Senior Clinical Pharmacist -Dedicated Ward Role

Job overview

Are you a clinical pharmacist looking to embed yourself into the multi-disciplinary team, to influence prescribing at the point of decision making, and make a real difference to patient care by optimising medicines? As part of a major investment in clinical pharmacy services we are looking for ambitious and dynamic pharmacists to join the "dedicated ward" pharmacist (DWP) team at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Working predominantly on a single ward, you will build strong relationships across the multi-disciplinary team and will lead the prescribing of medicines during ward rounds and at discharge. The role will enable you to develop your clinical, leadership and management skills to the highest level. The DWP program works across a range of medical and surgical wards to provide broad clinical experience.

Good communication, time management and analytical skills will be required and the ability to work effectively and communicate within a team.  You will also contribute to the provision of weekend pharmacy services, again working at ward level.

Main duties of the job

Provide dedicated ward pharmacy (DWP) services to a given ward or provide backfill across a range of medical and surgical specialties. DWPs key performance areas include: supporting ward rounds to influence clinical and cost effective prescribing; managing the process of discharge prescribing improve patient flow and ensuring optimal safe transfer of care around medicines. You will also be supported by an innovative group of medicines management technicians.

There are also opportunities to undertake clinical supervision and mentoring, service evaluations and audits to develop your skills and aid your career progression.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job purpose

• The post holder will be responsible for providing clinical pharmacy services to patients
• They will oversee the use of medicines in terms of safety, efficacy, efficiency and economy
• To identify and address medicines governance issues that arise from clinical service delivery

Key Result Areas

These are the key areas that support the purpose of the job:

• To provide clinical pharmacy services to a named ward prioritising discharge, medicines optimisation and clinical economy.
• Discharge: Take a proactive approach to the management  of ward discharges, to include prescribing of discharge medicines in line with local guidance Work collaboratively with medical and nursing teams and Trust Operations Team to facilitate and expedite discharge Ensure high quality patient counselling is delivered by the MDT during admission and at discharge Support communication to GPs , community pharmacy and other primary care services
• Take a proactive approach to the management  of ward discharges, to include prescribing of discharge medicines in line with local guidance
• Work collaboratively with medical and nursing teams and Trust Operations Team to facilitate and expedite discharge
• Ensure high quality patient counselling is delivered by the MDT during admission and at discharge
• Support communication to GPs , community pharmacy and other primary care services
• Medicines optimisation:

• Undertake medicine optimisation activities in line with clinical specialty Provide clinical pharmacy support to consultant ward rounds, MDT meetings and ward operational meetings Work with prescribers and nursing teams to ensure high standards of medicines use including development and review of relevant guidelines Review  & investigate medicines incidents and liaise with the ward team to adopt changes in practice where necessary
• Undertake medicine optimisation activities in line with clinical specialty
• Provide clinical pharmacy support to consultant ward rounds, MDT meetings and ward operational meetings
• Work with prescribers and nursing teams to ensure high standards of medicines use including development and review of relevant guidelines
• Review  & investigate medicines incidents and liaise with the ward team to adopt changes in practice where necessary

• Take a lead role in  managing ward based medicines expenditure, to include:

• Ensuring multidisciplinary ward team take a thorough approach to  obtaining patients own medicines from home Ensure the ordering and  supply of medicines receives appropriate scrutiny Provide  and present reports to the MDT , ward team and pharmacy in relation to medicines expenditure Contribute to the pharmacy clinical economy group agenda
• Ensuring multidisciplinary ward team take a thorough approach to  obtaining patients own medicines from home
• Ensure the ordering and  supply of medicines receives appropriate scrutiny
• Provide  and present reports to the MDT , ward team and pharmacy in relation to medicines expenditure
• Contribute to the pharmacy clinical economy group agenda

• To undertake  independent  prescribing practice  to  patients within the specialty  in accordance with agreed objectives / guidelines
• To contribute to the delivery and development of clinical pharmacy services across the Trust
• Actively participate within the multi-disciplinary and clinical pharmacy team
• To act as a source of expert advice on prescribing and medicines optimisation to medical and nursing staff within a defined clinical area
• To provide supervision, training and tuition  of pre-registration students and pharmacists, including tutoring for the MSc/Diploma in clinical pharmacy.
• To participate in clinical audit and other initiatives aimed at assuring high quality prescribing and pharmacy practice, within the context of Quality  Governance
• To provide training and education to other healthcare professionals.
• To provide professional supervision to technical and supporting staff and to undertake  the role of Responsible Pharmacist when required