Band 6 - Rotational Pharmacist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Throughout all rotations the post-holder will contribute to the safe, clinically effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines to optimise patient care.  The responsibilities include:

·         To provide a high-quality ward based clinical pharmacy service according to the Trust agreed standards including:

§  Individual prescription review to optimise therapy

§  Medicines reconciliation

§  Advice on medication dosage, side-effects, cautions, and monitoring required

§  Advice on the administration of medicines

§  Appropriate and clear endorsing of prescriptions to ensure safe practice

§  Monitoring the effectiveness and appropriateness of medication

§  Reporting via Datix of any safety concerns/malpractice to encourage learning from incidents

§  Reporting of adverse drug reactions via the Yellow Card system

§  Education and counselling patients on their medication to enhance compliance and understanding

§  Involvement in discharge planning and provision of discharge medication

§  Active participation on ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings where possible

§  Undertaking medicines management responsibilities at ward level in line with CQC requirements

• Monitoring medicine use within the ward area. This includes recording of significant clinical interventions and risk management including:

·         Clinical audit programmes such as monthly ward management audits

·         Participation in investigating clinical incidents or partake in root cause investigations of hospital acquired infections

·         Recording significant clinical incidents/near misses

·         Ensuring compliance with medicines legislation and local policies

·         Promotion of high-quality, cost-effective prescribing and to challenge inappropriate prescribing

• Ensuring medicines are prescribed and used appropriately, safely, and cost-effectively in accordance with Trust policy, standard operating procedures, and medicines legislation
• Participation in ward-based clinical audits, quality improvement projects and the development and implementation of treatment protocols and guidelines for the use of medicines within clinical areas
• Developing their clinical pharmacy knowledge, skills, and experience to meet service standards and the needs of patients and healthcare staff

·         The ability to make evidence-based decisions, in partnership with patients and other professionals within specialties 

·         To support the control of medicines expenditure within their designated rotation via:

§  Monitoring drug use and expenditure

§  Supporting the implementation of the local formulary

§  Managing drug stock levels and avoiding drug wastage

§  Participating in any therapeutic switching alternatives

§  Ensuring correct documentation of high-cost drugs on pharmacy high cost drug database (PhRED)

§  Participating in any pharmacy/Trust wide cost improvement activities

·         To provide support and supervision to trainee pharmacists and undergraduate pharmacy students as part of their training programme

·         To provide ‘day to day’ clinical supervision of pharmacy technicians and trainee pharmacists working on the ward and in the dispensary environment

·         To act as a role model and provide advice and support on clinical pharmacy issues to trainee pharmacists

·         To undertake education and training to support professional development in line with the duties and responsibilities of the post

• To participate in the departmental training sessions and educational meetings and to study for a post-graduate diploma

·         To complete the rotational pharmacist training and performance appraisal manual in each rotation

• To educate prescribers, particularly junior medical staff, on cost-effective prescribing, safe use of medicines and clinical guidelines relating to the use of medicines
• To undertake and contribute to practice research and audit projects

·         To participate in the out of hours, weekend and bank holiday service including responsibility for the securing of the department.  Outside of working hours the on-call pharmacist is solely responsible for providing a pharmacy service to the hospital including advice on medicines and emergency supply

·         To participate in working rotas for late duties, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays

• The Pharmacy Services of the Royal Free London are constantly evolving to best meet the needs of patients and our healthcare colleagues and partners and this may lead to providing a full and comprehensive pharmaceutical support over 7 days a week
• To provide cover for pharmacist colleagues during their absence e.g., clinical pharmacy and dispensary cover, relevant to the post holder’s level of knowledge and skills, and other responsibilities

For further information on duties and responsibilities for each clinical rotation, please read the Job description attached.