Specialist Renal Pharmacist - Band 7

Main duties of the job

• To support the Renal and Transplant pharmacy team in maintaining and developing the pharmaceutical service to the specialty.
• Provide expert clinical services including medicines reconciliation, advice on prescribing, therapeutic drug monitoring and concordance.
• Work closely with ward teams ensuring patient flow and timely discharge, including attendance at ward board rounds, liaising with relevant professionals and services, and transcribing of patient discharge medications.
• To assist the highly specialist pharmacists in delivering agreed standards of care to ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines.  This includes providing advice to patients and clinical staff and support in the administration of appropriate medicines management systems, including homecare and liaising with healthcare professionals within primary care and advice on highly complex medicines and chronic disease states.
• To assist the highly specialist pharmacists in the management of medicines expenditure via regular analysis and audits to identify and manage CIP savings. 
• Actively participate in audit, research and development.  Where appropriate publicise the results of such work through presentations and publications. 
• To provide education and training to other healthcare staff as appropriate. 

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Degree in pharmacy (4 year programme leading to MPharm, BPharm or BSc (Pharmacy)) together with equivalent experience
• One year pre-registration experience – pre-registration examination passed and tutor assessment satisfactory.
• Current registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
• Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or equivalent
• Independent prescriber (or willing to undertake training when requested)
• Has experience as a band 6 clinical pharmacist
• Postgraduate training/experience relevant to the specialist area
• Familiar with all relevant Trust policies and departmental
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Ability to proactively use, maintain and develop professional knowledge in specialist area to enhance patient care through the safe and effective use of medicines.
• Ability to manage time and prioritise effectively
• Ability to provide specialist clinical pharmacy services to identified wards/areas
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise effectively with staff at all levels within the Trust and the wider Integrated Care System
• Communicate effectively with patients/carers, healthcare professionals, colleagues within the pharmacy and staff working in primary care. Deals with queries from all these groups
• Ability to present information, both orally and written, in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to use own initiative and work as an individual or as part of a team using an adaptable and flexible approach.
• Able to advise on pharmacy legislation relevant to specialist area.
• Problem solving skills appropriate to the level of the post.
• Review and process complex information with minimum supervision.
• IT skills – pharmacy computer system, standard PC office software to ECDL level and data base searches

• In conjunction with the highly specialist renal & transplant pharmacists provide and develop a specialist pharmaceutical service to the Renal & Transplant specialty within the Trust.   
• Attend speciality meetings and meetings with Specialty and Divisional management teams as required and produce reports on activity as directed.
• Advise on strategies to ensure cost-effective use of resources and be involved with achieving CIP targets. Provide feedback regarding this to prescribers.
• Support achieving general pharmacy and appropriate specialist CQUIN targets.
• To support the highly specialist renal & transplant pharmacists to help progress the pharmacoeconomics element of the service.
• Record and investigate incidents in line with Trust procedures.
• Record clinical Pharmacy activity in line with departmental procedures.
• Audit and risk manage selected areas of practice to promote continuous quality improvement as required by the Division, Pharmacy department or the Trust.

• Clinically screen prescriptions to ensure the safe, efficient, evidence-based and rational use of medicines in line with the Trust Formulary and departmental policies so that risks to patients are minimised.
• Challenge inappropriate prescribing and escalate as appropriate.
• Support and promote antimicrobial stewardship
• Be the named pharmacy contact for the clinical screening of homecare prescriptions for renal & transplant outpatients.
• Ensure that an accurate medication history and a full medicines reconciliation (in line with Trust policy) is completed for all patients seen as part of a clinical pharmacy service to allocated inpatient ward(s).
• Provide advice and information to patients/carers to ensure compliance with complex treatment regimens including immune suppression and renal replacement therapies
• To lead on medication reviews to patients undergoing renal replacement therapy at satellite units
• Provide accurate medicines information to other healthcare professionals and patients.
• Provide support and implement the self-medication policy for patients able to manage their medications in this manner.
• Deliver effective management of patient's medication to ensure timely and seamless discharge of patients. Communicate effectively with healthcare colleagues in Primary care when necessary, as part of this process.
• Maintain medicines management systems in conjunction with patients/carers, ward staff and pharmacy staff.
• Provide professional supervision to Patients Services on a sessional basis including being the responsible pharmacist when required.

• Contribute to the training of pharmacy undergraduates, medical students, pre-registration pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and medical and nursing staff as appropriate.
• Train other pharmacists to provide cover to the renal & transplant service when needed.
• Support the development and training of trainee pharmacists as needed.
• Keep up to date with developments in pharmacy to maintain a high level of professional knowledge and competence. Attend study days and courses as necessary for the development of the service and the individual.
• Maintain a record of CPD in line with GPhC requirements.

• Represent specialist pharmaceutical interests in multidisciplinary meetings within the Trust and in the wider local health economy, sharing knowledge and experience with other neurosciences pharmacists at a local and national level.
• Act as a role model for less experienced pharmacists and promote best practice.
• Supervise medicines management technicians and/or other dedicated pharmacy staff.
• Responsible for conducting appraisals, one to one meetings and sickness absence interviews for staff under your line management.

• Provide professional supervision to Patients Services on a sessional basis including being the responsible pharmacist when required.
• Participate in the pharmacy weekend, bank holiday and late duty service.
• Participate in the pharmacy emergency duty “on-call” rota if required.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Professional knowledge acquired though vocational Masters degree in Pharmacy (4 years) or equivalent.
• Professional knowledge acquired though vocational Masters degree in Pharmacy (4 years) or equivalent.
• Current Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
• Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or other recognised postgraduate qualification to a similar standard or due to complete imminently
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Qualification as an independent prescriber or willingness to undertake this on appointment
• Suitable hospital pharmacy experience
• Previous experience at Band 6 hospital pharmacist
• Experience of audit and quality systems
• Can demonstrate the relevant level of knowledge, skills and abilities required of a Band 6 Pharmacist.
• Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge in order to enhance patient care
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with pharmacy staff, hospital staff and patients/carers.
• Able to manage time and prioritise effectively
• Knowledge of specialist area
• Knowledge of medicines optimisation issues affecting primary care, including NICE, local Formularies, local guidance development, patient group directions and legal frameworks relating to medicines.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of finance systems and management of this effectively
• Ability to review, process and present complex information in a clear and concise manner in a variety of formats
• Computer literate
• Adaptable and flexible approach to work
• Methodical and tidy worker
• Able to work under own initiative and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills

Desirable criteria

• Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or other recognised postgraduate qualification to a similar standard
• Hospital pharmacy experience relevant to the specialist area
• Evidence of leadership
• Teaching / tutorial and clinical supervisory skills