Job overview

To provide a comprehensive and efficient pharmaceutical service, in accordance with the required standards of quality and professional practice, to meet the needs of the users.

To provide high quality pharmaceutical care to patients and their carers

To promote evidence based and cost effective medicines use, effective risk management, clinical governance and adherence to policies, procedures and guidelines related to medicines use

Main duties of the job

1.    MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST:

1. To provide a comprehensive pharmaceutical service, working towards expert level knowledge during 6-monthly rotations.  Rotations include:

• Medical (including Care of Older People/ stroke, gastroenterology, respiratory and cardiology)
• Surgical (including general surgery and orthopaedics)
• Critical Care, including adult TPN
• Cancer Services
• Women and Children’s Services, including paediatric and neonatal TPN
• Patient Services

To further develop managerial skills and expertise by working to objectives agreed with the rotation leads and the Deputy Chief Pharmacist. To liaise closely with the lead pharmacists for each rotation to contribute to the maintenance and development of evidence based treatment guidelines/shared care protocols/patient group directions (PGDs), where appropriate, for the division and contribute to Pharmacy / Trust policies as required. To work in liaison with the pharmacy leads for each area to ensure changes to practice meet required standards and are applied Trust-wide. To deputise for the rotation leads, as necessary. To monitor the service to the rotational area, working with the pharmacy leads for that area to initiate improvements or changes as required. To report and investigate errors, complaints and incidents in line with Trust and departmental procedure. To facilitate the sharing of learning from errors, complaints and incidents To undertake risk assessments and manage and report risk as required. To produce rotas for dispensary, ward cover and locking up. To undertake dispensing/checking of prescriptions for patients using the Pharmacy and Trust Computer Systems and in accordance with departmental policies and procedures To participate in the ward/clinical pharmacy service to wards to monitor prescriptions. To participate in consultant wards rounds, providing expert pharmaceutical advice To undertake medicines reconciliation for each patient on admission to ensure prescribed medications are appropriate as early as possible in their stay.

To clinically supervise both trainee pharmacists and Band 6 pharmacists.

Please click on job description for further information. 

Working for our organisation

Equal Opportunities

The Trust affords its employees equal opportunities in employment, training and development irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, marital/parental status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, hours of work, political beliefs, TU membership or age.

The Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy and all employees are expected to be aware of, and adhere to the provisions of this policy and to carry out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with this policy.

Conflict of Interest

The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the services for patients in its care meet the highest standards.  Equally, it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse their official position to gain or benefit themselves, their family or friends.

Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information

In the course of your normal employment you may come into the possession of confidential information relating to patients, staff and the Trusts business and commercial information.  All employees have a responsibility to ensure the security of information and to comply with the Data Protection Acts, Access to Health Records and Computer Misuse Act.  Disclose of medical, commercial or personal information, systems passwords or other confidential information to any unauthorised person or persons will be considered at gross misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal.

Health and Safety

The Trust operates a Health and Safety policy applicable to all employees.  Employees must make themselves familiar with this policy and the responsibility place on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.

Infection Control

The Trust is committed to the prevention and control of infection, and operates an infection control policy.  It is the responsibility of all employees to be aware of the infection control policy and procedures and the importance of protecting themselves, patients and visitors.

Risk Management

Risk is everybody’s business!  All staff have an individual as well as a corporate responsibility for risk.

The outcome of effective risk management is the provision of safe patient care during their episode of illness or treatment and also the provision of a safe Trust environment for patients, staff and the public.

The Trust aims to have ‘Just and Fair’ culture where there is low blame and wants to encourage staff to report incidents and identify risks.  If the latter is carried out then lessons can be learnt and changes in practice will be implemented in order to improve the quality of patient care.

You personally need to be adequately trained in risk management processes and the Trust provides a variety of risk related study days and courses.  A list of these can be found in the Trust Training Brochure and will be important that you take note of the mandatory courses, which you must attend.

Working Time Regulations

The Working Time Regulations 1998 state that employees should not work more than an average of 48 hours per week based on a 26-week period.  Employees who wish to exceed this number of hours must obtain Management authorisation and will be required to sign an opt-out agreement which will be placed on file.

Improving Working Lives

In line with the NHS Plan, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust is making changes to improve the working lives of all staff.  By helping staff to achieve good work life balance we can develop higher standards of healthcare and patient choice.

In order to support staff the Trust offers a range of benefits including onsite day nurseries, school holiday clubs, complementary therapies, a cyber café for internet access, a wide range of staff discounts, various recognition schemes and special annual events.

There is a National Audit Instrument for Improving Working Lives, which involves the Trust being assessed against a set of national standards to ensure that it is making real and tangible improvements to the working lives of our staff.

Please read more about our organisation, on the job description.