Advanced Specialist Pharmacist - HIV

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for an Advanced Specialist Pharmacist - HIV (Band 8a) to lead and deliver a highly specialist HIV pharmacy service within Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The post holder will provide expert pharmaceutical care for patients with HIV across outpatient and inpatient settings, working as a core member of the multidisciplinary HIV team. The role supports safe, effective and evidence-based use of antiretroviral therapy in line with national guidance, including BHIVA standards, and contributes to service development, medicines optimisation, governance and prescribing activity (subject to qualification).

As part of maintaining broader clinical pharmacy services, the post holder will also spend approximately one day per week supporting general pharmacy clinical activities, including ward-based clinical services and dispensary work.

This is a key role in ensuring the Trust meets service specification requirements and manages medicines-related risk within HIV services.

Main duties of the job

• Lead and deliver a specialist clinical pharmacy service for patients with HIV.
• Provide expert advice on antiretroviral therapy, including complex regimens, drug interactions and resistance.
• Deliver clinic-based pharmacy services, including adherence support and patient counselling.
• Contribute to outpatient and inpatient services within the specialist area.
• Work as a key member of the multidisciplinary HIV team, contributing to MDT discussions and treatment planning.
• Provide specialist HIV medicines advice to pharmacy colleagues, ward teams and external healthcare professionals.
• Support general pharmacy clinical activities one day per week, including ward working and dispensary services.
• Support education and training for pharmacy staff and the wider MDT.

About us

The Pharmacy Department at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals is a large department (over 150 staff) and a friendly environment with established senior support. We are dedicated to education and professional development and encourage/support ongoing education. We have a very favourable on-call commitment, that all pharmacists in the department contribute to.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty-five-minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac, Haematology and Cystic fibrosis patients.

As one of the United Kingdom's largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents -it's not just a good place to work; it's a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers several scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the South.

Job responsibilities

• Ensure the safe, effective and costeffective use of medicines within the HIV service.
• Provide specialist clinical input for patients with complex HIV and comorbidities.
• Support inpatient HIV services, including access to specialist pharmacy advice.
• Contribute to medicines safety, incident review, audit and service improvement activity.
• Develop and review local guidelines, policies and procedures in line with Trust and national standards.
• Support medicines optimisation and service planning, including contribution to financial and activity information.
• Act as a professional role model, maintaining advanced specialist knowledge within HIV pharmacy practice.

See job description for further details.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Vocational master's degree in pharmacy.
• 12 months pre-registration training and experience.
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Non-medical Prescribing Qualification or working towards
• Postgraduate qualification in Clinical Pharmacy

Desirable

• MSc in Clinical Pharmacy
• Management/Leadership qualification
• Membership of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Minimum of 4 years post-registration experience of which 2 years must be within a Clinical Pharmacy role within a hospital setting at band 7
• Previous experience in providing information to support the annual budget setting process and trends within expenditure
• Previous experience in inputting to training programmes in a clinical setting
• Experience of working within a role involving multidisciplinary communication
• Demonstrable experience of staff supervision/ management including the ability to delegate appropriately
• Experience in the development of policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Experience in clinical audit

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Good interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills with ability to influence all members of the healthcare team
• Good organisational and time management skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and effectively as part of a team both within Pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
• Ability in problem solving
• Pro-active and innovative
• Ability to organise and motivate oneself and others efficiently
• Evaluates quality of own work
• Ability to think strategically
• Applies sound professional judgement to legal and ethical issues
• Good clinical pharmacy knowledge - maintains a broad level of pharmacy practice.
• Experience in Medicines Safety
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of safe pharmacy practice.

Desirable

• Good presentation skills
• Negotiating skills
• Understanding of key NHS issues in relation to Pharmacy
• Experience in investigating and identifying solutions for medication incidents.
• Previous experience of working within this clinical area.