Overview
The Lead Pharmacist for the Older Peoples Care Unit will work with the Head of Pharmacy - Mental Health Services to deliver a high-quality clinical pharmacy service across inpatient and community older adults' mental health services. The role includes providing expert clinical pharmacy input, undertaking independent prescribing within an agreed scope of practice, contributing to medicines optimisation strategy, and supporting training for pharmacists, trainees, and wider multidisciplinary teams. The post holder will develop and maintain a safe, effective, and cost-efficient pharmacy service, support education for undergraduates and junior staff, and contribute to clinical governance, audit, research, and service development.
The role is primarily based at Blossomwood Hospital and Highbury Hospital, with some work in community teams across Nottinghamshire. The post holder will lead clinical pharmacy services for older adult mental health inpatient and community teams, providing medicines reconciliation, medication reviews and person-centred treatment plans. As an independent prescriber, they will optimise therapeutic outcomes, support safe prescribing and deliver clear, evidence-based medicines advice. They will also contribute to audits, research and service improvement, supporting the development of clinical guidelines and medicines optimisation strategies across the Trust.
Responsibilities
* Education and workforce development are core parts of the role. The post holder will train pharmacists, technicians, trainees and wider clinical teams, mentor postgraduate learners, support undergraduate teaching and contribute to competency assessments.
* Line-manage a small clinical pharmacy team and work collaboratively within MDTs, case reviews and clinical forums to ensure pharmacy expertise informs care.
* Operational duties include supporting dispensary services, validating prescriptions, maintaining accurate documentation and ensuring compliance with governance, legal and professional standards.
* Participate in weekend, late-duty and on-call rotas and may involve deputising for the Head of Pharmacy - Mental Health Services.
* All duties must reflect Trust values and meet safeguarding, infection control, equality and data quality requirements.
* To undertake the duties of Independent Prescribing in the Older Peoples Care Unit of the Mental Health Care Group, in line with an agreed scope of practice.
* To ensure the provision of clinical pharmacy services and to identify, develop and implement practice research, audit and other projects, to ensure that the departmental cost improvement and quality targets are met.
* Participate in the provision of the clinical pharmacy service to Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust wards and community based mental health services; including medicines reconciliation on admission, detailed medication reviews, formulation of patient medication treatment plans, and review/updating of patient electronic care records.
* To participate in the development and implementation of new ways of working and extended roles for pharmacists and pharmacy staff.
* To develop and participate in a programme of "in-house" training for pharmacists, foundation trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants.
* To support the Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacy Leadership Team in the development and delivery of education sessions and experiences to pharmacy undergraduates.
* To participate as a mentor and assessor for pharmacists undertaking the clinical diploma, including regular accompanied visits and assessments.
* To act as a line manager for a small number of pharmacists and/or pharmacy technicians working in Older Peoples Care Unit.
* To participate in and develop a programme of training for healthcare professionals, including medical and nursing staff on pharmaceutical matters.
* To provide counselling sessions for service users and carers on medication.
* To provide specialist medicines information and advice to all healthcare staff, and service users and carers.
* To provide appropriate pharmacy input to the second opinion service under the Mental Health Act Regulations controlling consent to treatment.
* Establish and develop strong links within the Trust to maintain cost-effective, safe and efficient prescribing and utilisation of medicines.
* To contribute to initiatives, including the development of treatment and drug usage guidelines that will provide positive clinical and financial outcomes.
* Ensure that agreed local and national guidelines, policies and protocols are implemented at service level via the clinical pharmacy team.
* Liaise with consultants regarding drug-prescribing issues to ensure maximum benefit in line with local and national guidelines.
* Develop close working relationships with medical and nursing staff to ensure pharmacists are integral members of the clinical team.
* Promote and implement medication management committee decisions within the Care Group / Care Units.
* Prepare submissions for medication management committees as required.
* Provide professional support to the dispensary on a rota basis, including validation of new prescriptions and checking dispensing operations.
* Maintain complete professional responsibility for safety and efficacy of all medicines reviewed on wards or in the dispensary.
* Record clinical information generated from clinical activities, including notes, prescription chart annotations and data entry of medicines information questions and answers on the pharmacy database.
* Prioritise workload and meet deadlines, particularly under pressure.
* Ensure pharmaceutical work conforms to legal and professional requirements, procedures, guidelines, and SOPs.
* Undertake mandatory training for the role and remain professionally up to date with national/local/Trust-wide issues to meet GPhC standards for CPD.
* Ensure personal pharmacy practice aligns with the GPhC Code of Ethics.
* Achieve team and personal objectives agreed during PAD with the Line Manager and act as a role model for pharmacy staff.
* Supervise and direct the work of staff where necessary to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
* Where necessary, deputise for the Head of Pharmacy - Mental Health Services Division on committees, working groups, and operational issues to maintain consistent input.
* Participate in late duty, weekend and Bank Holiday working as part of the rota and support the 24-hour on-call service.
* Accept any other reasonable responsibilities as requested by the Chief Pharmacist.
Additional information
TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 colleagues delivering a range of health services across multiple counties. The Trust offers various staff networks and prioritises health and wellbeing. The Trust is committed to reducing carbon emissions with an Energy and Environmental team. Applicants pay for DBS check; costs are deducted from salary. DBS Update Service is available for a fee.
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