The post involves a very significant clinical role with ward visits
and input to consultant ward rounds / team meetings, directorate support, as well as a substantial training and management element.
The post holder will also be required to support the provision of Medicines Information services which will include participation in enquiry answering, and patient helpline services, assist in training and supervising staff in Medicines Information, and contribute to the MI Quality Assurance processes.
Provision of clinical and operational leadership to delivering a high quality, responsive, safe and patient centred clinical pharmacy and medicines supply service to hospital wards and departments in accordance with Trust policies.
Developing and delivering pharmacy services and accountable for own
professional actions guided by local policies and procedures, and professional code of practice.
To provide specialist advice on pharmaceutical matters undertaking risk management and ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.
Medicines Management Service Provision including policy development,
review of SOPs and ensuring that implementation of patient safety initiatives e.g. drug alerts, patient safety alerts is timely and effective.
Implementation of robust clinical, corporate and staff governance systems to minimise risk and assure patient and staff safety and well being.
The post holder will assist and deputise for the Service Lead Pharmacist in the day to day management and direction of service provided by the
pharmacy team.
Responsible for setting objectives for the members of the pharmacy team, undertaking staff appraisal, establishing existing competencies and identifying future development needs and preparing personal development plans to ensure individuals are able to reach their full potential.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring departmental rotas for all sections are maintained to ensure adequate service delivery and performance.
Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.
We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.
We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.
We are ‘United in our Uniqueness’ and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.
Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications
Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.
Main duties and responsibilities - Mental Health Services
1. To abide by the relevant Codes of Professional Practice and NHS Codes of Conduct.
2. The post holder will be expected to lead, participate and develop clinical pharmacy service provision across a variety of mental health inpatient settings, including but not limited to Psychiatric Intensive Care Units, Acute Admissions, Dementia, Elderly and Learning Disabilities. They will be responsible for implementing and monitoring the Trust’s clinical pharmacy standards as well as ensuring the clinical service is of high quality and patient focused. They will identify gaps and problem areas in the service and use Service Clinical Lead Pharmacist Mental Health Services-director of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation
Deputy Director Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Mental Health Services Deputy Service Lead Pharmacist (Stafford) *this post Deputy Service Lead Pharmacist (Redwoods)
Clinical Pharmacists (B6/7) Foundation Year Trainee Pharmacist (Designated Supervisor) Chief Technician –Hospital Services Dispensary Manager (s)/ MI Lead technician Key: Line of accountability Line of communication Education Governance and
Research Lead Pharmacist appropriate methods including quality improvement and research to improve the service.
3. To comply with and be responsible for ensuring that policies, procedures and
standards are adhered to in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, for the safe, effective and economic use of medicines. To support the management and implementation of clinical governance, clinical risk and controls assurance for the services assigned to the post holder.
4. Provide subject matter expert advice on medicines issues (e.g. safe and
secure storage of medicines, unlicensed medicines) to the clinical pharmacy team, management and multidisciplinary teams; with the aim of optimising patient safety and outcomes from medicines. To support the provision of relevant medicines related information to Care Groups as required.
5. Development of a non-medical prescribing role if not already achieved
6. To develop, agree and monitor Pharmacy key performance indicators through the Service Clinical Lead Pharmacist.
7. Assist and undertake risk assessments as required, critical incident reviews of adverse events and near misses involving medicines for own service and on behalf of Pharmacy Services where relevant.
8. Provide clinical pharmacy input at ward level, to ensure the safe and
appropriate use of medicines in order to maximise benefit and minimise risk to patients.
9. To have oversight of safe, robust dispensary procedures in line with
legislation and professional code of practice.
10. Support the Medicines Safety Officer and Trust Risk and Patient Safety teams to reduce risk associated with medicines use by contributing to Pharmacy Governance and Trust Medicines Safety Group meetings. This will include identification and reporting of medicines related incidents. Supporting the management of medicines related incidents and fostering a culture of learning from them.
11. Promote the safe, effective and economic use of anti-microbial drugs within the hospital, To work in close liaison with the Infection prevention and Control Leads and Service Lead Pharmacist to assist in the achievement of short and long term objectives relating to optimal use of antimicrobials.
12. Provide analysis of medicines expenditure with clinical interpretation to improve the cost-effective use of medicines.
13. Develop systems to ensure that patients and their carers understand the purpose of their medication and are empowered to manage the practicalities of medication taking. E.g. self-administration schemes
14. Liaise with GPs, community pharmacy and other provider organisations where appropriate to ensure continuity of care for patients.
15. Support the optimisation and ongoing management of all clinical digital systems involving medicines. e.g. EPMA
16. To support the provision of relevant medicines related information to Care Groups as required. To support the Pharmacy Service Lead Pharmacist on the reporting of the Trust CQUINS.
17. To support the safe and effective use of Controlled Drugs across the Trust and to support the Accountable Officer in their statutory duties as required.
18. In conjunction with the Advanced Pharmacist –Clinical Trials, lead on the provision of an efficient, effective and safe clinical trials service in accordance with departmental and Trust standards across MH services.
19. Line manager of the Clinical Pharmacy Team for the defined portfolio of specialties including recruitment and appointment, induction, work allocation according to patient need and skill mix, sickness absence, annual leave, disciplinary and grievance.
20. To undertake performance reviews for the clinical pharmacists establishing existing competencies and future development needs and preparing personal development plans to ensure the individual is able to reach their full potential.
21. Promotes and encourages continuous professional and personal development of all staff, ensuring services are delivered by a competent and motivated workforce in line with all staff governance requirements.
22. Have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare for self and others and to comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety regulations, including COSHH.
23. To plan, develop, implement, participate in and evaluate training in clinical pharmacy for all grades of pharmacists e.g. undergraduates, Trainee Pharmacists/Technicians and qualified pharmacists and in collaboration with the departmental Education and Training Team.
24. To support the development of the future pharmacy workforce and ensure the availability of suitably qualified and competent staff to meet the requirements of the organization, in collaboration with the departmental Education and Training Team.
25. To undertake the role of the recognised tutor to support various educational initiatives including Designated Supervisor to Foundation Trainee Pharmacists.
27. Participate in the senior meetings across the Trust and wider health economy as required by the Service Clinical Lead Pharmacist.
28. To be responsible for data capture within the services, to support the
development of IT and communication systems in data capture throughout the Trust and inform business decisions.
29. Ensuring formulary compliance, whilst supporting the use of non-formulary preparations in the interest of an individual patient. Articulate formulary recommendations with prescribers across the Trust ensuring an awareness of the underpinning evidence in support of informed decision making.
30. Support the Service Clinical Lead Pharmacist with workforce planning and business continuity within the services, ensuring that there are adequate staff with the required skills to meet local service needs.
31. To provide ward cover for other clinical pharmacists and dispensary cover as needed; including provide cross cover for Pharmacists working in other areas of the Trust when required for annual leave and sickness where appropriate.
32. Leads and supports ongoing programme of audit, research investigation and improvement within the portfolio of the job in relation to quality, clinical safety, best value and service transformation.
33. To cover aspects of community service delivery where requested.
Main duties and responsibilities – Medicines Information Services
1. Provide medicines advice in line with governance arrangements for the Trust to a range of healthcare professionals and patients. This involves: Receiving and recording complex questions frequently related to patient care, clarifying the clinical problem to be addressed. Evaluating the information retrieved.
2. Set-up, monitor, quality assure and evaluate the Medicines Information Service to ensure that a safe and effective level of service is provided, within the allocated resources, and in line with agreed local and national MI and legal standards.
3. Maintain the medicines information database to enable the collection, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information to take full advantage of information technology in accordance with national UK Medicine Information (UKMI) Pharmacists Standards and legal standards.
4. Ensure all medicines information enquiries are documented on the database to national standards. Participate and support UKMi network meetings or relevant.
national working groups during the year which focus on professional
development, networking, support and education.
5. Lead and deliver appropriate training to Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Trainees, and others in MI activities.
6. Identify areas of MI service provision that require audit, evaluation, research and development to demonstrate its impact and value.
