Friendly Hospital NHS Trust
Agenda for Change: Job Description
Job Title: /Pharmacist
Directorate/Department: / Clinical Support ServicesPharmacy
Work Location: / Friendly Hospital NHS Trust
Band: / 6
Hours Per Week: / 37.5
Accountable to: / Principal Pharmacist, Development
Accountable for:
Main Purpose: / Performing general pharmaceutical duties under the direction of a more senior pharmacist; supervising and advising supporting staff
Background: / Band 6 pharmacists undertake a planned rotation that will develop their knowledge and skills in all aspects of hospital pharmacy whilst contributing to the work of the department. The rotation covers Dispensary Services, Medicines’ Information, Clinical Pharmacy and Sterile and Non-Sterile Preparation. Each rotation period is normally of three months duration.
Band 6 pharmacists are expected to be able to work without immediate professional support and guidance from a more senior pharmacist.
They are expected to take part in the locking up, weekend and Bank Holiday rotas and are expected to undertake emergency duty commitment on a rota basis.
General Duties: / 1. Providing professional supervision of the dispensing process. Monitoring prescriptions and referring to the prescriber any unusual doses, potential drug interactions, incompatibilities or other unusual features for confirmation or revision before dispensing. Assisting in the issue of routine stock items to wards and departments.
2. Supervising and checking the work of pharmacy technicians and other supporting staff; ensuring that all work is carried out in accordance with statutory requirements and the procedures and standards of professional practice of the department.
3. Participating in the clinical pharmacy services(1) under the direction(2) of the Head of Clinical Pharmacy.
4. Providing information and advice on the safe, effective and economical use of medicines to patients, relatives and health professionals, including the giving of occasional lectures on appropriate topics.
5. Preparing and checking sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical products, including those supplied as part of the radiopharmacy, parenteral nutrition, central intravenous additive and cytotoxic reconstitution services.
6. Carrying out quality assurance procedures for medicinal products prepared or handled in the Pharmaceutical Department.
7. Assisting in the training of pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians, pre-registration graduates and other supporting staff.
8. Contributing to the development of the service by participating in audits and identifying to the section head areas for improvement.
9. Taking part in study days and courses of continuing education for pharmaceutical staff in accordance with the needs of the service. Actively maintaining a personal CPD portfolio.
10. Participating in rotas to cover locking up, Bank Holiday and weekend services(3).
11. Providing an emergency pharmacy service, out of hours, on a rota basis(4).
12. Fostering good personal and professional relationships with medical, nursing and other staff.
13. Providing occasional holiday and sickness relief in other hospitals served by the Trust and performing other pharmaceutical duties as required.
Notes:
1) “Clinical pharmacy service”: ie visiting one or more wards on a daily basis in order to ensure the safe, effective and economic use of medicines, liaising with medical and nursing staff, patients and carers as necessary.
2) “under the direction”: wards allocated by the clinical Pharmacy manager according to the ability of the B-grade pharmacist and the needs of the service. Whilst some visits would be accompanied for training and assessment purposes, in most cases the B-grade pharmacist would be working independently with advice available if required.
3) Bank Holidays approximately once per year. ‘Weekend’ may be either Saturday or Sunday opening periods, as required by the service, normally 1 in 5.
4) Emergency duty on a 1 in 11 rota
Relationships: / 1. Supervised by the pharmacist or technician in charge of the section in which work is allocated but, in order to develop management skills and experience, will be required to manage that section for limited periods in the absence of that pharmacist or technician.
2. Supervises pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians, pre-registration graduates and other supporting staff.
3. Liaises with doctors, nurses and other members of the health-care team in order to optimise the medical treatment of patients.
Additional Duties:
Health and Safety: / The attention of all staff is brought to the Trust and Departmental Health and Safety Policies. Staff are reminded of their responsibility to take care of their own personal safety and others whilst at work. In addition, no person shall interfere with, or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare. Any employee who does so will be liable to serious disciplinary action including dismissal.
Confidentiality / All employees of Friendly Hospital NHS Trust are reminded of the need to treat all information, particularly clinical and management information, as confidential. Failure to respect this requirement may lead to disciplinary action.
This job description will be reviewed yearly as part of the annual individual performance review, to ensure that it reflects the responsibilities of the post. No changes will be made without full consultation with the post-holder.
Last Updated / 17 December 2009
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Friendly Hospital NHS Trust
Friendly Hospital NHS Trust
Agenda for Change: Person Specification
Headings / Essential / DesirablePhysical requirements of the post / Professional appearance and demeanour
Able to maintain concentration
Clear speech in English
Good general health
Able to use telephone / Able to lift and handle ward boxes, boxes of fluids etc
Qualifications training required / UK Masters Degree in Pharmacy, or equivalent qualification
Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (MRPharmS), although current pre-reg OK to interview for subsequent appointment, once qualified / Further relevant post-reg qualification
Previous or relevant experience necessary / Approved pre-registration experience (successfully completed/about to be completed)
Minimum of 3 months post-qualification experience, preferably in a hospital pharmacy / Further all round hospital experience as pre-reg or basic grade
Aptitudes and skills required / Attentive to details, accurate work
Able to solve problems and know when to refer
Able to prioritise work
Good communication skills
Sound clinical knowledge
Numerate / Ability to use word-processor and spreadsheets
Driving licence
Supervisory experience
Personal qualities/ temperament / Initiative
Able to work as part of a team or independently (ie wards, on-call)
Cheerful, able to cope with pressure and maintain concentration
Special requirements of the post / Job will involve weekend working on rotation and some late duties during the week
Willing and able to undertake further formal education - ie Clinical Certificate, if not already obtained / Willingness to undertake emergency duty – normally a requirement of the post, appointments without this will be exceptional.
Outside interests / Evidence of team working, preferably with leadership role
For Administrative purposes only:
Agenda for Change Job Reference Number
Job Title: / Pharmacist (Band 6) (Full-Time)
Department and or Directorate: / Clinical Support Services / Pharmacy
Current Jobholder:
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