STEP Pharmacist

Job overview

A structured post-foundation workplace-based training programme in a hospital setting, fully integrated with a post-graduate pharmacy practice qualification.

Successful candidates will be qualified pharmacists already registered with the GPhC. We are looking for pharmacists capable of adapting quickly to the demands of our rotational clinical commitments, 7-day working, residency on-call service and other operational duties including patient services and aseptics.

STEP pharmacists are currently enrolled onto the UCL JPB PG Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice. The programme has been successfully running for over twenty years.

Main duties of the job

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Dispensary services (where applicable)
• To follow procedures relating to good dispensing practice, and to maintain high standards and orderly methods of working.
• To be the Responsible Pharmacist.
• To comply with the formulary and dispensary policies.
• To dispense and check outpatients and inpatients scripts, including clinical trials and chemotherapy.
• To effectively clinically screen prescriptions and professionally resolve any problems or refer when appropriate.
• To effectively and efficiently counsel patients on the needs relating to their medicines.
• To deal with requests from members of staff and patients in a professional manner.
• To be aware of the overall dispensary workload, and by liaising with dispensary leads, to prioritise and effectively manage the workflow.
• To participate in dispensary audits and contribute to quality service assurance initiatives.
• To update dispensary protocols and standard operating procedures as required.
• Technical services (where applicable)
• To assist in the provision of a comprehensive preparative service to the Trust and external customers. This can include aseptic dispensing and manufacturing, TPN, CIVAS, clinical trial preparation, non-sterile and sterile manufacturing and QC / QA activities, according to the service at the base hospital. The post holder may work in the following areas on a rotational basis depending on base hospital working arrangements and rotas: aseptic services; the oncology suites or satellites; general manufacturing services (sterile and non-sterile production); quality assurance and control departments.
• To ensure that activities undertaken within the units meet current legislation such as GMP/GDP, GCP, Health and Safety, COSHH, and that all work is documented according to these procedures.
• To undertake when required preparation of all products following adequate training.
• To be aware of and follow standard operating procedures at all times.
• To be aware of and follow all quality assurance procedures and make the section manager aware of any deficiencies.
• To undertake, where relevant, clinical screening of prescriptions and to provide pharmaceutical advice on the use of medicines prepared during the rotation.
• To undertake the final check of dispensed and batch prepared products after appropriate training.
• Ward based pharmacy services
• To participate in the medicines management programme / clinical pharmacy services involving any of the following: ensuring accurate drug histories are taken and documented, patients own drug are reconciled, dispensing for discharge is facilitated, dispensing of medicines on the ward for patients to take home and communicate effectively with patients to improve adherence.
• To identify patients with complex pharmaceutical problems, propose solutions and refer these to more senior staff.
• To identify drug interactions, prioritise and take appropriate action (which may include referral to a more senior member of staff) to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines.
• To monitor patients’ responses to drug treatments for efficacy and toxicity, prioritise these and take appropriate action (which may include referral to a more senior member of staff) to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines.
• To identify errors on clerking including medication histories and allergies documentation, TTOs or on prescriptions initiated during the patient’s admission. Appropriately prioritise these and take best course of action (which may include referral to a more senior member of staff) to ensure patient safety.
• To identify deviations from guidelines, prioritise these and take appropriate action (which may include referral to a more senior member of staff).
• To complete all documentation according to Trust and departmental policies.
• To work effectively as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary and pharmacy environment, and maintain rapport with medical and other colleagues.
• To undertake clinical audit and drug use evaluations in the clinical areas assigned.
• To undertake peer review and workplace-based assessments to evaluate communication and decision-making skills, obtain feedback and amend practice where necessary.
• Out of hours pharmacy services
• To participate in the residency on-call pharmacists’ rota.
• To provide an out of hours pharmacy service to the base hospital(s), in accordance with local out of hours guidelines and policies.
• To participate in the 7-day service weekend and Bank holiday rotas of the base hospital.
• To undertake dispensing duties as required and to the appropriate standard.
• To answer medicines information and other queries as required. (This may include technical services if provided out of hours at the base site).
• To work within the limitations of one's own competence, referring more complex queries to appropriate pharmacists as required.
• To complete all documentation in line with department policy.
• Placements
• Each rotation will have specific criteria which will be available to the post holder when selecting the rotation.
• The post holder should consider these as part of their job description during the period of the placement.

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.