Highly Specialist Pharmacist, Gastroenterology

NHS; Wigan; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Highly Specialist Pharmacist to join the gastroenterology team at a leading NHS trust. The role involves delivering high-quality pharmacy services, supervising staff, and ensuring safe medication practices. Candidates should have a clinical diploma and a passion for developing pharmacy services while working collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive clinical pharmacy experience at least at Band 7 / Specialist level.
• Experience in audit and reporting.
• Clinical mentoring or pre-registration tutoring experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver highly specialist clinical pharmacist services.
• Supervise, support, and develop pharmacy staff.
• Work in partnership with other professionals to reduce adverse events.

Skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Time management

Education

Masters Degree in Pharmacy

Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy

Membership of the GPhC

Prescribing qualification

Job description

Go back Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Pharmacist, Gastroenterology

This job is now closed

Job summary

We have an exciting career opportunity for an experienced, skilled, enthusiastic & forward thinking pharmacist to join our dynamic team.

Are you equipped with ideas to support the pharmacy services? Are you passionate about developing the next generation of pharmacy staff?

We are looking for an experienced pharmacist to work with us to deliver the pharmacy service to our gastroenterology team, working with the team to deliver best practice care to our patients.

The post offers a skilled post-diploma clinical pharmacist the opportunity to deliver and further develop pharmacy services.

You will have experience of pro-actively influencing prescribing, hold a clinical diploma and ideally an independent prescribing qualification and above all, be a team player.

We are committed to achieving a balance between high-quality service delivery and professional development. We can offer you a supportive and training-focused environment, within a friendly team.

Ideally, you are an experienced Pharmacist with a clinical diploma and non-medical prescriber qualification on appointment, however existing Band 7 staff will be considered with a view to completing these qualifications within a set time frame to develop into a Band 8a.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will supervise, support, and develop other pharmacy staff, junior pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists, and other Trust personnel as required.

Applicants need to be able to work autonomously, be a team player whilst motivating others, and also provide cross-cover to other areas within the Specialist team on a reciprocal basis.

To develop and implement PGDs, policies and SOPs, support Homecare and be an integral part of the MDT by providing advice to others working within the division.

Oversee clinical pharmacy service provision for Gastro patients' association with Principal Pharmacist.

Work within professional boundaries to provide person-centred, evidence-based structured medication reviews for gastroenterology patients; to ensure appropriate, cost-effective, and safe provision of medicines.

Close working with the multi-disciplinary team, which may include attendance at MDT meetings. Interacting with a wide variety of health/social care professionals including IBD nurses, and pharmacy colleagues in community pharmacy, GP practices.

Participate in departmental and clinical audit.

Provision of expert advice, information and recommendations on medicines and prescribing.

Promote safe and effective use of medicines, minimize waste, and reduce medicines-related incidents/errors.

About us

Choose Well - Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values 'the WWL Way'.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind, we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Job responsibilities

Key results from the job holder

• Deliver highly specialist clinical pharmacist services to your area of responsibility within the Trust including directorate level support such as horizon scanning, cost benefit analysis, ensuring PGDs / Shared Care Protocols are appropriate and assurance reporting is provided to the Division.
• To be a non-medical prescriber.
• Work in partnership with other professionals and partners to reduce the number and severity of medicines-related adverse events by identifying and implementing new systems of work.
• Thematically review existing medication practices, incident reporting, and other intelligence to support safer medication practices within the specialist area.
• Investigate serious errors related to the use of medicines and report findings to manager.
• Develop, implement, and audit unit-wide policies, procedures, and guidelines related to medication prescribing, supply, administration, or disposal. Publish findings and undertake pharmacy practice research.
• Ensure compliance with medicines management guidance issued by the Trust, GMMMG, or national bodies.
• Ensure compliance with Medicines Law and CQC requirements.

Planning and Organisational Duties

• As part of the Clinical Pharmacy Team, be responsible for the provision of Clinical Pharmacy Services to patients.
• Have a commitment to dispensaries and deliver the highest possible professional standards therein.
• In absence of a more senior Pharmacist, take professional responsibility for the dispensary including supervision of technicians, assistants, and pre-registration pharmacists.
• Prioritize patients according to their clinical and pharmaceutical need.
• Use clinical tests and patient notes to advise clinicians about required changes to patient medication and alternatives that may be suggested if the normal route of administration is unavailable.
• Analyze medicine charts considering the clinical presentation of the patient, relevant history, and plans made by clinicians.
• Make appropriate endorsements in line with relevant standards.
• Ensure VTE compliance has been undertaken where appropriate.
• Ensure antimicrobials are prescribed in line with current trust guidance.
• Coordinate with medicines management technicians to ensure patient-specific medicines are ordered.
• Ensure the effective re-use of patients' own drugs.
• If deemed unfit for re-use, destroy medicines following relevant procedures.
• Receive, interpret, clinically check, dispense, accuracy check, and hand out prescriptions in line with departmental SOPs.
• Ensure pharmacy stock is controlled effectively. Assist in the ordering, issuing, and receiving of medication when necessary.
• Participate in clinical trials, maintaining relevant documentation.
• Ensure ward Controlled Drugs and other departmental audits are completed as scheduled.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• Use professional judgment and manner to communicate with patients, carers, and healthcare staff about medicines for safer and more effective use.
• Assist other health professionals on wards to deliver high standards of care.
• Liaise with other pharmacy team members to ensure effective services.
• Refer to senior pharmacists when appropriate.
• Provide ward cover for other clinical teams or senior colleagues as needed.
• Develop effective working relationships with healthcare professionals within the area of responsibility.

Responsibility for Finance

• Assist in delivering cost efficiencies by advising on medicine use according to formulary or guidance.
• Handle cash, prescription charges, and issue receipts per trust SFI.
• Sign orders for pharmaceutical products, including controlled drugs, in the absence of a senior pharmacist.

Responsibility for Human Resources

• Organize own work within the framework provided by line management, demonstrating leadership at all times.
• Deputize for Principal Pharmacist when necessary.
• Supervise and motivate pharmacists, technicians, and assistants.
• Ensure staff understand and implement relevant procedures.
• Suggest procedural improvements through line management.

Responsibility for Health & Safety

• Fulfill proactive risk management roles in line with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, including risk assessments, incident reporting, and hazard management.
• Advise patients and staff on medication risks and minimize those risks through effective management and counseling.
• Report known risks to line managers.
• Use Datix to record and review medicines-related incidents, working with managers to prevent recurrence.

Responsibility for Teaching

• Develop and deliver relevant training packages for staff involved in prescribing, supply, administration, and handling of medicines.
• Provide teaching sessions to healthcare professionals and pre-registration pharmacists, aligned with GPC and tutor expectations.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Broad academic/theoretical knowledge supporting required experience
• Knowledge of NHS national policy and key changes
• Understanding of Trust values and strategy

Skills

• Innovative clinical pharmacy practice with analytical/problem-solving skills in complex situations
• Able to assertively lead, engage, motivate, and inspire staff
• Human Resource Management skills
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to assess and quickly manipulate a broad range of information
• Effective judgment with limited information
• Computer skills
• Time management and prioritization skills

Experience

• Extensive clinical pharmacy experience at least at Band 7 / Specialist level
• Recent governance and assurance experience at departmental level
• Experience supporting a senior pharmacy team in achieving objectives
• Experience delivering change successfully
• Experience in audit and reporting
• Leading projects or audits collaboratively
• Training and education experience
• Experience with drug budget control and monitoring
• Clinical mentoring or pre-registration tutoring experience

Qualifications

• Masters Degree in Pharmacy plus pre-registration training or equivalent
• Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• Membership of the GPhC
• CPD evidence per GPhC requirements
• Prescribing qualification

Additional

• Enthusiasm for the role and pharmacy
• Professional credibility across all staff levels
• Proficiency in English for confident, accurate communication

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to DBS check as per the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust