Palliative Care Pharmacist

Ad Warrior Ltd; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Ad Warrior Ltd is recruiting a Palliative Care Pharmacist to lead the hospice pharmacy service in Rotherham. The role involves strategic and operational medicines leadership across hospice services and close collaboration with care teams to ensure safe, effective and person-centred medication use.

The post holder will oversee the medicines room, work with TRFT pharmacy services for medicines supply, and lead the hospice transition to e-prescribing while upholding governance, audits, and policies

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert pharmaceutical care to hospice inpatients, day patients, and community patients
• Review and optimise medication regimens for symptom control
• 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

Job description

Palliative Care Pharmacist

Location: Rotherham

Salary: Competitive

Vacancy Type: Permanent, 37.5 hours per week (some flexibility may be required to support service needs)

Closing Date: 15th 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 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

Governance & Quality

• Participate in clinical audit, research, and service evaluation
• Ensure compliance with professional standards (e.g. GPhC, NICE, local policies)
• Contribute to risk management and incident reporting processes
• E prescribing preparation and implementation
• Lead the planning and implementation of e prescribing within the hospice, working with clinical, IT and external partners.
• Contribute to system design, testing, training and go live planning to ensure safe and user friendly e prescribing processes.
• Develop and maintain associated policies, procedures and guidance for e prescribing and medicines administration.