Lead Specialist Pharmacist, Rheumatology

London North West Healthcare NHS Trust; Harrow; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a substantive Band 8b Pharmacist to lead the rheumatology clinical pharmacy service across inpatient and outpatient settings. You will work within the Rheumatology multidisciplinary team, guiding medicines optimisation, high-cost drugs, governance, workforce development and patient safety initiatives.

The post requires GPhC registration, a clinical pharmacist diploma and independent prescribing.

Qualifications

• Must be registered with the GPhC as a pharmacist.
• Completion of the Clinical Pharmacist Diploma.
• Independent prescribing qualification essential.
• Substantive Band 8b role with development pathway to 8b.
• Lead development and delivery of a specialist rheumatology pharmacy service.

Responsibilities

• Lead on development and delivery of specialist rheumatology pharmacy service across the Trust.
• Provide expert advice on DMARDs, biologics, biosimilars and other rheumatology therapies.
• Lead pharmacist-led outpatient clinics and coordinate rheumatology inpatient care.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to optimise patient outcomes.
• Develop and implement prescribing pathways, guidelines, SOPs and governance processes.
• Deliver education and training to pharmacy staff, medical teams and nursing staff.
• Monitor medicines expenditure and identify quality improvement opportunities.
• Participate in audits, quality improvement projects and research initiatives.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of advances in rheumatology medicines and NHS policy.

Skills

Leadership and team management

Medicines optimisation

Clinical governance

Independent prescribing

DMARDs management knowledge

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Clinical Pharmacist Diploma

GPhC registration

Independent prescribing qualification

Job description

In this key role, you will work as part of an established multidisciplinary team and be responsible for leading and shaping high-quality clinical pharmacy services in rheumatology across both inpatient and outpatient settings. The successful candidate will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary Rheumatology team, leading on medicines optimisation, high-cost drug management, clinical governance, workforce development, service transformation and patient safety initiatives

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate excellent leadership and management skills, be adaptable, and lead a team with strong problem-solving and time management abilities. Applicants must be currently registered with the GPhC as a pharmacist and have completed the clinical pharmacist diploma. An independent prescribing qualification is essential.

Development Opportunity

This post is advertised as a substantive Band 8b position. However, applications will also be considered from candidates who do not yet meet all the Band 8b criteria but can demonstrate the potential to develop into the role.

Candidates appointed through this route will be appointed at Band 8a and will progress to Band 8b upon successful completion of an agreed Rheumatology Lead Pharmacist Competency Framework and formal gateway assessment.

Progression will be competency-based and not time-based.

The successful candidate will join our Pharmacy team and will lead on the development and delivery of a specialist rheumatology pharmacy service across the Trust, including liaising with primary care colleagues.

Provide expert advice on the management and monitoring of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, biosimilars, and other rheumatology therapies.

Lead and run pharmacist-led outpatient clinics to monitor treatment efficacy, safety, and patient adherence.

Oversee and coordinate pharmaceutical care for Rheumatology inpatients and act as the pharmacy lead for complex and high-risk patients.

Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, primary care colleagues and homecare providers to optimise patient outcomes.

Lead on development and implementation of Rheumatology prescribing pathways, guidelines, SOPs and governance processes.

Identify and deliver education and training to pharmacy staff, medical teams, and nursing staff within the specialty.

Monitor, manage and report on Rheumatology medicines expenditure and identify opportunities for quality improvement and cost optimisation

Participate in audits, quality improvement projects, and research initiatives to support innovation and best practice.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of advances in rheumatology medicines and NHS policy

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We Run Major Acute Services At

• Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
• St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
• Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
• Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Nwando Ngoka Job title: Principal Pharmacist, Clinical Commissioning Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 020 8869 2218