Lead Pharmacist, High Cost Drugs and Homecare

Job overview

The Lead Pharmacist – High Cost Drugs and Homecare (12 months maternity cover) will play a pivotal role in strategically leading our high cost drug and homecare services whilst the current post holder is on maternity leave.

This is a highly important role for the Trust in ensuring the cost effective provision of high cost drugs and providing assurance on the performance, governance and safety of our external medicine homecare services.

Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, and system partners across Coventry and Warwickshire, the postholder will ensure safe, effective and patient-centred medicines optimisation whilst maintaining the cost-effective use of high cost drugs. The role supports service transformation, medicines governance and the safe transfer of care between acute,  and private and primary care settings, while contributing to strategic development aligned with Trust priorities and integrated care system objectives.

This role requires strong clinical leadership, advanced knowledge of high cost drugs and homecare and the ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries to improve patient outcomes, financial efficiencies and deliver innovative pharmacy services.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

The Lead Pharmacist for High Cost Drugs and Homecare will provide strategic and clinical leadership for pharmacy services in relation to the provision of high cost drugs and homecare services across UHCW.

This will include both strategic and operational oversight of the High Cost Drugs team which comprises of Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Admin Staff.

The postholder will lead on providing assurance that the provision of homecare services by UHCW are safe, effective and cost effective.

The postholder will be responsible for timely introduction, management and reporting on all high cost drug usage across UHCW. This includes engagement and onboarding with clinical teams, associated committees, finance colleagues and associated commissioners.

Working collaboratively with senior clinical and operational leaders, and in partnership with external system colleagues (both regional and national) the postholder will drive service transformation and improvement aligned to Trust priorities and UHCWi principles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide oversight strategic and clinical leadership for pharmacy services across high cost Drugs and Homecare services, ensuring delivery of safe, effective and responsive medicines optimisation services.
• Lead the development, delivery and continuous improvement of pharmacy input into commissioning work streams, the access to high cost drugs and associate financial streams.
• Act as the lead specialist pharmacist and expert for medicines optimisation queries relating to high cost drugs and the provision of homecare services across UHCW, provide expert clinical advice to multidisciplinary teams in complex, high-risk or clinically uncertain situations.
• To lead with decisiveness within a niche area to provide assurance and timely resolution to clinical, operational and team matters.
• Provide leadership to ensure safe, timely and effective medicines optimisation, clinical screening and medicines optimisation for patients supported through high cost drugs and homecare, including robust processes to reduce medicines-related harm.
• Work collaboratively with the Principal Pharmacy Technician – Medicines Value and system partners to strengthen medicines-related transfer of care and continuity of treatment between acute, and primary care settings, ensuring clear communication of medicines plans and risk information.
• Provide leadership for medicines safety and governance across High Cost Drugs and Homecare, including review of incidents, audit findings, complaints and risk issues, ensuring learning is implemented and embedded into practice.
• Support safe, secure and effective medicines processes within homecare service, including appropriate governance of controlled drugs if required and escalation of concerns in line with Trust policy and legal requirements.
• Lead and contribute to the development, review and implementation of medicines guidelines, protocols, pathways and standard operating procedures relevant to high cost drugs and homecare, ensuring compliance with legal, professional and Trust governance requirements.
• Work with digital, information and operational colleagues to ensure systems support safe and efficient medicines use across high cost drugs and homecare services, including access to accurate medicines information and appropriate clinical decision support.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates – If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.