Role Summary
- To lead and provide a high quality, safe and patient focused clinical pharmacist service to the Acute Hospital at Home (AHAH) service (also known as Virtual Ward) across Northern and Eastern services to meet professional, care group and Trust requirements.
- To provide specialist pharmacist advice on medicines to AHAH service within the Trust, prescribers, clinicians, nursing staff and patients.
- To deliver high quality patient care in line with legislation, national guidance and specifications.
- Optimise clinical outcomes, improve medicines safety and deliver best value from medicines within the AHAH service.
- To work as an independent prescriber managing a defined patient caseload.
- To participate in the wider pharmacy service and its development in response to patient care needs.
- To contribute to the development of medicines management and optimisation throughout the patient care pathway.
- To provide line management for the AHAH Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician.
About the Role
For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.
More detail about the role
We are looking for an innovative and experienced clinical pharmacist to join the clinical pharmacy acute care team and enhance our pharmaceutical service provision to Acute Hospital at Home "AHAH" (Virtual Ward) patients across Northern and Eastern services.
The Trust’s AHAH beds form a key component of the clinical strategy objective to reduce acute admission and length of stay so that patients can be safely monitored and treated at home without the need for admission.
This is an exciting role in a fast pace clinical environment that will require the post holder to use their professional knowledge, skills and expertise to work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide pharmaceutical support to a variety of patient pathways including (but not limited to) frailty, ACS, heart failure and AF.
You will be an excellent communicator and confident decision maker as you will be communicating with patients who are AHAH inpatients in their own home. You will be conducting polypharmacy medication reviews and communicating with colleagues in primary care, community pharmacy and community services staff in addition to hospital staff, patients and carers.
The successful candidate should have a good understanding of all aspects of pharmaceutical provision including understanding options for medication supplies for AHAH patients and responding to complex medication queries from healthcare professionals, patients and carers.
You must be highly self-motivated, able to demonstrate leadership skills and have the ability to plan and work, both independently and as part of the wider healthcare team, to deliver excellent pharmaceutical care to our patients.
This post provides a unique opportunity to join the pharmacy team at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and enhance our ability to provide medicines support for Acute Hospital at Home patients (also known as virtual ward).
The successful candidate will be based in Barnstaple or Exeter and work to support patient care for AHAH patients across our Northern and Eastern services and will be required to travel occasionally between sites.
Patients receiving treatment from the Acute Hospital at Home service receive the same care, monitoring and treatment as other inpatients in an acute hospital bed but from their own home.
You will work as part of the multidisciplinary AHAH team which includes pharmacy colleagues, doctors, nurses, therapists and clinical support workers.
Further information about the AHAH service within Royal Devon is available on our Trust website here: https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/services/community-services/caring-for-you-at-home/acute-hospital-at-home-ahah/
Job responsibilities
The full job description outlines the key areas of responsibility for the role and the person specification details the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience required. For more information on the Job Description please view the attachment linked to the advert.
If you believe you have the skills and experience necessary to fulfil this role we look forward to hearing from you.
This post has been identified as involving access to vulnerable adults and/or children and in line with Trust policy successful applicants will be required to undertake a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure Check/Enhanced Disclosure Check.
Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week. Including late duties, bank holidays and weekend working.
Interview Date: Thursday 16th January 2025
For further information and to arrange an informal visit to meet the team, please contact Sam Smith, Integrated Pharmacy Services Lead on 01392 402427 or Marco da Matta Coelho, Clinical Pharmacy Manager, Exeter on 01392 404809.
This is a fixed term contract for 12 months. For current NHS employees this post could be a secondment opportunity.
As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.
About Us
Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).
Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more
It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.
Benefits
Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.
If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.
You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.
We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.
This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.
Salary is not the only financial benefit
You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:
- National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
- Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
- Car lease schemes.
- The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
- Cycle to work scheme
These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.
