Lead Pharmacist Palliative Care

Job overview

Lead Pharmacist Palliative Care - Band 8a

North Bristol NHS trust has a one-year fixed term contact for a part-time band 8a pharmacist to lead on the palliative care services at the Trust and St. Peter’s hospice. Based on the service level agreement the post holder will work 3 days a week providing a clinical pharmacy service to both the local hospice and the trust. A rotational band 7 pharmacist provides a clinical service to the hospice on the remaining days.

We are looking for someone with the appropriate skills to lead, manage and develop the existing palliative care service. You will also be required to provide expert pharmaceutical advice and guidance in palliative care to both the trust and St. Peter’s hospice.

St Peter's Hospice is a local charity that provides care and support to adults who are living with a progressive life-limiting illness in the Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset area. The inpatient unit has specialist Consultant led and Nurse led beds which provide holistic care for both symptom management and end of life care. Whilst at the Hospice this role will be based in the inpatient unit working closely with the Medical Director and Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) and Inpatient Unit (IPU) team.

We are a large pharmacy department with over 80 pharmacists including many Specialist posts.

To understand more about working in Pharmacy at NBT, click here to watch our video.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for the provision, management, and development of a highly specialist pharmaceutical Palliative Care Pharmacy Service to St. Peter’s Hospice and NBT patients to achieve a high standard of efficiency and effectiveness.

To act as a mentor for pharmacists undergoing postgraduate education to facilitate learning and professional development, assess the tutees and provide feedback on progress.

To contribute to the process of departmental quality improvement and/or re-engineering initiatives to optimise the efficiency of delivering pharmaceutical care.

To proactively develop clinical pharmacy services in line with local and national objectives.

Attend board and consultant ward rounds to provide pharmaceutical expertise.

Provide pharmaceutical expertise to any multidisciplinary working groups considering protocols, policies, and guidelines in the specialist area.

To lead on the review and development of clinical guidelines and protocols within specialist palliative care, to promote the safe, clinically effective, and cost-effective use of medicines.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Contribute to the training of pharmacy undergraduates, medical students, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and medical and nursing staff as appropriate. Train and mentor clinical pharmacy diploma students on aspects of specialist area.

Supervises medicines management technicians and/or other dedicated pharmacy staff.

Keep up to date with developments in pharmacy to maintain a high level of professional knowledge and competence.  Attend study days and courses as necessary for the development of the service and the individual.  Maintain appropriate records of CPD in line with GPhC revalidation requirements.

Contribute to the overall development of the clinical pharmacy service through active participation in clinical team meetings. Work closely with all members of the pharmacy department and other healthcare professionals.

Practice as an independent prescriber and maintain competence to do so.

Please see job description for more details.