Specialist Pharmacist (Critical Care)

Job Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated, dedicated and enthusiastic clinical pharmacist to join our friendly team providing clinical pharmacy services to critical care. The Trust is a tertiary referral centre with a wide range of specialities, including cardiothoracics, transplant, haematology-oncology, neurosciences, burns and trauma. Our well-established and integrated pharmacy team promote medication safety and optimise medicines use in critically ill patients, including attending ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings. You will rotate through the Trust's four adult critical care units, gaining skills and knowledge across a variety of specialist areas, in addition to assisting with service provision to theatres and supporting the Perioperative & Critical Care board.

Main duties of the job

• Based in the adult critical care units across both sites of the Trust, you will collaborate with medical, nursing, pharmacy and the wider interprofessional team to deliver person-centred care and provide expert advice and training.
• You will work to develop and deliver service improvement strategies which promote the safe, rational and cost-effective use of medicines.
• Departmental links with the School of Pharmacy in Newcastle will allow for further opportunities to be involved in research and teaching, plus there are opportunities to develop your clinical supervision skills.
• You will be a team player with excellent communication, prioritisation, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Some previous experience in critical care is preferable, but not essential, as full training will be provided.
• There is an ongoing commitment of working regular weekends, and successful candidates will be expected to participate in the pharmacy directorate's extended hours and on call service.

Working for our organisation

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from: Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Dental Hospital, Cramlington Manor Walks, Urgent treatment centres, Newcastle Fertility Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care (North Cumbria), and Northern Genetics Service. These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS. We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To develop and maintain clinical pharmacy services in a specialist area or directorate within the overall Trust clinical pharmacy strategy.
• To participate in the provision of other pharmacy patient services functions.
• To promote the safe, rational and cost effective use of medicines by working closely with nursing and medical staff and health care managers.
• To perform the professional role of a Registered Pharmacist, including advice, supervision and co-operation with colleagues, particularly in relation to support/cover for absent colleagues.
• To support patients to achieve their health goals in relation to medicines by providing person centred care.

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable evidence of competence in general clinical practice
• Demonstrable evidence of competence in speciality

Skills

Essential criteria

• Demonstrate the ability to appropriately recommend, substantiate and communicate therapeutic options
• Ability to communicate in a verbal or written manner with patients, junior pharmacy, nursing, medical, and other multidisciplinary staff
• Ability to influence junior pharmacy, nursing, medical, and other multidisciplinary staff
• Demonstrated commitment to enhancing the quality of patient care

Desirable criteria

• Teaching skills
• Ability to utilise presentation, spreadsheet and database software packages to support the work of the clinical pharmacy team

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post registration experience in hospital pharmacy
• Experience of working in a hospital environment
• Demonstrable post-graduate experience in pharmacy
• Experience of working with specialist patient cohort

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working within specialist area
• Evidence of involvement in clinical audit

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• UK-registered pharmacist (GPhC)
• Completion of MPharm degree (or an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy with relevant experience) plus pre-registration training and experience
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy, or satisfactory evidence of equivalent competence as demonstrated in a practice portfolio of evidence

Desirable criteria

• Clinical Diploma / Clinical Masters
• Registered with the GPhC as an independent prescriber

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Rebecca Lumsden
Job title: Lead Clinical Pharmacist
Email address: Rebecca.lumsden@nhs.net
Telephone number: 0191 2448353