Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1.   To provide a specialized paediatric clinical pharmacy service to patients referred to the dermatology service in accordance with professional, departmental & Trust policies. This will include:-

·      Taking drug histories on admission

·      Reviewing medication to ensure safe & effective use

·      Formulating individual pharmaceutical care plans & reviewing & updating these plans based on response, results of investigations and adverse effects.

·      Providing advice on therapeutic drug level monitoring of specific drugs and interpreting drug levels based on clinical condition and response

·      Educating patients & carers on aspects of drug therapy

·      Participating & providing advice at multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds

·      Facilitating implementation of local & national drug therapy guidelines

·      Providing advice on drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, drug administration and formulation

·      Documenting clinical information in patient notes when appropriate

·      Providing clinical advice on multidisciplinary ward rounds or team meetings

·      Identifying & reporting adverse reactions to the prescriber and where necessary via the Yellow Card Scheme

·      To provide advice on drug administration and formulation

2. To provide expert paediatric pharmaceutical information and advice to medical, nursing and other staff within the Trust. This may be in areas where there is little information and experienced clinical judgement needs to be exercised.
3. To work in accordance with the Code of Ethics, Medicines Act and local policies &  procedures, applying specialist professional judgement where required.
4. To be responsible for the development of relevant drug related policies or guidelines.
5. To provide expert advice when submitting new drug requests to the Medicines Management and Optimisation Committee (MMOC) or Clinical Development and Evaluation Committee (CDEG).
6. To review prescribing trends and give advise on the cost effective use of drugs within medical specialities teams
7. To develop pharmacist prescribing within the service
8. Provide support around commissioning processes and implementation of Blueteq for relevant specialist medicines
9. To write relevant clinical guidelines for the dermatology team

ADVANCED PHARMACIST PRACTITIONER duties included within role (following successful training and accreditation)

1. Run clinics in dermatology service under supervision of consultant
   1. Assessment, examination and formulation of management plan
   2. Follow-up and ongoing care of inpatients/outpatients referred to medical specialities team
   3. Independent prescribing
   4. Referral to other colleagues/departments
   5. Administration of medicines (excluding IV medicines) within competency

R & D RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To participate in relevant research projects and clinical trials.
2. To undertake clinical audit or practice research projects
3. To supervise undergraduate, pre-registration or diploma student projects if required

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

1. To perform regular ward based training and assessment of clinical pharmacists using local or nationally recognized competency frameworks
2. To provide training in safe and effective use of medicines for nursing and medical staff
3. To tutor junior pharmacists undertaking a post-graduate diploma or pre-registration students.
4. To participate in Continuing Professional Development as per national guidance from the General Pharmaceutical Council.
5. To provide education for parents and patients on safe use of medicines when required.
6. To provide support and guidance to pharmacy technicians working on inpatient wards

COMMUNICATION

1. To contribute specialized clinical advice at multidisciplinary team meetings or consultant ward rounds
2. To communicate complex drug related information to patients and carers on the safe and effective use of their medicines.
3. To ensure effective liaison with GPs and community pharmacists to promote seamless patient discharge in relation to their pharmaceutical care needs.
4. To attend and contribute to relevant meetings within the service.
5. To develop effective communication about medicine related issues with the Divisional  lead nurses and ward managers regarding medicines in use by specialty teams

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

1. To work in accordance with procedures to ensure that medicine supply is safe, efficient and in accordance with current legislation and local guidelines.
2. To ensure that any medicine related risks are identified and propose methods of minimizing error within the service

GENERAL

1. To participate in the on call rota if required. This will include provision of paediatric medicines advice to all areas of the Trust if required and dispensing of medicines. It could also include providing clinical advice to other hospitals if required and responding to drug alerts.
2. To participate in flexible working hours between the hours of 8am & 6pm.
3. To provide clinical pharmacy services to critical care or the dispensary at weekends