Band 6 Rotational Pharmacist

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Harlow; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a Pharmacist to join the Pharmacy team to deliver a high-quality dispensary and ward-based pharmacy service for PAHT and partner organisations. The role includes dispensing, medicines information, patient counselling and clinical service development.

Responsibilities include ensuring safe, effective and economical prescribing, SOP compliance and participation in MDT meetings. Fixed-term contract until 31 March 2027.

Responsibilities

• To work as part of the Pharmacy team to provide an effective and professional pharmacy service in the Pharmacy Dispensary, Clinical Pharmacy at Ward Level, Medicines Information and Pharmacy Technical Services.
• To undergo peer review and competency-based assessment to ensure required standards of service are met.
• To be involved in specified project or group work.
• Identify, dispense and distribute drugs for in and out patients prescriptions.
• Supervise and check the dispensing of prescriptions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide patient counselling and information on medicines to patients, doctors and other health care staff.
• Participate in medicine information services and formulary control of prescribing.
• Attend MDT meetings where appropriate and coordinate stock and non-stock medicine supply.
• Follow SOPs, ensure safety, audit/quality improvement and participate in discharge planning.

Job description

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wavea national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Fixed term end date - 31/03/2027

Job Overview

• To participate in the professional provision of Pharmacy Services to the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust and other organisations to which the pharmacy department provides a service.

Main duties of the job

• To work as part of the Pharmacy team to provide an effective and professional pharmacy service in the:
  • Pharmacy Dispensary
  • Clinical Pharmacy at Ward Level
  • Medicines Information
  • Pharmacy Technical Services
• To undergo peer review and competency-based assessment to ensure required standards of service are met.
• To be involved in specified project or group work

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

To work as part of the Pharmacy Team in the professional provision of a dispensary-based Pharmacy service to:

• Identify, select dispense and distribute drugs for in and out patients prescriptions.
• Identify dispense and distribute pharmaceutical items including Controlled Drugs, Clinical Trials and extemporaneously prepared products to wards and departments throughout the Trust according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s)
• Take part in patient counselling and provide information on medicines to patients, doctors and other health care staff.
• Supervise and or check the dispensing of prescriptions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Carry out reception duties, involving dealing with patients, relatives and all grades of healthcare workers.
• Deal with telephone enquiries and handle prescription charges.
• Use the computer systems to track prescriptions.
• Monitor statutory and local regulations regarding the storage, control and administration of medicines, including ward controlled drug checks.
• To open and close the pharmacy dispensary.
• To clinically screen prescriptions to ensure safe, effective and economic use of drugs and to resolve prescribing problems.
• To ensure that ‘to follow’ items are dealt with according to the SOP.
• Operate the automated pharmacy storage and dispensing system.

To Participate In The Provision Of Clinical Services To

• All wards at Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
• Participate in the prescription monitoring service at ward level, including appropriate drug choice, monitoring of treatment outcome and side effect profile.
• Offer drug advice to prescribers and nurses.
• Counsel patients on their medication.
• Follow and document all clinical care pathways, care bundles and guidelines.
• Organise supply of medicines according to need, local requisitioning and topping up procedures.
• Participate in medicine information services.
• Ensure formulary control of prescribing.
• Review literature to produce evidence based solutions to pharmaceutical problems.

To participate in specialist clinical and near to patient services to:

• Follow all Standard Operation Procedures, relating to clinical activities, including appropriate standards of prescription monitoring, drug chart endorsing, writing in medical notes, rewriting drug charts and controlling antibiotic prescribing.
• Report any medication related incidents.
• Facilitate early discharge of patients.
• Work as part of the pharmacy team at ward level, (including supervision of junior staff).
• Assess patients for specialized needs i.e. monitored dose systems.
• Liaise with GP’s and community pharmacists regarding medication information at discharge.
• Contribute to adverse drug reporting, clinical risk management and therapeutic drug monitoring.
• Record major clinical interventions.
• Attend MDT meetings where appropriate
• Undertake prescription validation to ensure safe, effective and economic prescribing.
• Undertake transcribing and requisitioning of discharge medication.
• Undertake drug history taking.
• Participate in self-administration of drug schemes.
• Be involved in ‘one-stop’ dispensing procedures including assessment of patients own drugs.
• Be involved in discharge counselling of patients.
• Co-ordinate stock and non-stock medicine supply
• Minimise non-administration of medicines.

To provide professional support to the Technical Services Unit to:

• Provide the final check of prepared intravenous and other products, produced in the unit.
• Provide professional advice on formulation and other related matters.
• Liaise with the Pharmacy Technical Manager on the work schedule in order to maximise support alongside other prescribed duties.
• Report all errors generated by the department.

To follow all Health and Safety standards in compliance with Trust policies and procedures. This includes:

• Report all accidents, incidents and near misses
• Dealing with hazardous chemicals (including cytotoxic drugs) used in the department, following COSHH regulations.
• Attend all mandatory training.
• Attend in-house training sessions
• To participate in specified project and or group work, according to need. This is likely to be supervised by a senior pharmacist and involve the post-holder in current developmental work.
• This may include data collection as part of audit/project work

To carry out the following in all areas of Pharmacy:

• Maintain stock control and stock rotation.
• Follow all standard operating procedures (SOP’s) accurately.
• Maintain a clean and tidy working environment.
• Maintain accurate manual and computer records.
• ‘house-keeping’ duties.
• Ensure disposal of pharmaceutical waste in all areas is carried out according to SOP’s.
• Identify pharmaceutical items which are unavailable and follow appropriate SOP.
• Ensure any problems are referred on to the most appropriate member of staff, where necessary.
• Ensure professional and legal standards are adhered to.
• Comment on SOP’s and make recommendations on service improvement, as required.
• To undertake weekend and late duties as per the roster
• To maintain registration, as a pharmacist, with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and to act in accordance with the code of ethics.