About this role
Job summary
The Palliative Care Pharmacist is the lead pharmacist for Rotherham Hospice and provides strategic and operational leadership and medicines advice for safe, effective and person centred use of medicines across all hospice services.
Main duties of the job
Working as part of the Care Navigation hub, the post holder works with the Head of Care Navigation, Triage Manager, Doctors, Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) with expert advice on medicines, prescribing and stewardship. They oversee the onsite drugs room, work closely with TRFT pharmacy services for medicines supply, and lead the hospice transition to e prescribing.
The Palliative Care Pharmacist is responsible for clinical pharmacy services, medicines governance, policies and audits, and for ensuring that medicines support Living Lifes Wishes, helping patients to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life in the safest and most effective way possible.
About us
Rotherham Hospice is a charity dedicated to the people of Rotherham, offering specialist palliative and end of life care to our community since 1996.
We provide comprehensive, compassionate care through two primary patient services:
24-hour, 14-bed Inpatient Service 24-hour Hospice at Home ServiceAdditionally, we offer wider support to patients and their families through:
Complementary therapies & hairdressing Counselling and Bereavement Support for adults, children and teenagers Day services with individual and group sessions Family memory events Occupation therapy and physiotherapy Social work Spiritual care Tailored experiences for patients and loved ones
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
Deliver expert pharmaceutical care to hospice inpatients, day patients, and community patients where applicable
Review and optimise medication regimens for symptom control e.g. pain, nausea, agitation, breathlessness
Provide advice on complex prescribing, including syringe drivers and anticipatory medications
Support deprescribing and rationalisation of medicines in line with patient goals of care
Monitor for adverse drug reactions and interactions, particularly in frail and complex patients
Participate in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings
Medicines Management
Ensure the safe, legal, and effective supply of medicines within the hospice
Oversee controlled drugs management in accordance with UK legislation
Develop and implement policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures
Support audit and quality improvement initiatives related to medicines use
Contribute to formulary development and cost-effective prescribing
Education and Training
Provide training and education to healthcare professionals on palliative care pharmacotherapy
Support the development of junior pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff
Offer guidance to patients and carers on medication use, including administration and side effects
Patient and Family Support
Provide compassionate, patient-centred counselling on medicines
Support patients and families in understanding treatment options and symptom management
Contribute to advance care planning discussions where appropriate
Governance and Quality
Participate in clinical audit, research, and service evaluation
Ensure compliance with professional standards e.g. GPhC, NICE, local policies
Contribute to risk management and incident reporting processes
E prescribing preparation and implementation
Lead the planning and implementation of e prescribing within the hospice, working with clinical, IT and external partners.
Contribute to system design, testing, training and go live planning to ensure safe and user friendly e prescribing processes.
Develop and maintain associated policies, procedures and guidance for e prescribing and medicines administration.
Team leadership and development
Line manage and support the Pharmacy Technician, ensuring regular supervision, appraisal and development.
Promote a culture of openness, learning and high standards within the pharmacy and Care Navigation teams.
General
Act at all times in line with the values and behaviours of Rotherham Hospice.
Ensure compliance with hospice policies, including health and safety, infection prevention and control, safeguarding, lone working, information governance and confidentiality.
Participate in meetings, training and mandatory updates as required.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role and grade, as agreed with the Head of Care Navigation.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Masters degree in Pharmacy - MPharm or equivalent Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council - GPhC Postgraduate clinical pharmacy experience Experience working in hospital or specialist clinical settings Strong knowledge of pharmacotherapy, particularly in pain and symptom management Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team Independent Prescriber qualification, or working towards
Desirable
Experience in palliative care, oncology, or geriatrics Postgraduate diploma or MSc in clinical pharmacy or palliative care Experience in hospice and community-based care
Experience Essential
Compassion and sensitivity when working with patients at end of life. Strong clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills. Attention to detail and commitment to patient safety. Ability to manage complex and emotionally challenging situations. Commitment to continuous professional development. Professional, reliable and accountable, with high standards of integrity. Detail focused and safety conscious. Compassionate and person centred, with a focus on quality of life. Flexible and adaptable, able to work across services and respond to change. Enthusiasm for developing pharmacy and medicines optimisation in a hospice environment.
Desirable
Ability to design and deliver training and education sessions. Skills in data analysis and presentation for medicines related reports.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name The Rotherham Hospice
Address Broom Road
Rotherham
South Yorkshire
S60 2SW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.rotherhamhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)