Palliative Care Pharmacist

Rotherham Hospice Ltd Careers; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Rotherham Hospice is seeking a Palliative Care Pharmacist to lead pharmaceutical services across all hospice settings, collaborating with the Care Navigation hub to ensure safe, person-centred medicines management.

The role includes overseeing medicines governance, policies, audits and contributing to formulary development while supporting staff education and quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert pharmaceutical care to hospice inpatients, day patients, and community patients where applicable.
• Review and optimise medication regimens for symptom control (pain, nausea, agitation, breathlessness).
• Provide advice on complex prescribing, including syringe drivers and anticipatory medications.
• Support deprescribing and rationalisation of medicines in line with patient goals of care.
• Monitor for adverse drug reactions and interactions, particularly in frail and complex patients.
• Participate in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
• Oversee controlled drugs management in accordance with UK legislation.
• Develop and implement policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures.
• Support audit and quality improvement initiatives related to medicines use.
• Contribute to formulary development and cost-effective prescribing.
• Provide training and education to healthcare professionals on palliative care pharmacotherapy.
• Support the development of junior pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff.
• Offer guidance to patients and carers on medication use, including administration and side effects.

Job description

Location: Rotherham
Salary: Competitive
Vacancy Type: Permanent, 37.5 hours per week (some flexibility may be required to support service needs)
Closing Date : 15 of November

The Palliative Care Pharmacist is the lead pharmacist for Rotherham Hospice and provides strategic and operational leadership and medicines advice for safe, effective and person-centred use of medicines across all hospice services. Working as part of the Care Navigation hub, the post holder works with the Head of Care Navigation, Triage Manager, Doctors, Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) with expert advice on medicines, prescribing and stewardship. They oversee the onsite drugs room, work closely with TRFT pharmacy services for medicines supply, and lead the hospice transition to e prescribing. The Palliative Care Pharmacist is responsible for clinical pharmacy services, medicines governance, policies and audits, and for ensuring that medicines support Living Life’s Wishes, helping patients to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life in the safest and most effective way possible.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities Deliver expert pharmaceutical care to hospice inpatients, day patients, and community patients where applicable Review and optimise medication regimens for symptom control (e.g. pain, nausea, agitation, breathlessness) Provide advice on complex prescribing, including syringe drivers and anticipatory medications Support deprescribing and rationalisation of medicines in line with patient goals of care Monitor for adverse drug reactions and interactions, particularly in frail and complex patients Participate in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings Medicines Management Ensure the safe, legal, and effective supply of medicines within the hospice Oversee controlled drugs management in accordance with UK legislation Develop and implement policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures Support audit and quality improvement initiatives related to medicines use Contribute to formulary development and cost-effective prescribing Education & Training Provide training and education to healthcare professionals on palliative care pharmacotherapy Support the development of junior pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff Offer guidance to patients and carers on medication use, including administration and side effects Education & Training Provide training and education to healthcare profe...