Virtual Ward Pharmacist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder:-

Main Tasks

●       Patients will be reviewed in a home setting as soon as possible after acceptance on the Community Team caseload.

●       Review medication and work closely with Community Teams which includes consultants, advanced clinical practitioners, physiotherapists, OTs, nurses, GPs and community pharmacists to ensure patients are able to derive the maximum benefit from prescribed medication.

●       Participates in MDT meetings via Teams or Face to Face as per frequency and need of the service.

●       Assess compliance with medication and any other factors related to medication which may lead to hospital admission or deterioration in condition.

●       Working closely with patients to implement medicines management and optimisation.

●       To liaise with GPs and community pharmacists to ensure that medicines are reconciled following transfer to primary care. Identify and follow up any discrepancies.

●       To communicate with GPs, community pharmacists and hospital consultants any recommendations in respect to individual patient medication changes, requirements or concerns as appropriate to the needs of the patient.

●       To provide skilled pharmaceutical counselling to patients in the domiciliary care setting in order to improve concordance and compliance with medicines and to reduce risks from medication related events. To promote concepts of self-care with patients, significant others, and healthcare professionals in respect to medicines and medicines concordance.

●       To work in an independent manner to explore all ways of supporting patients with complex medication issues.

●       To work in partnership with the patient, carers and relatives to reflect patient choice, to support self-care.

●       Further develop and feedback on key performance indicators.

●       Work closely with virtual ward teams within CHFT and key personnel in the community in Calderdale and Huddersfield.

●       To develop and maintain excellent working relationships with the appropriate healthcare professionals and other agencies in primary and secondary care.

●       Work with the CHFT Community teams to develop the service and provide training to staff.

●       Visits patients in their own homes or care homes within the Community setting.

●       Participates in weekend, public holiday, out of hours and extended hours provision of pharmacy services

●       Complies with Trust policies relating to security and patient confidentiality and to ensure that procedures are undertaken within safe systems of work and legislation.

●       Assists the community directorate pharmacist in controlling drug expenditure

·        Ensure the appropriate stock control and storage of materials and safe maintenance of equipment used in the provision of the community directorate Pharmacy services

·        Contribute to the service development and maintenance of policies, procedures and records for the community directorate Pharmacy Service and medicines management.

Clinical Duties

Reviews medication in high-risk patients for clinical appropriateness, drug interactions and assess compliance and concordance issues:

●       Provides professional and clinical information and advice to the multidisciplinary healthcare staff in primary and secondary care, patients and carers, to support individual patient care and medicines management.

●       Makes recommendations tailored to the context of specific patients or situations, including calculations for complex drug regimens.

●       Addresses issues of co-existing medical diseases and conditions such as renal and hepatic impairment, and concurrent medications.

●       Applies sound professional judgement to complex clinical issues and dilemmas, particularly where definitive information is lacking.

●       Regularly participates in pharmacy practice research and clinical audit.

●       If a prescriber, prescribes within area of competence. Work towards attaining an Independent Prescriber qualification if not a prescriber.

●       Due to the nature of the role the successful applicant would hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle. However, if this is not possible due to a disability defined by the Equality Act 2010 then reasonable adjustments would be considered.

●       Counsel patients and/or their carers to ensure safe and effective medicine use.

●       Liaise with antibiotic pharmacists and microbiology to ensure adherence to the antibiotic formulary, prescribing guidelines and antimicrobial management policy.

●       Responses to urgent requests for advice and guidance on complex medication regimes.

Professional Duties

●       The post holder is a key member of the Community pharmacy Team.

●       The post holder is a managed within the Community Healthcare Division CHFT.

●       Implements Trust policies in relation to Medicines Management.

●       Helps develop new policies and medication safety procedures for the Community Healthcare Division.

●       Manage risk in areas of responsibility

●       Undertake the legal and professional responsibilities of a responsible pharmacist

●       Continually reviews the quality and standard of service provision through consultation with users of the Community Teams and makes recommendations for improvement to Community Directorate pharmacist.

●       Is responsible for the management of risk in relation to the areas of responsibility of the post holder.

●       Participates in the training of pharmacy staff, unregistered practitioners and other health care professionals.

●       Participates in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accordance with Trust policy and national guidelines from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

●       May be required to transport medication to and from patient’s properties in line with trust policy.

●       May be required to administer medication to patients in line with trust policy within competency.

Managerial Duties

·        Line management if medicines optimisation technicians.

Financial Duties

·        Produce detailed reports on medicines spend, usage, security and adherence to NICE guidelines and Technology appraisal and other applicable pharmacy services or performance indicators. Provide recommendations in support of medicines optimisation strategies and provide efficiency savings related to specialty area. Reviews medication in high-risk patients for clinical appropriateness, medicine interactions and assess compliance and concordance issues in order to facilitate safe, effective and cost-effective use of medicines and optimize patient care.

Managing Self

·        Participates in regular supervision.

·        Attend all mandatory training.

·        Participate annually identifying, developing and agreeing your own development plan with your Line Manager using the Trust Appraisal.

·        Comply with all Trust policies, procedures and protocols.

·        Carry out duties with due regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunity Policy.

·        Seek advice and support from Line Manager whenever necessary.

·        Maintain professional conduct always including appearance.

·        Ensure maintenance of Professional Registration.

Undertake all such reasonable other duties as may be required as part of the role.