Senior Pharmacist

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Job Description

Department: Pharmacy

Reports to: Head of Pharmacy Service, Chief 2 Informatics Pharmacist

Date: 2025

12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Overall Purpose of Job

The purpose of this role is to provide high level clinical and technical support in the development and implementation of electronic medication management systems at Beacon Hospital enhancing pharmaceutical care to the patients, in accordance with the mission, values, vision and strategic plan of the Hospital.

The post holder may be expected to provide clinical support at ward level and advise on any future technology developments in the area.

The role includes on-going maintenance of the E-Prescribing system. Provide expert advice on the development of structured training programmes for users of e-prescribing system. Arrange the training of pharmacy staff and others as required to ensure staff are competent to carry out their job roles effectively.

Contribute to the strategic planning of the Pharmacy Department, Hospital’s medication safety strategy and the Hospital’s clinical IT strategy.

This role will require the ability to work across the main pharmacy disciplines, including dispensary, clinical ward services, medicines information and Aseptic services, for the purposes of general pharmacy cover.

Responsibilities and Deliverables

• Lead changes in work, procedures, techniques or technologies having regard to developments in the field of electronic prescribing and the impact on pharmaceutical care and clinical practice.
• Lead education and training related to the E-Prescribing system for NCHDs and Pharmacists.
• Ongoing maintenance of the system, including formulary, safety enhancements and risk assessments.
• The performance of all duties and responsibilities in line with all Pharmacy Department procedures and protocols, as well as hospital wide procedures.
• Participate in continuing education and research activities consistent with the post.
• Ensure best practice and compliance with agreed clinical guidelines.
• Ensure that all departmental and hospital wide Health and Safety protocols and procedures are adhered to and all areas of non-compliance are promptly addressed.
• Performance of such other duties appropriate to the post, including on call and the participation in extended opening rosters including weekend opening and other such services that may from time to time be introduced by the Director of Pharmacy Services.

Information Technology

• Be an expert in the use of the hospital-wide electronic/automation solutions, including E-Prescribing, and Pyxis automated drug cabinets.
• Develop system requirements, build and maintain applications/systems, and support Pharmacy's goals and business plan through automation and information for the E-Prescribing system. Manage related impact on general pharmacy systems within Meditech and Pyxis.
• Design and document system functional requirements for use in such deliverables as proposals, customisations and scope documents.
• Work with outside departments and vendors to evaluate, develop and implement solutions.
• Assure quality of information through testing.
• Review and maintain electronic formularies as required.
• Provide ongoing troubleshooting, support, and maintenance of applications.

Proactively manage the electronic prescribing system and provide on-going improvement of service offered by the pharmacy department including:

• Improving prescribing accuracy.
• Improving administration accuracy including reduction in missed doses.
• Improving formulary optimisation.
• To check all medicines and medicine sets for accuracy, ease of use and patient safety.

Proactively contribute to the clinical governance process by reducing medication errors through:

• Encouraging and accepting feedback from all system users.
• Analysing prescribing patterns especially of high-risk drugs to identify problems.
• Studying and responding to national advice and guidelines on medicines.

Training and Development

• Participates in in-service training and continuing education programmes within the department and Hospital.
• Keeps abreast of current pharmaceutical practice and knowledge, attending meetings, courses or conferences as necessary, for Continuing Professional Development in accordance with national guidelines from the PSI/IIOP.
• Co-ordinates the training of pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacy students, undergraduate pharmacy students, student pharmacy technicians and pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals, in relation to E-Prescribing and any associated changes to practice.
• Leads the NCHD training in relation to E-Prescribing. Provides clinical advice to all disciplines.
• Participates in the training of hospital staff in pharmacy-related topics as necessary.
• Motivate team members, through the use of agreed goals and objectives.

Communications

• The post holder will be required to demonstrate highly developed interpersonal, motivational, leadership and communication (oral, written and formal presentation) skills. The post holder will have to interpret and communicate highly complex information that will be shared with prescribers and other non-pharmacy colleagues, where there may be contention, or barriers to understanding, to enable services to be delivered in a safe and efficient manner.
• Seeks to improve and develop pharmacy services by negotiating with pharmacy and other staff, providing explanation and advice, and by using empathy, understanding and motivational skills.
• Makes formal and informal presentations to, and prepares written reports for, hospital and other stakeholders.
• Presents specialist training and research and audit both informally and formally to other pharmacists, multidisciplinary team and at relevant conferences.
• Works effectively and proactively with pharmacy, medical, nursing and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Quality

• Participate in the JCI Accreditation and adherence to standards and hospital-wide quality management programmes.
• Ensure that the E-Prescribing process is analysed and optimised by undertaking regular clinical/technical audits in relation to prescribing. Provide advice on audits for administration where the Nurse E-prescribing lead requests.
• Ensure appropriate change management and governance is applied to all decision making processes related to the e-prescribing system. Carry-out risk assessments and effect change in a timely manner, where patient safety could be compromised.
• Contribute to hospital-wide quality reports such as Antimicrobial Usage Reports, Medication Safety Reports and Drug Storage and Security Assessments.
• Lead the process of developing protocols and guidelines designed to deliver optimal and economical patient care, in relation to E-Prescribing.
• Reports all medication incidents in a timely fashion, via the approved reporting system and participates in any remedial actions that are designated the responsibility of the pharmacy department.

Flexibility

• The above indicates the main duties of the post, which may be reviewed in the light of experience and developments within the service.
• This post requires a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications:

ESSENTIAL

Be registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

DESIRABLE

Diploma/MSc in pharmacy practice (clinical).

Experience:

ESSENTIAL

Have at least 3 years post-registration hospital experience, as appropriate, preferably specific experience in implementing e-prescribing.

Working or technical knowledge of new technologies including automation.

DESIRABLE

Possess a high standard of administrative and managerial ability.

Skills & Abilities:

ESSENTIAL

Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a professional and dedicated attitude.

Collaborate with Pharmacy management and other hospital departments to ensure delivery of an effective pharmacy service.

Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others.

Contribute to the improvement of services.

DESIRABLE

Experience in the process of developing protocols and guidelines.

Experience in training and leading a team of skilled staff.

Is self-motivated and committed towards quality service provision.

Can motivate others.

Has an inherent person-centred philosophy which is respectful and assertive towards clients, staff and other contacts.

Enjoys working as part of a team.

Is honest and trustworthy.

Is accurate.

This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility and deliverables at the time of its writing. As the Hospital and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the Hospital.

• Mid-Senior level

• Contract

• Health Care Provider
• Industries: Hospitals and Health Care