Overview
To deliver a safe, effective, patient-centred pharmacy and medicines optimisation service, supporting the health needs of people in a secure environment in line with Royal Pharmaceutical Society Professional Standards for Optimising Medicines in Secure Environments, NICE guidelines on medicines reconciliation and medicines safety, national standards, NHS England specifications for primary care in secure settings and local policies.
Main duties of the job
* Substance Misuse & Withdrawal Management
* Audit, KPI Reporting & Formulary Oversight
* Drug Safety & Controlled Drugs
* Professional Practice & Development
About us
DrPA has been operating in secure environments since 2014 providing General Practitioner services and is now growing to offer a complete healthcare service at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) commissioned by NHS England. The service is delivered directly or through specialist partners. We work based on our ethos of CARE:
* Compassionate care that is trauma-informed and supportive
* Assurance that care is evidence-based and demonstrates high quality outcomes for our patients
* Respectful of people's cultural and religious beliefs
* Equitable care that is in line with community services
Job Summary
To deliver a safe, effective, patient-centred pharmacy and medicines optimisation service, supporting the health needs of people in a secure environment in line with Royal Pharmaceutical Society Professional Standards for Optimising Medicines in Secure Environments, NICE guidelines on medicines reconciliation and medicines safety, national standards, NHS England specifications for primary care in secure settings and local policies. The role may start before go-live to provide local support and help set up the pharmacy.
Key Responsibilities & Duties
Medicines Reconciliation & Admission Screening
* Undertake comprehensive medicines reconciliation for new receptions and transfers, ensuring accurate and timely identification of current therapy, reducing medication errors and wastage.
* Identify and resolve discrepancies, liaising with prescribers, community pharmacies and external healthcare providers as needed.
Medicines Optimisation & Patient Support
* Perform medication checks to optimise therapy, reduce polypharmacy, and support adherence.
* Support the pharmacist in delivering Medicines Use Reviews (MURs) and patient counselling to improve understanding and safe use of medication.
* Provide clear, individualised advice on in-possession medicines, side effects and correct use.
Substance Misuse & Withdrawal Management
* Recognise and elevate signs of drug or alcohol withdrawal.
* Support patients with substance misuse concerns and those at risk of self-harm or suicide, working closely with healthcare and IRC staff.
Audit, KPI Reporting & Formulary Oversight
* Conduct regular audits on prescribing, reconciliation, administration and formulary compliance.
* Monitor use of the allocated formulary, identifying opportunities for cost-effective prescribing.
* Provide accurate data and insights for KPI and contract performance reports.
Drug Safety & Controlled Drugs
* Promote and monitor medicines safety, ensuring compliance with controlled drug legislation and secure custody protocols.
* Maintain meticulous, contemporaneous records of all pharmacy activities.
Collaborative Working & Governance
* Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, prison officers and external agencies, both verbally and in writing.
* Participate in clinical meetings and governance activities to drive continuous improvement in pharmacy services.
* Take direction from the pharmacist and chief pharmacist to support service development.
Professional Practice & Development
* Function autonomously within your scope of competence while acting as a role model and resource to junior staff.
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practice, guidelines and professional standards.
* Engage in continuous professional development to meet GPhC requirements.
Person Specification
Experience
* Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills to manage workload in a challenging environment.
* Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills, particularly with patients who may be vulnerable or distressed.
* Commitment to medicines safety, audit processes and high standards of record keeping.
* Accreditation in medicines reconciliation or accuracy checking (desirable).
Qualifications
* Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
* Relevant NVQ Level 3 / BTEC in Pharmacy Services (or equivalent).
Disclosures and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants also need to successfully complete the Counter Terrorism Clearance (CTC) process. Prior to applying, all applicants must have lived in the UK for the last five years with no more than a 28‑day break, and no gaps in employment.
Contact
Email CV TO: RECRUITMENT@DRPASECURE.CO.UK
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