Advanced Specialist Rheumatology Pharmacist

NHS; Stockport; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading NHS Trust as a Clinical Pharmacist in the Rheumatology department. You'll lead the infusion unit, provide safe and effective clinical services, and support patient education initiatives. This role offers an opportunity to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team, ensuring top-notch pharmaceutical care for rheumatology patients. The position provides a generous benefits package, including a competitive salary and NHS pension.

Benefits

27-33 days annual leave plus bank holidays

NHS pension scheme membership

Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars

NHS staff discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Salary finance for loans and savings

Local financial advice through Stockport Credit Union

Qualifications

• GPhC registered pharmacist with independent prescribing qualification.
• Experience managing teams and complex medication queries.
• Proficient in rheumatology-related medications.

Responsibilities

• Lead management of the rheumatology infusion unit and provide effective clinical pharmacy services.
• Run medication counselling and review clinics.
• Develop educational resources for patients in line with guidelines.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy

Independent prescribing

Medication counselling

Rheumatology knowledge

Team management

Education

GPhC registration

Independent prescribing qualification

Job description

Job summary

The post holder will support the existing Rheumatology Pharmacy team and will be responsible for providing a safe, efficient and cost effective clinical pharmacy service to rheumatology patients. The will work as part of the rheumatology multi-disciplinary team comprising Consultants, Specialist Nurses, Advance Clinical Practice Physiotherapists and Administrative Team.The post holder will be expected to support the team by leading on the provision of medicines to the rheumatology infusion unit. They will also work as part of the Rheumatology Pharmacy team (which includes a Consultant Pharmacist, Specialist Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians and an Administrator) to support the wider rheumatology team. Duties will include running medication counselling and review clinics, answering medication queries and overseeing the monitoring of treatments.Additionally, following appropriate training, the post holder will be required to prescribe and aid in the management of homecare and outpatient prescriptions including high cost and cytotoxic drugs.The post holder will be a point of contact for primary care for medication related queries.Following appropriate training, the post holder must be able to work independently, managing their own time and workload as a non-medical prescriber. They will be expected to answer complex clinical queries, within their area of competence, referring to the wider rheumatology team for advice if needed.

Main duties of the job

1) leading the management of the rheumatology infusion unit

2) To be responsible as an advanced specialist for providing safe, efficient and cost-effective clinical pharmacy services to rheumatology patients

3) To development the provision of this service specifically relating to the increased delivery of patient education in line with the British Society for Rheumatology Guidelines

4) To manage and facilitate medication counselling and review clinics

5) To facilitate audit, research and development within the area of rheumatology specifically in the development of a enhance pharmacy service

6) To provide training and support to medical and nursing staff within the hospital and in the wider community on medicine related issues

7) To work as a non-medical independent prescriber within the trust

8) To assess and prescribe for patients in outpatient clinics

9) Manage medication helpline and medicines information for rheumatology team

10) Liaise with chief pharmacist to ensure cost effective prescribing of high cost drugs

11) Manage prescribing for high cost drugs in rheumatology

12) Ensure safe provision of DMARDs and other non-high cost drugs for patients

13) Manage rheumatology SOPs and guidelines specific to medicines

14) Provide supervision and guidance for rheumatology specialist pharmacy technicians

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

o Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays

o NHS pension scheme membership

o Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further

o NHS Staff discounts

o Cycle to work scheme

o Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt

o Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice

Details Date posted

25 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

362-A-25-7269603

Job locations

Stepping Hill Hospital

Stockport

SK2 7JE

Job description Job responsibilities

Communications

• To work within the rheumatology team
• To liaise with the pharmacy department on matters relating to rheumatology
• To develop relationship with ICB and primary care colleagues
• To work with other rheumatology specialist pharmacists within GMMMG
• To give advice on highly complex rheumatology MedicineInformation queries, often including un/off-licensed use of medicines to prescribers, patients and carers and other healthcare personnel. Justify advice and recommendations through balanced discussion of clinical evidence as available and relay this information to the clinician, nurse or patient in the appropriate manner and forum
• To liaise with Pharmaceutical Companies and Homecare Providers to ensure the optimum provision of service to rheumatology patients
• Liaise with GPs, providing expert clinical advice on issues raised and ensuring continuity of care between primary and secondary care
• Attend regional and national training opportunities, member of Specialist Rheumatology Groups. Attend BSR and/or EULAR as appropriate

Responsibility for Patient Care

• To act as a clinical role model and lead in the provision of appropriate medication in the rheumatology department, demonstrating the ability to provide safe, clinically effective and cost efficient use of drugs in patients. This will include-Taking drug histories as part of the medication consultation-Review of medication to ensure its safe and effective use-Review of medication in line with interpretation of appropriate results of investigations and patient response to therapy-Therapeutic drug monitoring as appropriate-Patient education about their medicines specific to their requirements in either individual, group or telephone consultations-Providing advice on drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, drug administration and formulation-Participation in consultant clinics, offering medication advice as necessary-Development of evidence based treatment protocols for use within individual departments and for use within the local ICBs-Documenting clinical information in patient notes-Facilitate the implementation of local and national guidelines and audit compliance-Influencing prescribers, encourage formulary compliance where appropriate-Demonstrating professional accountability to patients-Identifying & reporting adverse reactions to the prescriber and where necessary via the Yellow Card Scheme-To prescribe and monitor medicines for patients within own area of competency and ensure robust mechanisms for second checking of procedures including implementation of Specialist Rheumatology Second Checking of Prescription protocol. Specific prescribing responsibilities include,o High cost drug medications for Homecare distributiono Parenteral medications for Day Hospital patientso Osteoporosis medications not supported by Shared Careo DMARDs in the initial stabilisation phase for patients prior to shared careo For patients requiring non formulary medications not available in primary careo Rescue medication for patients reviewed in clinic- Produce and update Rheumatology Shared Care Guidelines and ensure compliance through audit-To demonstrate a whole-system patient-focused approach-To liaise with other clinical pharmacists to ensure efficient transfer of drug related care-To ensure the personal quality and accuracy of the work is maintained despite frequent interruptions

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £45.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.

Job description Job responsibilities

Communications

• To work within the rheumatology team
• To liaise with the pharmacy department on matters relating to rheumatology
• To develop relationship with ICB and primary care colleagues
• To work with other rheumatology specialist pharmacists within GMMMG
• To give advice on highly complex rheumatology MedicineInformation queries, often including un/off-licensed use of medicines to prescribers, patients and carers and other healthcare personnel. Justify advice and recommendations through balanced discussion of clinical evidence as available and relay this information to the clinician, nurse or patient in the appropriate manner and forum
• To liaise with Pharmaceutical Companies and Homecare Providers to ensure the optimum provision of service to rheumatology patients
• Liaise with GPs, providing expert clinical advice on issues raised and ensuring continuity of care between primary and secondary care
• Attend regional and national training opportunities, member of Specialist Rheumatology Groups. Attend BSR and/or EULAR as appropriate

Responsibility for Patient Care

• To act as a clinical role model and lead in the provision of appropriate medication in the rheumatology department, demonstrating the ability to provide safe, clinically effective and cost efficient use of drugs in patients. This will include-Taking drug histories as part of the medication consultation-Review of medication to ensure its safe and effective use-Review of medication in line with interpretation of appropriate results of investigations and patient response to therapy-Therapeutic drug monitoring as appropriate-Patient education about their medicines specific to their requirements in either individual, group or telephone consultations-Providing advice on drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, drug administration and formulation-Participation in consultant clinics, offering medication advice as necessary-Development of evidence based treatment protocols for use within individual departments and for use within the local ICBs-Documenting clinical information in patient notes-Facilitate the implementation of local and national guidelines and audit compliance-Influencing prescribers, encourage formulary compliance where appropriate-Demonstrating professional accountability to patients-Identifying & reporting adverse reactions to the prescriber and where necessary via the Yellow Card Scheme-To prescribe and monitor medicines for patients within own area of competency and ensure robust mechanisms for second checking of procedures including implementation of Specialist Rheumatology Second Checking of Prescription protocol. Specific prescribing responsibilities include,o High cost drug medications for Homecare distributiono Parenteral medications for Day Hospital patientso Osteoporosis medications not supported by Shared Careo DMARDs in the initial stabilisation phase for patients prior to shared careo For patients requiring non formulary medications not available in primary careo Rescue medication for patients reviewed in clinic- Produce and update Rheumatology Shared Care Guidelines and ensure compliance through audit-To demonstrate a whole-system patient-focused approach-To liaise with other clinical pharmacists to ensure efficient transfer of drug related care-To ensure the personal quality and accuracy of the work is maintained despite frequent interruptions

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £45.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.

Person Specification Required Essential

• Independent prescribing qualification

Essential Essential

• GPhC registered

Essential Essential

• Evidence of experience working independently to efficiently address complex queries within area of competence

Essential Essential

• Evidence of experience working independently to effectively manage a team, service or system change

Desirable

• Experience working with rheumatology medications or within rheumatology department

Person Specification Required Essential

• Independent prescribing qualification

Essential Essential

• GPhC registered

Essential Essential

• Evidence of experience working independently to efficiently address complex queries within area of competence

Essential Essential

• Evidence of experience working independently to effectively manage a team, service or system change

Desirable

• Experience working with rheumatology medications or within rheumatology department

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Stockport

SK2 7JE

Employer's website

http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Stockport

SK2 7JE

Employer's website

http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)