Lead Pharmacist Childrens Services

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Closing Date: 20.04.25 (this may change dependent on response)

Shortlisting to take place after closing date: commencing 21.04.25

Interview expected to take place in the week following shortlisting: commencing 28.04.25

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, highly motivated pharmacist to join the Paediatric / Neonatal team at Bradford Teaching Hospitals. You will be supported by a team of experienced clinicians who value your input and contribution to patient care.

The post offers a fantastic prospect to progress from a band 7 to a band 8a. There will be a gradual introduction of key responsibilities as experience is gained over time. After being in the post and being able to demonstrate you have met the key responsibilities, you will be eligible for progression to band 8a lead paediatric / neonatal pharmacist.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively as part of a friendly and supportive multidisciplinary team to enhance services and deliver optimal pharmaceutical care for infants, children and young people, whether acutely ill or managing long-term conditions. You will supervise and teach others as part of our role.

We are committed to develop our staff, working closely with our clinical pharmacy and education and training team. We welcome applications from pharmacists who want to start a career in hospital pharmacy and have a passion for the care of neonates, children and young people.

Main duties of the job

This role offers the opportunity to work alongside the ward based paediatric medicines optimisation assistant, to provide pharmacy services to paediatric clinical areas. You will also provide pharmacy services to the neonatal ward. You will be involved in driving innovative improvements in line with governance, legislation and cost saving goals. You will be at the forefront of enhancing pharmaceutical care and services for our youngest patients.

You will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high quality care to paediatric and neonatal patients, guided by national, regional and local directives. The world of paediatric and neonatal care is ever evolving, and you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of pharmacy services in these areas. This role is ideal for a passionate, eager and innovative pharmacist.

The paediatric ward has 41 inpatient beds and is attached to the Children's Clinical Decision Area which is in the paediatric assessment unit. Our neonatal unit has 40 cots split between NICU and TCU. As a level 3 NICU, they care for some of the sickest / earliest born babies. Our neonatal unit has recently received an "Outstanding" rating from CQC.

Job responsibilities

Progression Milestones:

The postholder is expected to achieve the following milestones in order to progress from a band 7 to band 8a. This is expected within 2 years of the post start date. Extensions may be discussed with the Clinical Services Manager.

Clinical Milestones:

1. Qualify as an independent prescriber and provide evidence of prescribing to a satisfactory standard.
2. Provide expert advice on pharmaceutical matters, understanding risk management and ensuring compliance with guidelines and formulary.
3. Provide pharmaceutical advice and support to the multidisciplinary team meetings.

Management:

1. Successful completion of management course.
2. Line management/supervision of junior staff to satisfaction of Education and Training Lead Pharmacist.

Directorate:

1. Service improvement task demonstration of leadership improving some aspect of the pharmacy service to the directorate.
2. Review and update guidelines, policies and actively update pharmacy staff on drug shortages and formulation switches or switching to generics.
3. Provide feedback from doctors and nursing staff within the directorate.

Main responsibilities:

1. To lead and strategically develop the clinical pharmacy service to the specialist areas in line with patient needs and priorities set by the Clinical Services Manager, in order to ensure the delivery of a high quality, patient centered and effective clinical pharmacy service.
2. To contribute effectively to patient care as part of the multidisciplinary team, by attending ward round or other appropriate meetings, in order to make proactive interventions in individual patients therapy and to provide information on drug related issues and to act as the lead pharmacy contact for the specialist area.
3. Communicate specialised drug or medicine related information to patients, relatives, prescribers and other health professionals.
4. To provide counselling to patients (and/or carers where appropriate) on any aspects of medication use, in order to improve understanding and compliance with the prescribed regimen.
5. To review patients medication at each step of the drug use process in order to ensure optimum therapy in line with the Trust Formulary and treatment guidelines, in order to reduce the prescribing of unsuitable or unnecessary drugs.
6. To contribute to the multidisciplinary identification, review and development and ratification of treatment guidelines and policies in the specialist area, in order to promote safe and evidence-based patient care.
7. To update and implement existing drugrelated guidelines in the specialist area, and to provide support in the implementation of NICE guidelines as required, in order to optimise patient care.
8. To advise the Assistant Director of Pharmacy - Clinical Services and Director of Pharmacy as necessary on any local or national issues or legislation relevant to the specialist areas, in order to ensure that any implications can be recognised and actioned at an appropriate senior level in the Trust.
9. To lead, facilitate and participate in the development, implementation, monitoring, review and analysis of departmental audit/research projects in order to ensure that cost improvement and quality targets are met.
10. To manage as necessary the work of the pharmacists and ward-based technicians working in the specialist areas, in order to maintain and further develop a high quality pharmacy workforce.
11. To manage, within the specialised area, the teaching of Trainee Pharmacists and Early Careers Pharmacists, medical and nursing staff to help support them in their induction, development and obtaining their qualification.
12. To provide multidisciplinary education and training on all aspects of medicines management.
13. Co-ordinate practice research within the Pharmacy Directorate for the specialist area; this includes identifying areas of research, acting as a research mentor for students, implementing research findings and promoting publications of audit and research findings locally or nationally.
14. Participates in multidisciplinary and departmental audit/research activities, in order to ensure that cost-improvement and quality targets are met.

Person Specification Experience

• Significant post-registration experience in all aspects of hospital pharmacy
• Training and/or significant experience in clinical teaching / tutoring, audit, practice research, risk management
• Experience of working in a similar role

Skills

• Accurate and concise written and oral communication skills
• Able to receive, summarise, communicate and present information to a wide range of professionals across the Trust
• Proven persuasion and negotiation skills (to influence prescribing), tact and diplomacy skills
• Effective independent and team working skills
• Ability to analyse and interpret a wide range of clinical information
• Proven problem solving approach on a wide range of clinical issues, and able to think laterally to develop new ideas
• Able to assess staff performance against agreed standards and criteria, and to provide feedback and development
• Able to prioritise with consultation, prioritise, plan and adjust current pharmacy services within the specialised area
• Able to work effectively to short, medium, long-term and changing deadlines
• Able to work effectively in front of an audience.
• Able to review and provide specialised advice on medicine use in specific clinical areas.
• Able to obtain, interpret, analyse and report on drug expenditure within the specialised area.
• Able to work independently and under guidance, within departmental, Trust and statutory and professional codes of practice/ethics

Knowledge

• Broad knowledge of therapeutics
• Specialised knowledge of therapeutics and medicine use within acute medicine
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the formulation, preparation, and therapeutic action of medicines

Qualifications

• MPharm or equivalent
• Registered as a Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent experience
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
• Working towards Faculty Accreditation

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.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust