Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term)
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 358-7526868-CSI
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum / pro rota for part time hours
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 01/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Formulary Pharmacist - Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic pharmacist to act as formulary pharmacist for University Hospitals of Leicester and the wider Leicestershire and Rutland community for a fixed term of 12 months as maternity cover.
Leicestershire has a well-established joint formulary across primary and secondary care.
Your roles will be to:
- develop, implement, maintain and monitor core formulary and effective prescribing policies in and between primary and secondary care health sectors in Leicestershire
- advise on choice of agents based on sound evidence
- produce evidence-based evaluations of new drugs for consideration by the UHL Therapeutic Advisory Service (TAS) and other committees
- work with others to promote rational drug prescribing in the Leicestershire community. This may involve gaining consensus and challenging current practice in relation to highly complex drug issues.
This is a highly specialised post, which requires ability to analyse and assess complex clinical situations and to provide advice on medicines in areas where information may be lacking and professional opinions may differ. Specialist clinical knowledge, good influencing and negotiating skills and the ability to work alone and as part of a team are essential.
The post is based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary in a busy medicines information center. The department is progressive and innovative and has recognized national service responsibilities..
Main duties of the job
To develop, implement and maintain the core medicines formulary in and between primary and secondary care health sectors in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR)
To produce evidence-based evaluations of new drugs for consideration by the Therapeutic Advisory Service
To work with others to promote rational drug prescribing in Leicestershire to encourage safe, appropriate and economic prescribing for patients
To contribute to pharmaceutical aspects of medicines management across LLR especially relating to clinical governance and the priorities of the Integrated Care System (ICS).
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To coordinate production, maintenance and development of the Leicestershire Medicines Formulary (LMF), ensuring it is up to date, and to optimise effective and rational prescribing across the LLR Health Care Community:
- Adopt an evidence based approach to the selection of drugs and relevant information for inclusion in the LMF to maximise its quality, uptake and effectiveness
- Advise on choice of agents based on sound evidence
- Ensure the LMF reflects NICE NHS England guidance and the guidance of other national bodies where appropriate.
- Work with clinicians and pharmacists across the LLR community to ensure applicability to UHL / LPT and primary care. This may involve gaining consensus and challenging current practice in relation to highly complex drug issues.
- Maintain the LMF on Netformulary and resolve any issues with the website. Consider how Netformulary or other technologies could be developed further to support the use of the formulary within the LLR healthcare community.
- Work with the LLR Interface pharmacist to ensure the LLR APC website and the LMF are complementary.
- Act as professional secretary to the UHL Formulary Working Party
- Monitor response to the LMF and problems arising from its use to ensure its utility.
- Plans, undertakes and supervise audits of formulary implementation
- Develop, integrate and monitor a process and tools to minimise non- formulary drug use and monitor such usage. Ensure UHL pharmacy staff and external provider have systems in place and awareness of the formulary
- Publicise the LMF
- Where/when required, contribute to the development of medicines guidelines which have an impact on primary and secondary care, in respect to the impact on the LMF.
Managed introduction of new drugs into UHL
Support the introduction of new drugs into UHL and the wider LLR Health community by evaluating complex evidence to produce evidence based evaluations for consideration by the Therapeutic Advisory Service (TAS). Present the evaluations to TAS and take part in discussions around the drug. Scope of drug reviews should include, but not limited to
- Evidence for clinical efficacy and safety
- Assessment of cost-effectiveness
- Analysis of where the agent fits into therapy
Support the implementation of NICE TAs in to the LLR health community, and ensure LMF reflects the most up to date advice.
Provide Medicines Information input including drug evaluations for new drugs for the use in mental health to the Leicestershire Partnership Trust Prescribing Group.
Work with the Interface pharmacist to provide formulary support for LLR APC. Collaborate with Heads of Prescribing and medicines optimisation pharmacists in LLR ICB to provide appropriate formulary advice to prescribers and prescribing policy and guideline development
- Provide on-going information and advice on all issues relating to cost effective use of existing and forthcoming drugs
· Medicines Information representative at LLR APC meetings when required
· Medicines Information representative at antimicrobial working party meetings when required
Assist in providing medicines information input into the purchasing of pharmaceuticals for Leicestershire hospitals
Advise on the implementation of the LMF into the clinical decision support components of pharmacy computer system (currently CMM) and EPMA (currently NerveCentre)
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Masters degree (or equivalent) in pharmacy
- Pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Post graduate Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy/ Pharmacy practice or equivalent clinical experience
- Evidence of post registration commitment to continuing professional development
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant recent post-registration experience of clinical pharmacy and evidence-based medicine, gained through a range of posts
- Project management experience
- Multidisciplinary working experience
- Clinical pharmacy experience
- Evidence based medicine reviews experience
- Experience of Supervising others
- Audit work
Desirable criteria
- Working with prescribing data
- Supervision / Line management
- Working in both secondary care and primary care
- Training and education of both staff and other healthcare professionals
Communication
Essential criteria
- Able to critically analyse highly complex information and evidence and communicate the findings clearly
- Ability to communicate and reach consensus with senior clinicians at a peer level
- Report writing and presentation
- Excellent written / oral communication
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of healthcare professionals
Desirable criteria
- Managing a professional Website
- Experience in Medicines Information
Skills
Essential criteria
- Can demonstrate a disciplined approach to setting and achieving objectives
- Ability to plan and prioritise work with good organisational and time management skills
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential criteria
- Critical appraisal and evaluation skills
- Problem solving
- Ability to exercise professional judgement based on limited published evidence
- Production and interpretation of drug usage reports
- Good level of computer literacy
- Able to deliver key messages succinctly and professionally both verbally and in writing
- Can identify and manage risks and evaluate quality of own work / service
Desirable criteria
- Able to use and analyse epact.net data
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential criteria
- Awareness of national issues
- Professional credibility, accountability, responsibility and confidence
- High degree of self-motivation and ability to work on own initiative
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Adrian Nicholson
- Job title
- TAS secretary and Commissioning Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0116 258 5188
- Additional information
Vanessa Chapman
Head of Midlands Medicines Advice Service and UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service
0116 2586491
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