Specialist pharmacist - virtual wards

Job overview

This is a fixed term post to cover maternity leave until May 2027

Applications are invited from enthusiastic, well-motivated Clinical Prescribing Pharmacists (or working towards/willing to work towards prescribing qualification) with current significant experience in delivering hospital pharmacy services, to join our Virtual Ward team which is based from locations across North Lancashire and South Cumbria.

You will have sufficient skills, knowledge and competence to support the virtual ward teams (Consultants, ANP's and AHP's) to deliver safe and effective medicines management for these patients. This includes (but is not limited to) Medicines Reconciliation, clinical reviews, supporting safe and secure medicines audits, antimicrobial stewardship and ongoing service design in conjunction with the virtual ward team and the Lead Pharmacist.

You will support and work alongside the medicines management technicians on the virtual ward team as well as the technician senior leadership team.

You must be highly motivated and able to demonstrate leadership skills and manage conflicting demands on your time. You will demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will contribute to patient safety improvement and medicines optimisation initiatives including ensuring the implementation of best value medicines in your area.

Main duties of the job

This is a fixed term post to cover maternity leave until May 2027

Core hours of work will be Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:30 with some flexibility possible. There is currently no weekend, bank holiday or on-call commitment with this post.

The location for this post is flexible with some home working possible, there would be a minimum requirement to attend one of our acute inpatient sites for 20% of contracted hours, occasional meetings and training may be required at other sites. Please discuss with us at interview.

Working for our organisation

We operate from three main hospitals - Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community health care premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life-threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay visiting our website https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent knowledge and experience

Experience

• Experience of liaising with other healthcare professionals e.g. consultants, GPs
• Experience working with complex patient groups
• Experience in hospital or patient facing primary care settings
• Experience conducting medication reviews/medicines reconciliation
• Experience of working on projects
• Experience of attending Multidisciplinary groups
• Experience with developing policies and procedures

Skills, ability and knowledge

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Good verbal communication and counselling skills with ill patients and relatives
• Clinical knowledge of current therapeutics and practice
• Organisation and prioritisation of clinical work
• Accuracy
• Analytical skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Experience of using Microsoft Office
• Problem solving and risk assessment
• Interpersonal skills for dealing with challenging situations involving patients, e.g. resistance to medication change
• Experience of using Electronic Prescribing

Personal Qualities

• Team player and ability to work on own initiative
• Good interpersonal skills
• Self-motivation for career and professional development
• Commitment to Personal Development planning
• Flexible, adaptable approach
• Reliable
• Ability to comply with Trust Policies
• Ability to meet the physical and mental requirements of the post

The Trust promotes flexible working opportunities where ever possible to enable staff to balance their work and home life. We are committed to Equal Opportunities and aim to be EffortlesslyInclusive.

The trust operates a No Smoking Policy.

Anyone newly appointed to the trust under the Agenda For Change contract will be subject to the completion of a satisfactory 6 month probationary period.

We have introduced a new system called Pre-Onboarding, specifically to support you right the way through to your first few months in your new role with us at UHMB. This bespoke site has lots of useful information to help you settle into your new role including: what to expect from the recruitment clearances process, where to get a uniform, when you'll get paid etc. As well as information on a number of our services i.e. Infection Prevention, Anti-fraud, Inclusion and Diversity, Care Certificates and much more. To access click on this link https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/uhmbt-pre-onboarding .

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Jenny Oakley Job title Lead Pharmacist Surgery and Families Division Email address jenny.oakley@mbht.nhs.uk Telephone number 01524 519433

Additional information

We welcome informal discussions and visits.

Jenny Oakley, Lead Pharmacist Surgery and Families Division

01524 519433

or

Jenny Bowler (Associate Chief Pharmacist: Medicines optimisation, operational and digital) (jenny.bowler@mbht.nhs.uk ) 01524 516197

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Level 1
Fusion House
Evolution Park
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 2FD
Telephone 03033 301 033