Description
We are recruiting two Band 8a Lead Clinical Pharmacists to join the pharmacy department at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. These senior clinical roles offer the opportunity to lead pharmacy services and improve the safe, effective and person-centred use of medicines.
The post holders will be based mainly at Bethlem Royal Hospital and will take professional responsibility for an agreed portfolio, which may include inpatient wards, specialist services and dispensary services. They may also support Croydon community mental health teams and work at other Trust sites when service need requires.
The roles are full-time, 37.5 hours a week. We are happy to discuss flexible working at interview, subject to service requirements. Regular professional supervision and opportunities for teaching, quality improvement, research, publication and service innovation are available.
Main duties of the job
- Lead and maintain a high-quality clinical pharmacy service for allocated wards or specialist services, working as part of the multidisciplinary team and providing evidence-based advice on complex medicines-related issues.
- Support patients and carers to take part in informed decisions about treatment.
- Lead medicines optimisation, medicines safety, audit, quality improvement and service evaluation.
- Manage, supervise and develop pharmacists and other pharmacy staff as allocated.
- Deliver medicines-related education, and contribute to policies and procedures.
Responsibilities
- Clinical pharmacy and patient care:
+ Lead and maintain clinical pharmacy services for allocated wards, teams or specialist services in line with local and national priorities. + Maintain high standards of practice and implement the Trust's medicines optimisation programme, medicines safety priorities, clinical guidelines and agreed procedures. + Apply advanced clinical knowledge and a person-centred approach, keeping patients' needs and preferences central to the service. + Provide specialist medicines information and evidence-based advice to patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
- Leadership and supervision:
+ Provide clinical and operational leadership for allocated services and manage, supervise and develop pharmacy staff as agreed. + Support pharmacists and other staff with clinical decision-making, recognising when further advice or escalation is required.
- Education and training:
+ Identify learning needs and coordinate medicines-related training and support for patients, carers, healthcare professionals and other staff. + Provide education and training to pharmacy, medical, nursing, occupational therapy and other allied healthcare staff.
- Quality improvement, audit and research:
+ Lead quality improvement and service evaluation initiatives, including the collection, analysis and reporting of patient and service outcome data. + Implement and audit policies and guidelines as directed by the relevant Principal Pharmacist or clinical lead.
- Communication and working relationships:
+ Work as an integral member of multidisciplinary teams and maintain effective relationships with pharmacy colleagues, primary care, acute hospitals, community pharmacies and partner organisations. + Communicate promptly, openly and inclusively, encouraging colleagues to share ideas and keeping relevant people informed of issues affecting the service.
Requirements
- MPharm or equivalent
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), with mandatory CPD
- Postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy practice or equivalent
- Relevant experience of providing specialist clinical pharmacy services in mental health in an NHS hospital, community or equivalent setting
- Experience of participating in audit, including developing audit tools and collecting and collating data
- Experience of teaching or delivering training
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, the public and colleagues at all levels