About this role
Job summary
Due to maternity leave cover of the existing post-holder, we have an exciting opportunity to join the Pharmacy team as Principal Pharmacist for Commissioning, Formulary & Medicines Information.
As a direct report to the cross-site Head of Medicines Governance, Safety & Quality, this post-holder will be the department lead for our Medicines Use team (covering the Medicines Information service, management of high-cost medicines recharge / data submission and tasks related to the Drugs & Therapeutics Committee).
The post-holder will have a close working relationship with the Medication Safety Officer and other Principal Pharmacists / Pharmacy Technicians across our portfolio of Digital, E&T, Operations as well as linked to our Clinical Service Lines. Outside of the department, you will work closely with finance, information team, clinicians and partners across the healthcare system.
The post-holder will lead on establishing and maintaining robust reporting mechanisms to ensure good medicines governance and medicines financial governance across all BHFT sites.
You will be encouraged to maintain any prior clinical specialism.
Main duties of the job
1. To be responsible for leading the Medicines Use Teams (Commissioning, Formulary and Medicines Information) at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. This team is responsible for:
a. The operational running and work plan development of the Trust Drugs and Therapeutics Committee,
b. Maintenance of the joint medicines formulary (jointly with partners across BLMK and Central East ICB)
c. Co-ordinating the commissioning element of high cost medicines excluded from the National Tariff Payment System, including liaison with commissioners on medicines management related issues and internal finance / information teams
d. The operational running of the Medicines Information Service
e. Leading the Trust medicines Cost Improvement Plan (CIP)
f. Overseeing the education of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and other staff in activities related to medicines use
2. To lead on the Bedfordshire Hospitals Drugs and Therapeutics Committee operations and work programme and to work closely with the Professional Secretary for the Central East Area Prescribing Committee
3. To act as a professional role model for all registered clinical pharmacy staff, actively demonstrating integrity, ownership and leadership in all aspects of the role
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see complete Job description for full breakdown of roles and responsibilities, this is included in the supporting documents
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Masters degree in Pharmacy plus GPhC registration Postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent
Desirable
Member of professional body e.g. RPS, UKCPA Postgraduate MSc in Pharmacy Practice or equivalent Approved management or leadership qualification
Experience Essential
Substantial experience of working in a hospital pharmacy Experienced in working with and influencing senior medical / nursing staff Leadership and line management of a team including performance reviews Experience in policy writing and implementation Experience in undertaking critical evaluations and appraisals of new medicines / indications Experience of monitoring medicines budget and advising clinical teams / finance on areas of activity vs opportunities for improvement Ability to work accurately under pressure and to manage time effectively, working to deadlines Experience of implementing cost-efficiency plans at Trust wide level Experience of running a prescribing committee or equivalent
Desirable
Active member of pharmacy professional group / networks High cost drug (NICE TA) implementation and monitoring Experience and use of HCD system i.e. Blueteq Understanding and experience of managing individual funding requests
Knowledge Essential
Advanced knowledge of Medicines Information, Commissioning and Formulary processes Experience in using medicines information systems
Desirable
Understanding of commissioning of high cost medicines at system level comprehensive knowledge of trust management of patient data and activity coding
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Bedfordshire Hospitals - Cross site working
Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Lewsey Road, Luton
Luton and Bedford
LU4 0DZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)