UHWA Advanced Specialist Pharmacist

*******PLEASE COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM FULLY, CV'S ARE NOT ACCEPTED*********

The current temporary post is Maternity Leave cover.

Principal duties and responsibilities

The Advanced Specialist Pharmacist practices to a high level of capability across six domains of advanced practice aligned with International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Advanced Level II in the specialist area of practice.

The six domains of advanced practice are defined as follows:

• Expert Professional Knowledge
• Working with Others
• Leadership
• Management
• Education, Training and Development
• Research and Evaluation

Expert Professional Knowledge

• Lead and support medicines optimisation as part of a multidisciplinary team within the ACU and Cancer Service, UHW.
• Deliver a specialised level of clinical input using advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in haematology and oncology, also demonstrating high level of knowledge in other areas so as to take relevant co-morbidities into account when making treatment decisions commensurate with the grade.
• Provide specialised medication related advice. This will include individualised advice on medication dosing, drug choice, administration, drug level monitoring and dose adjustment, the use of unlicensed medicines, the use of medicines outside the terms of their product authorisation and advice on the safety and storage of medications.
• Provide medicines information and advice to patients and work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments.
• Contribute to the organisation’s wider antimicrobial stewardship programme.
• Contribute to pharmaceutical initiatives to ensure the optimisation of patient safety initiatives including those which help with the seamless transfer of patients between different healthcare settings.
• Be cognisant of and advise appropriately of regulations (Medicinal Products, Prescription and Control of Supply and Misuse of Drugs Regulations), as applicable to cancer and aseptic services.

Working with Others

• Act as a professional resource within the cancer services for advising other pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in the organisation.
• Liaise with all healthcare staff, patients and carers in all areas of work.
• Develop good working relationships and communications with all staff in the specialty multidisciplinary team, providing a link regarding all aspects of pharmacy service and medicines optimisation.
• Use available information to ensure the most appropriate and cost-effective choice of therapy.

Leadership

• Promote and lead in the development and delivery of best practice standards.
• Provide effective clinical leadership to pharmacists assigned to the cancer service and by working with other clinical leaders.
• Act as a role model to pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy students and all other members of the multidisciplinary team, working as a pharmacist expert in the area of specialty and networking with peers in other organisations.

Management

• Ensure the safe use of medicines by evaluating and managing risks associated with the use of medicines and by participating in the hospital’s Medicines Safety reporting process.
• Ensure the cost-effective use of medicines.
• Contribute to formulary development and implementation.
• Manage and professionally supervise other pharmacy staff assigned to the cancer service.
• Lead and/ or contribute to the development and implementation of SOPs, guidelines, protocols etc. relevant to the ACU and Cancer Service.
• Continually monitor the service to ensure it reflects current needs.
• Optimise the potential of pharmacy resources, skills and knowledge through monitoring and evaluation, underpinned by research and professional development within their area of speciality.
• Implement and manage identified changes.
• Contribute to the service planning process.
• Actively participate in risk management issues, identify risks and take responsibility for appropriate action.
• Report and manage any adverse incidents in accordance with organisational guidelines.
• Under the direction of their line manager, investigate critical incidents within the cancer services and work with the multidisciplinary team to identify and implement preventative and corrective solutions in order to improve patient care.
• Be aware of, contribute to, and implement agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
• Participate in individual performance review.
• Maintain records according to local and statutory requirements.

Education, Training and Development

• Undertake continuous professional development and develop professional knowledge and competencies.
• Identify own training needs and provide evidence of maintaining and updating specialist and general pharmacy knowledge.
• Participate in mandatory training programme
• Develop, support and assist in the training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students in their area of speciality as appropriate.
• Develop and/or deliver teaching sessions for NCHDs, nurses and/ or HSCPs in relation to medication in their area of speciality.
• Participate in education and training in an external environment as required by the Pharmacist Executive Manager. This may include having teaching responsibility in universities.

Research and Evaluation

• Lead and contribute to audit and quality improvement initiatives.
• Actively promote the implementation of evidence-based practice within the area of speciality and/or organisation.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to contribute to research and its application within the area of speciality and/or organisation.
• Presentation of research or evaluation findings at research or professional symposium.

General

• Have cognisance of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards, antimicrobial stewardship, medication safety etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.
• Promote a safe working environment in accordance with Health and Safety legislation.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

The above job specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.