Job description

Job responsibilities

Job overview

• Work as part of the multidisciplinary team and assist the senior pharmacists to deliver a high quality clinical pharmacy service to patients on the Assessment Unit in line with local and national objectives.
• Work as part of the Pharmacy team on the Assessment Unit to provide a 7 day pharmacy service as per agreed shift pattern
• Provide pharmacy support to the Ambulatory Unit and Surgical Assessment areas
• Support transition of care of patients from the Assessment Unit to other wards.
• To provide excellent patient care through direct patient facing activities.
• To support the senior pharmacists on the unit with developing relevant guidelines and undertaking audit work.
• Be responsible, on a day to day basis, for medicines reconciliation and medicines optimisation for patients on the Assessment unit who will be admitted onto a medical or surgical ward at PAH.

End date of fixed term 28/07/2027

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave—a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Services

• Liaise with prescribers, nurses and other health care professionals to ensure and efficient and high quality pharmacy service is provided to patients
• Undertake drug histories and medicines reconciliation processes of patients admitted onto the assessment unit
• Monitor prescriptions for clinical safety, accuracy and cost effective prescribing
• Advise on therapeutic monitoring as appropriate
• Ensure appropriate prescribing as per Trust Guidelines
• Ensure prescribing as per Trust formulary
• Counsel patients and carers about their medicines and treatments.
• Communicate general medicines related information and advice to patients and carers, consultants and their medical teams, and other healthcare professionals
• Assist ward staff with regard to provision of medicine supply
• Use interpersonal skills to develop and maintain relationships with patients and colleagues
• Provide advice on all aspects of pharmaceutical products as requested

Medicines Management & Service Development

• Assist the Band 8a Assessment Unit Pharmacists with initiatives to address identified prescribing issues and promote cost effective prescribing and drug expenditure control
• Assist the senior pharmacist(s) in investigating issues arising from medication incidents
• Support the development, implementation and monitoring of guidelines, protocols and standards to ensure safe and cost-effective use of medicines
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement processes within the Assessment Unit and in the Trust through clinical governance and risk management issues.
• Contribute to any audits applicable to the Assessment Unit
• Provide information and data for Pharmacy department key performance indicators (KPIs) to demonstrate activity and quality.
• Assist with Controlled Drugs management on the Assessment unit, including regular CD stock checks as per Trust policy, return of expired and unused patients own controlled drugs and appropriate stock levels.
• Write and/or review relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as requested by the Lead Pharmacist Education and Training/Deputy Chief Pharmacist.

Personal Development

• Assist and support the senior pharmacist on the Assessment Unit
• Manage own workload and contribute to the planning of pharmacy services to the Assessment Unit.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 1st degree - Vocational masters degree in Pharmacy
• One year's foundation training and registered with GPhC
• IT skills to at least ECDL standard or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Independent prescribing qualification or commitment to achieving following appointment.
• Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society and/or other professional groups to facilitate continuing professional development
• Postgraduate clinical qualification (over and above that of the 1st degree, preferably at Masters level) and/or significant relevant clinical experience to demonstrate a similar level of knowledge

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post-registration experience
• Experience of participating in audit activities
• Experience working on a busy hospital ward and working as part of an MDT

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.pah.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)