Senior Pharmacist

Position: Senior Pharmacist

Job Specification and Terms and Conditions

Job Title and Grade

Senior Pharmacist (Fixed Term Contract 6 months)

Closing Date

05/10/2026

Proposed Interview Date(s)

09/10/2026 TBC

Taking up Appointment

To be indicated at job offer stage.

Location of Post:

Leopardstown Park Hospital

Details of Service

Leopardstown Park Hospital is a registered centre for the provision of services to older people, it provides Respite, Rehabilitation, Day services and Long-Term Care, situated in South Co. Dublin. It was established in 1917 and continues to provide interdisciplinary services on a seven-day, twenty-four-hour basis.

It is currently registered for 120 long stay beds

Reporting Relationship

The Senior Pharmacist will report directly to the Pharmacist Executive Manager 1

Purpose of the Post

To support the Pharmacist Executive Manager 1 in the day to day running and the future development of the pharmacy service.

To participate in the ward based clinical pharmacy services

Provide effective, efficient, and safe pharmaceutical care to all patients under their care in Leopardstown Park Hospital.

To provide prescribing and professional advice to medical, nursing and other healthcare professionals, including other pharmacists, and contribute to good clinical governance in the use of medicines.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

General Accountability

• Participate in the Pharmaceutical Service as part of a professional and dedicated team.
• Support the Pharmacist Executive Manager 1 in the day to day running and the future development of the pharmacy service.
• Create, promote and maintain open communication and healthy working relationships.
• Maintain throughout Leopardstown Park Hospital, awareness of the privacy of the service user / resident in relation to all hospital activities.
• Demonstrate behaviour consistent with the values of Leopardstown Park Hospital.

Specific Accountability

Clinical Service

Provide a resident/patient focused clinical pharmacy service including prescription review, patient counselling, and medication reconciliation on admission.

Act as a specialist resource to the residents/patients and other healthcare professionals.

Ensure that the needs of residents/patients and professional staff are being adequately met by the pharmaceutical service provided. This will involve providing help and advice to residents/ patients and staff on all aspects of therapy and collaborating with community pharmacists to ensure continuity of supply of medication where necessary.

Ensure the safe use of medicines by evaluating and managing risks associated with the use of medicines.

Implement policies, procedures and guidelines relating to medicines management.

Dispensary Services

• Dispensing medication in accordance with the PSI guidelines and relevant legislation
• Ensure that patients have all required drug therapy available to them when required, in so far as is possible, taking pharmacy and supplier opening hours into consideration.
• Comply with pharmacy department procedures for the supply and return of medication supplies to clinical areas.
• Assist in avoidance of stock outages by timely ordering of medications.
• Ensure that all drug distribution practices conform to local pharmacy policies and good dispensing practice e.g. dispensing of hi-tech meds, dispensing of fridge items, dispensing in accordance with pharmacy ICT recording requirements
• Advise and assist in developing, implementing and reviewing drug supply, storage and handling policies in pharmacy and clinical areas
• Monitoring the medicine fridge temperatures throughout the hospital through the electronic system

Work systems

• Be fully conversant with all approved systems of work and documentation associated with the pharmaceutical care of the resident/patient, at the level of the pharmacy department, clinical area, and at an organisational level.
• Ensure that quality systems are operating correctly.
• Ensure unused, out of date medications and returns are disposed of in accordance with Hospital practice and legislation.
• Ensure that all documentation is completed in accordance with any relevant policies, in a timely manner and filed appropriately when complete.
• Identify and address deficiencies in medications management systems, where applicable.
• Highlight any discrepancies, incidents or inadequacies in services to the Pharmacist Executive Manager 1.
• Work collaboratively with all members of the pharmacy and wider healthcare teams to deliver an integrated pharmacy service.
• Act as a liaison between the dispensary and healthcare staff in clinical areas.
• Identify and participate in Quality / Value for Money initiatives.

IT Skills

A willingness to develop Information Technology skills relevant to the role.

Policy and practice guideline development and review

Assist in the development and review of pharmacy and multi-disciplinary medication management policies to optimise patient care, improve efficiency and reduce risk to the patient and healthcare professional.

Participate in policy implementation in clinical areas at a departmental or multi-disciplinary level.

Participate in hospital committees as appropriate.

Educational

Participate in continuing education consistent with the post. Attend such study days and continuing education courses as may be deemed necessary for the development of both the service and the individual.

Health & Safety

• Comply with and enact Health and Safety responsibilities as outlined in hospital policies, protocols and procedures relevant to your area.
• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others
• Be familiar with risk management reporting structures, identify risks and take appropriate action.
• Report any adverse incidents or near misses.
• Be responsible in highlighting risks to appropriate unit level managers & PEM1.
• Be familiar with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards: Residential care; Disabilities; Safer Better Healthcare; Prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections;Hygiene standards

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

Candidates must on the latest date for receipt of applications:

• Be registered in the Register of Pharmacists maintained by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) or be entitled to be so registered.
• Have not less than three years satisfactory post registration experience in a community or Hospital setting.
• Possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Desirable Skills, Competencies and Knowledge

• Have an understanding of the HIQA Medication Safety Monitoring
• Experience working in a care of the elderly setting, with an understanding of the pharmaceutical care needs of older adults.

Full Job Description available on request by email hr@lph.ie