Band 7 Clinical Pharmacist - AWP and BNSSG ICB

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Looking for a unique change? A new pharmacy sector to work in? BNSSG ICB and AWP Mental Health Trust have joined forces to give you that opportunity you’re looking for, in a split mental health and medicines optimisation role! If you are a pharmacist with a passion for improving the lives of those suffering with mental health conditions, and relish the chance to work across the secondary care/primary care interface to do this, as well as a medicines optimisation role, then this is the job for you.

You will work 3 days per week in the mental health trust, and 2 days in GP practices, in either North Somerset, South Gloucestershire or Bristol.

The mental health part of the role involves working for AWP Mental Health Trust in the Bristol locality, with healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors and allied health professionals, as well as colleagues in primary care. The role will focus on collaborative working, supporting the Locality Lead Pharmacists to improve the clinical pharmacy service, ultimately securing better outcomes for our patients.

In the ICB role you will be part of a large team that works hard to drive forward the ICB’s medicines optimisation agenda. The role includes working closely with GP practices, promoting patient focussed care, undertaking a variety of medication related clinical projects, as well as assisting GP practices to manage their prescribing budget.

Main duties of the job

AWP:

• Provision of a clinical pharmacy service to inpatient units and community teams within the North Somerset, Bristol and South Glos localities.
• Provision of specialist pharmaceutical expertise to MDTs and answering of medicines information enquiries
• Attend multidisciplinary rounds, team meetings and ward rounds.
• Participation in the education and training of all grades of staff within the Trust on issues concerned with medicines
• Provide advice and information about medicines to service users and carers.
• Undertake sessions within the Callington Road dispensary acting as the dispensary pharmacist.
• Participate in audits and projects to review and improve the pharmacy service.

BNSSG ICB: 

• Assist practices to develop a pattern of prescribing that is optimised for quality, minimises risk, is evidence based, financially sustainable and meets regulatory requirements.
• At practice level assist in the implementation of local and national policies relating to medicines management.
• Support Practices to undertake Medicines Optimisation projects in line with the BNSSG Prescribing Quality Scheme.
• Promote and positively influence the use of the BNSSG formulary within BNSSG GP practices to encourage cost-effective, evidence based prescribing.
• Responsible for working with practices to manage their practice prescribing budget.
• Analyse and interpret highly complex data for the relevant GP practices and report prescribing trends which may need further analys.

Working for our organisation

AWP

The AWP pharmacy service supplies medication and provides clinical support to wards and teams across our core catchment area. We have two dispensaries: We have two dispensaries: one in Calne (Wiltshire) and one at Callington Road Hospital (Bristol). As well as managing the medicines supply chain in the trust, we support the safe and effective use of medicines throughout the organisation through our clinical work, enquiry answering, medicines governance activity and many other roles. The team are friendly, dynamic and evolving, with aspirations to improve patient care across the AWP geography. Support from other experienced mental health pharmacists and technicians is always available.

BNSSG ICB

The Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICB has 74 GP practices, which serve a population of over a million people. Our mission is to make healthcare better for everyone that lives in BNSSG. We will do this by putting people’s needs at the heart of our decision making and ensuring that the voice of local people shapes what we do as we seek to get the very best value from the resources we have available.

The Medicines Optimisation Pharmacists are a well-established team working within the practices, having excellent working relationships with all involved at the practice and at ICB level.

Applicants must be a pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and be able to demonstrate continuing professional development. You must demonstrate how your experience and skills meet the criteria listed in the Job Description and person specification in order for your application to be shortlisted.

Applicants should have strong communication skills including report writing and presentation skills, experience of working with clinicians and influencing prescribing.

Excellent organisational skills are essential as is effective time management and successful project delivery. Candidates will be expected to be able to analyse, interpret and present complex information and identify solutions to complex problems.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Masters or equivalent degree in pharmacy, approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Registered Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Post-graduate qualification in clinical or mental health pharmacy (diploma or MSc) or willing to undertake this qualification.

Desirable criteria

• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
• Membership of the College of Mental Health Pharmacists.
• Post-graduate qualification in mental health pharmacy.
• Non-medical prescriber.
• Experience & knowledge.

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in primary care, secondary care or ICB setting post qualification.
• Knowledge of the pharmacological treatment options for different mental health conditions including their adverse effects.
• Experience in providing both written and verbal information on medicines use.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of multi professional team working and an ability to promote the role of the pharmacist within it.
• Good knowledge and understanding of audit methodology.

Desirable criteria

• Experienced in writing guidelines and reports.
• Clinical pharmacy experience in mental health or similar related specialty.
• Education and training of others.
• Experience of successfully delivering and managing projects.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Competent with standard information technology, pharmacy computer systems and associated tools.
• Ability to demonstrate attention to detail, accuracy and calculation skills.
• Ability to access, review and process complex clinical and financial/ budgetary / prescribing information from appropriate sources.
• Ability to critically appraise information and clinical papers.
• Good problem solving skills.
• Good time management and prioritization skills.