Pharmacist (Band 6)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
1.    Provide professional and legal clinical supervision in the dispensary as allocated: 
For example this may include:
•    Clinical and legal verification of prescriptions
•    Labelling and dispensing 
•    Dealing with general and clinical enquiries 
•    Accuracy checking of prescriptions
•    Complying with the legal and other requirements relating to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and distribution of drugs within pharmacy and within all other areas of the Trust

2.    Provide a clinical service to the wards and departments in accordance with professional, departmental and Trust policies.

For example this may include:
•    Taking drug histories on admission as part of medicines reconciliation.
•    Screening of patients on admission for pharmaceutical care issues and formulation of care plans where pharmaceutical care issues are identified
•    Review medication to ensure safe and effective use
•    Formulation of individual pharmaceutical care plans
•    Reviewing and updating care plans depending on response, results of investigations and adverse effects
•    Therapeutic drug monitoring for specific drugs
•    Educating patients about their drug therapy
•    Monitoring and promoting economical drug usage
•    Recording clinical activities and interventions in line with departmental policy
•    Liaising with health care professionals in primary care

3.    Participate in the Pharmacy-led outpatient warfarin clinics. 

4.    Participate in on-call, weekend and bank holiday rotas.
  
5.    Participate in the provision of Technical and Aseptic services to the Trust, in accordance with the recommendations contained in the Guide to Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practice and its supplements and in accordance with licences. 

For example this may include:

•    Undertaking training to be able to check the setup, manufacture and final release of non-sterile and aseptically dispensed items, including cytotoxics.
•    Acquiring an understanding of the Quality Assurance principles underpinning the safe and effective preparation of aseptically dispensed medicines.
•    Becoming proficient and confident in the monitoring, calculation and provision of both adult parenteral nutrition. 
      
6.    Help in the distribution of medicines to patients, wards and departments and to assist in maintaining systems for the control of drugs in accordance with current legislation. 

7.    Safety – Be aware and operate within the current Health and Safety legislation, including COSHH and the department’s safety policies and ensure safe working practices within the area of work.   Adhere to high standards of safety in carrying out duties within the department and the wards, including attendance at mandatory training.

8.    Give a commitment to lifelong learning and contribute to the maintenance of a personal development portfolio in accordance with Trust and professional requirements.  Undertake Continuing Professional Development to keep relevant pharmaceutical clinical and technical knowledge up to date.

9.    Participate in pharmacy practice research, quality and/or clinical audit projects undertaken by the pharmacy department.

10.    Participate in the department and Trust medication error reporting systems.

11.    Take responsibility for maintaining the security of the department.

12.    Support the Trust equality and diversity policy. This may include counselling on complex medication regimens, dealing with language barriers and dexterity difficulties.

13.    Comply with the Trust infection control policies.

14.    Provide a professional and courteous service to all staff and patients using the pharmacy service.  This may include those who are angry, confused or distressed.

15.    It is incumbent on the post holder to continually update his or her professional and/or managerial awareness and carry out other duties deemed appropriate to the grade of the post.

16.    Maintain close working links with other members of the pharmacy staff to ensure the smooth running of the service

17.    Comply with the Professional code of ethics, data protection act, policies relating to confidentiality and other departmental and Trust policies.

18.     Provide pharmacy services to external customers, this may include, mental health Trusts and hospices.

19.    Comply with the Trusts policies and local procedures relating to Safeguarding Children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults

20.    Manoeuvre light goods and equipment in accordance with manual handling regulations and good practice

21.    Maintain and process all information concerning patients, staff, contractors or the business of the Trust to which the post holder has access, without divulging such information to any third party or make use of information gained in the course of employment, except where this is clearly within the remit of the post holder and the other party’s responsibility.

22.    Weekends / Bank Holidays / working hours in line with service needs.

23.    Ensure that the safety of the patient and their experience remains the focus of pharmacy services provided in line with the Trust’s “Right Care” programme

24.    Comply with Good Distribution Practice to ensure that medicines are procured, stored, handled and transported under the required conditions

In pursuing these duties, the post holder will ensure compliance with the NHS Constitution and be familiar with the NHS England Guidance ‘Understanding the new NHS’ (details of which can be found in the links section of NHS Jobs).

Professional Registration/Codes of Conduct
Be aware of and comply with the relevant codes of conduct and practice set up by your professional regulatory body and maintain up to date professional registration appropriate to the post. Any breach of these codes may lead to action by the Trust independent of any taken by the regulatory or professional body. 

Safeguarding Children & Adults
Understand and work within policies and local procedures relating to Safeguarding Children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults.   

Health & Safety
You are required to: co-operate with supervisors, managers and other employees to achieve a healthy and safe environment, to take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by your actions, to carry out your responsibilities in ways that help to ensure a safe and healthy place of work.

In the course of your work you are to bring to the attention of your supervisor or manager:
•    Any situation which reasonably could be considered to represent a serious or immediate danger to the health and safety of any person.

•    Any matter which reasonably could be considered to represent a shortcoming in the Trust’s health and safety protection arrangements.