists.
You will also be required to provide a highly-specialist clinical pharmacy service to a designated specialty. You may hold a non-medical prescribing qualification or be working towards successful completion.
Please note, interviews may include assessment tasks.
Advert
- The department operates a 7 day service to the Trust and as part of this role you will be expected to participate in the rostered weekend working which is currently 1 in 5. Participation in the late night working and pharmacy on call will also be required
- The Trust occupies two state-of-the-art PFI hospitals, with the new Whiston Hospital having opened in April 2010, as well as Newton Hospital which has been integrated into the Trust’s service.
- Whiston Hospital is the main site within this large, high-performing acute Trust covering a large suburban area between Liverpool and Warrington, including St Helens, Prescot and Huyton. St. Helens Hospital provides diagnostic and clinic based services along with rehabilitation services with Newton providing a rehabilitation service. We manage in the region of 850 beds across all sites, have accredited teaching hospital status, and provide for most major specialties.
- The Pharmacy Department has over 120 staff operating across Whiston and St Helens Hospitals. We have established automated dispensing systems within the dispensaries at both sites. Both the Department and the Trust have a long-standing reputation for being a friendly and rewarding place to work. Our last Investors in People assessment recognised our Pharmacy as an outstandingly good department for staff support and development. We have e-prescribing in both outpatients and inpatients.
Working for our organisation
St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the only acute Trust in Cheshire and Merseyside, and one of the few in the entire country, to achieve the title of OUTSTANDING, rated by the Care Quality Commission.
We provide a full range of acute adult services to our local population of circa 360,000 and provide tertiary services across a much wider area in the North West, North Wales and Isle of Man. We are a Major Trauma Unit and the Mersey Regional Burns Unit.
Our '5 Star Patient Care' strategy is at the heart of all that we do; supporting our vision to provide world class services for all our patients by getting it right for every patient, every time.
Our achievements include:
- Acute Trust of the Year – HSJ Awards November 2019
- Trust rates Outstanding by the CQC – Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers and Health Service Journal)
- Best acute Trust in the North West for quality of care (NHS Staff Survey 2021)
- Best place to work in the North West (NHS Staff Survey 2021)
In the NHS Staff Survey 2021 the Trust scored the highest marks in the North West for the following areas;
- Standard of care
- Best place to work
- Care of patients being the Trust’s priority
- Staff engagement
- Staff morale
- Compassionate and inclusive
- Providing a safe environment for staff
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KEY DUTIES- Medication Safety
- To develop the role of the Trust Medicines Safety Officer (MSO), supported by the Senior Pharmacists and the Trust Quality and Risk Team, including participation in MSO webinars, study days and other national activities
- To regularly produce reports on medicines safety issues for Medicines Safety Group (MSG) and to internal and external bodies as required
- To review new medicines safety alerts, facilitate any required action and maintain a database of medicines safety alerts and actions within the Trust in response to these
- To support and review the development & implementation of relevant policies, procedures and guidelines for the safety of medicines as defined by Regulators and Advisory bodies
- To organise and deliver an audit program to support continued achievement of relevant national and local medicines safety recommendations (including past alerts which are still valid)
- To provide pharmacy input to serious incident investigations relating to medicines. This will include use of root cause analysis and joint working with other clinical staff as required
- To contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of Trust systems, policies, procedures and practices to improve medicines safety. This will include paper and electronic prescribing systems
- To develop new clinical guidelines and policies relating to medicines safety and update existing Pharmacy and Trust documents
- To support the Chief Pharmacist in fulfilling the responsibility of Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs
- To work with the Trust Medicines Safety Nurse and Lead Technician- Safety and Governance in addressing medicines safety issues across the organisation and actively promote and publicise the benefits of proactive reporting and learning in improving medicines safety
- To attend and contribute to meetings of the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee sub-group for Medicines Safety and to use local and national networks to develop best practice in medicines safety, and to cultivate such practice within the Trust and department. This will include collaboration with local clinical teams in primary care, including CCG medicines management teams, practice pharmacists, community pharmacists and others on medicines safety issues across the primary/secondary care interface
- To directly contribute to achieving objectives within the Trust Medicines Optimisation Strategy and Action Plan and to work closely with the senior pharmacy leadership team and the MSG to update and develop Trust strategy in relation to medicines safety.
- To be a member of relevant Trust councils, committees and workgroups. This may include being the representative for Pharmacy eg. Patient Safety Council
- To maintain and develop communication systems on medicines safety issues such as the Medicines Resources intranet site, the Trust Safety Newsletter, Grand Round
Clinical Role
- To assist the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager to plan, manage, develop and deliver the pharmaceutical service to inpatients within the Trust in line with National strategy, in accordance with the changing needs of the NHS, the requirements of the Trust and taking into account feedback from users of the service.
- Act as a pharmaceutical resource for the Trust’s patients, medical staff, pharmacy staff, nurses, midwives, non-medical prescribers etc.
- To work closely with clinical pharmacy colleagues to support the safe use of medicines
- To be involved in audit of current practice to identify compliance with e.g. antimicrobial prescribing or adherence to Trust guidelines, producing reports as appropriate for presentation at a suitable forum
- To critically evaluate and interpret all information obtained from all sources and to apply professional judgement, to provide clinically sound, unbiased, up-to-date, evaluated information.
- To apply sound professional judgement to complex legal and ethical issues and dilemmas
Clinical Pharmacy Duties
- To provide a highly specialist clinical pharmacy service to specified wards in accordance with professional, departmental and Trust policies. This will include:
-Taking drug histories on admission
-Checking medical notes of each new patient to ascertain presenting complaint, past medical history, working diagnosis and relevant biochemical, haematological and microbiological test results to ensure safe and effective medicines use.
-Ensuring each medicine has an appropriate indication and that each diagnosis has appropriate therapy.
-Ensuring that existing therapy is safe to take with, and has not contributed to, the presenting complaint.
-Ensuring that new treatments are compatible with the patients’ conditions.
-Making recommendations on changes to drug therapy in line with the above.
-Reviewing recommendations in the light of new results and treatment plans.
-Advising on which medications to continue and which to stop during the peri-operative period, if appropriate
-Monitoring for adverse drug reactions and submit ‘yellow cards’ to the MHRA where appropriate.
-Advising on therapeutic drug level monitoring for specific drugs where appropriate.
-Ensuring compliance with formularies, policies and procedures.
-Educating patients about their drug therapy.
-Developing evidence based treatment protocols for use within specialities or across the Trust where appropriate
-Providing advice on the availability of alternative formulations suitable for use in patients who are nil by mouth
-Providing information on the use of drugs outside their licensed indications
-Monitoring use and ensure adequate stock levels of crucial drugs on a daily basis
- To participate in consultant ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings where appropriate
- Provide specialist pharmaceutical information to medical and nursing staff and patients and to General Practitioners and other staff where appropriate
- Liaise with General Practitioners and other primary care professional to obtain accurate drug histories
- Record clinical interventions in line with departmental policy
- Report any drug errors you detect to the Head of Pharmacy or their deputy. Ensure that the appropriate error form is completed
- Participate in the departmental therapeutic drug monitoring service, interpreting drug levels and providing advice to medical staff on appropriate dosage, including on call
- Liaise with appropriate healthcare professionals within local Primary Care Trusts to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources across the primary/secondary care interface and where necessary develop shared care protocols
- Provide professional and legal supervision to the dispensaries in accordance with the Departmental rota. Duties will include:
- Professional checking of inpatient requisitions and TTO’s
- Ensuring all prescriptions comply with the Medicines Act
- Ensuring all prescriptions comply Misuse of Drugs Act where appropriate
- Final checking of prescriptions for accuracy prior to release
- Labelling and dispensing of medication as required
- Providing advice to patients on how to take their medicines and potential side effects
- Advice to Doctors, nurses and other professionals as required
- Order, receive and dispense controlled drugs in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Act
- Comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use safe custody and destruction of drugs within pharmacy and other areas of the hospital
- Supervise pre-registration Trainee Pharmacists and band 6/7 pharmacists
- To assist medical staff in undertaking of any clinical trials that have been approved by the Ethical Committee
- Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of the Clinical Pharmacy Standards across the pharmacy department
- To act as a clinical tutor for pharmacists undertaking the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy
- To assist the Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager in the recruitment of staff including participation on interview panels
- To assist the department in the review of Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
- Return unwanted or patients own Controlled drugs from the wards in accordance with the departmental policy and the Misuse of Drugs Act as required
- Assist in the delivery of pharmacist teaching of junior doctors and providing prescriber feedback
- Participate in the training of medical and nursing staff and other paramedical disciplines either within or external to the Trust
- Participate in individual performance review and the use of personal development plans including performing appraisals where appropriate
- To participate in clinical audit and practice research as instructed by senior pharmacists within the department including the presentation of results where appropriate
- To participate in the weekly clinical meetings and continuing professional development feedback sessions for the pharmacists
- To attend appropriate training courses for pharmacists and to encourage other staff to undertake further training
- To participate in Continuing Professional Development as per department policy and national guidelines from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and General Pharmaceutical Council
- To comply with Health and Safety at Work legislation, COSSH Regulations, Data Protection Act and other appropriate legislation
- To participate in a rota which enables the department to provide a full 7 day service
- To participate in the on-call, Saturday, Sunday , Bank Holiday and emergency duty rotas
- To maintain the security of the department especially whilst working alone (for example on call or whilst locking the department)
- To participate in the department locking up rota and ensure the safe custody of all pharmacy keys and swipe cards in your possession both on and off site
- To undertake any other related duties which may be required
Transitional arrangements are in place for EU,EEA and Swiss Citizens following the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Should this apply to you, you are advised to familiarise yourself with these arrangements to ensure you continue to have right to work in the UK and how to evidence that right in the future. Please see the document attached to this vacancy. This requirement does not apply to Irish citizens, who can continue to freely enter, live and work in the UK.
The Trust is a non-smoking site. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action.
Please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated, should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed therefore you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience. The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience.
We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [email protected]
We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.
The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision making process.
The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
Changes have been made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook which mean that:
- All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
- There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
- Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.
At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working.
Please be advised that the use of Artificial Intelligence on applications is monitored and if you choose to use this, you must declare this on your application form.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Vocational master’s degree in pharmacy
- Post Graduate Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy
- 1 Year pre-registration training
- Membership of General Pharmaceutical Council
- Non-Medical prescribing qualification or working towards
- Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development/education
Desirable criteria
- Membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society(RPS)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- In depth and extensive clinical knowledge in acute medicine
- Experience of providing a specialist clinical pharmacy service at a high level and a broad knowledge of therapeutics in the DMOP directorate
- Experience of working in a busy dispensary environment
- Experience of drug reporting and financial management to directorates
- Demonstrable experience of clinical audit and practice research
Desirable criteria
- Leading and supervising audit or practice research projects
- Experience in using the JAC Pharmacy Computer System
- Experience of electronic prescribing
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
- Ability to work alone or as part of a team in a challenging environment
- Good organisational skills including ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to work under pressure
Other
Essential criteria
- Willingness to travel between sites
- Willingness to do on-call
- Willingness to participate in weekend and on-call rotas
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sally Patrick
- Job title
- Prinicipal Clinical Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0151 290 4286
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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