Senior Pharmacist Team Leader (Elderly Care and Rehabilitation)

Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced pharmacist to join our team as a Senior Pharmacist Team Leader for the Care of the Elderly and Rehabilitation services.

The Senior Pharmacist Team Leader is a key clinical role within the Trust's pharmacy service, working closely with the Principal Pharmacist to manage pharmacy provisions. The post holder will deliver high-quality, patient-focused clinical pharmacy services for older adults across inpatient care and lead the medicines optimisation agenda to medical elderly care, frailty and rehabilitation departments.

This Pharmacy Department provides a reliable, quality and patient centred service with empathy, enthusiasm and commitment. It prides itself in being forward thinking and keeping pace with changes in medicines optimisation and technology. We are well respected throughout the hospital and have a close working relationship with the clinical teams. We have a high level of commitment to staff development and actively encourage all staff to share their expertise to enhance the performance of the department."

Main duties of the job

• Ensuring compliance with medicines legislation, policies and procedures by themselves and team members.
• Ensuring a safe, legal and timely supply of medication to patients.
• Working independently and liaising closely with Senior Pharmacists, Principal Pharmacists, the Head of Pharmacy and Chief Pharmacy Technicians.
• Being responsible for the day-to-day planning and provision of clinical pharmacy and medicines management services within their directorate and ensuring the timely delivery of services in line with key performance indicators.
• Positively influencing cost effective prescribing
• Assisting in the development of clinical guidelines, protocols and Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
• Providing professional and managerial support to Principal Pharmacists when required.
• Acting as the first point of contact for clinical practitioners and support staff on matters relating to medicines management.
• Being professionally accountable for their own practice and that of others within their field of practice.
• Providing effective leadership to divisional staff and across the pharmacy team.
• Facilitating the safe discharge of all patients by ensuring the timely transfer of medicines information to those responsible for ongoing medication and care provision. The post holder will also be responsible for further developing processes and procedures to support the Trust's ongoing contribution to the Discharge Medicines Service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional

To manage and provide a clinically orientated pharmacy service to healthcare professionals and patients with complex medical and pharmaceutical needs. This will involve:

• critically evaluating and interpreting patient information (prescription charts, patient notes, observation charts, laboratory results and medicines) to ensure that prescribed treatment is safe, effective and appropriate for the patient
• proactively suggesting evidence-based improvements to drug therapy and management of patients to consultants and senior medical staff, anticipating a positive outcome for the patient
• providing evaluated information to consultants, senior medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacists and other health care professionals, making recommendations where opinions differ and information is lacking
• counselling patients, relatives and carers about medication, checking their understanding of information and being mindful of physical and language barriers

To dispense/supply medicines safely and legally for all patients.

To manage the pharmaceutical care needs of patients at admission through to discharge using the staff in the team.

To respond appropriately to requests for information on medicines from patients and/or their representatives to promote understanding of medicines to ensure compliance and concordance.

To be responsible for the proposal, preparation and maintenance of written policies and procedures relating to pharmacy matters within the Division.

To be responsible for ensuring regular stock list reviews in liaison with the ward or department managers/lead nurses and appropriate pharmacy staff.

To ensure that a record of all interventions/contributions to care is maintained and audited at intervals as specified by the Principal Pharmacist.

To attend relevant external peer group networks and report back appropriately.

To act as an Independent Prescriber, when applicable to patients’ care in accordance with the Trust’s Non-Medical Prescribing policy.

Managerial

To plan and prioritise personal work and work of a designated team to meet agreed deadlines for completion of duties.

To monitor and maintain performance of pharmacy staff and the efficiency of the service/team against standards and key performance indicators.

To provide explanation of variations in drug expenditure and to assist in monitoring expenditure and financial planning.

To investigate untoward drug incidents and complaints, action any corrective procedures necessary and report back via governance structures as appropriate.

To apply Risk Management principles to the practice of Pharmacy, support the department’s Risk Management strategy and actively manage risk relating to medicines in the Division.

Service provision

To have an overview of all aspects of the service provided by the department to ensure continuity of care and maintenance of professional standards.

To ensure that all activities undertaken contribute wherever possible, to an accurate patient record, electronic or paper.

To participate in clinical trials, research and audit where appropriate.

To actively contribute to multidisciplinary meetings and ward rounds in consultation with the Principal Pharmacists.

To deputise for the Principal Pharmacists and cover the absence of other Senior Pharmacists when required.

To liaise with other senior Pharmacy staff in promoting the efficient use of staff.

To participate in the Emergency Duty Commitment.

To participate in extended hours/flexible working as required by the service, including 7-day service requirements.

To carry out any other duties as reasonably assigned by the Head of Pharmacy.

Staff Development

Provide effective leadership to all staff and contribute to their leadership development.

To provide supervision and in-service training for all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff.

To participate in the formal service needs training for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and other pharmacy staff in the capacity of tutor or mentor.

To be responsible for the training of rotational pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff in the performance of their duties.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.