Senior Pharmacist

Senior Pharmacist - UPMC Whitfield Hospital

Location: UPMC Whitfield Hospital
Job type: Permanent

Overview of role:

We are currently recruiting for a Pharmacist to provide effective, efficient, and safe pharmaceutical care to all patients under the care of UPMC Whitfield Hospital. This is a full-time, permanent position.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Act at all times to ensure that the care and safety of patients is assigned the highest priority.
2. Understand, model, and promote UPMC core values: Quality and Safety, Dignity and Respect, Caring and Listening, Responsibility and Integrity, Excellence and Innovation.
3. Participate in the delivery and development of a clinical pharmacy service, carrying out prescription review, patient education, and documentation of clinical interventions.
4. Assist in managing the efficient running of the Dispensary, participating in, and supervising, the operation of the Dispensary, including the procurement, storage, supply, and dispensing of pharmaceuticals and other related items.
5. Ensure best pharmaceutical practice, having regard to legal and ethical requirements and best practice standards for the provision of Pharmaceutical services.
6. Ensure that complete and accurate records relating to the procurement, storage, compounding, quality control, dispensing, distribution, and destruction of medicinal and pharmaceutical products are maintained in accordance with best practice standards and applicable legislation.
7. Achieve and maintain competence in the use and administration of the Oncology/Haematology clinical information system (ARIA).
8. Become fully conversant with best practice and relevant competency frameworks for the delivery of Oncology/Haematology Pharmacy services.
9. Support the Chief Pharmacist in managing the safe and cost-effective entry of new medications on to the hospital formulary, supporting colleagues in Pharmacy and other disciplines with expert advice and education as appropriate.
10. Participate in the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) required for all aspects of the Pharmacy service and ensure that these are updated and implemented in line with changing practices locally, nationally and internationally, and in accordance with Pharmacy law.
11. Contribute to the provision of medicines information and advice on drug availability, appropriate use, and safe administration.
12. Participate in the development of medicines information resources for clinical colleagues and patients e.g. patient information leaflets, monographs, policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines.
13. Collaborate with colleagues in Pharmacy and the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to optimise Pharmacy and Medication Management and Use workflows.
14. Identify and address deficiencies in medications management systems and processes, where applicable.
15. Highlight any discrepancies, incidents, or deficits in services to the Chief Pharmacist, Lead Technician, and Director of Pharmacy as appropriate.
16. Report and encourage reporting on incidents/near misses in to support management and mitigation of risk and to inform quality improvement initiatives.
17. Audit compliance to good clinical practice standards in relation to medications e.g. with respect to labelling, storage, dispensing, and documentation.
18. As agreed with the Chief Pharmacist, provide expert support to colleagues in Finance and Hospital leadership to help manage the drugs budget, through regular reporting, analysis, and horizon scanning.
19. Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, hospital committees and working groups as required e.g. Clinical Governance, Drugs and Therapeutics, Medication Safety, Medication Management and Use.
20. Act as a leader and role model within UPMC Pharmacy and UPMC Ireland.
21. Build effective partnerships both within UPMC Ireland and across the wider health system to manage and develop services that meet the needs and aspirations of patients, UPMC, and other collaborative partners as appropriate.
22. Co-ordinate service delivery with the other Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Technicians, to ensure a high level of efficient and cohesive teamwork within the Pharmacy service.
23. Assist in the training, development, mentoring and motivation of staff to maximise performance and delivery of service objectives and priorities.
24. Supervise and line manage staff within the Pharmacy service as appropriate to the role and as required by the Chief Pharmacist.
25. Support Pharmacy colleagues in enhancing their skills and assuming additional and advanced responsibilities.
26. Ensure that all UPMC Human Resource policy and procedures are adhered to.
27. As agreed with the Chief Pharmacist, manage performance of Pharmacy team members against measured and reported competency and performance metrics.
28. Participate in the performance review and appraisal process as required.
29. Participate in collaborative relationships with academic and research partners as appropriate to the role and as required by the Chief Pharmacist.
30. Participate in the planning and organising of a risk-informed audit programme which is strategically aligned with the service goals of Pharmacy and UPMC.
31. Undertake, co-ordinate, and publish Pharmacy practice-based research, ensuring that all relevant GCP standards are adhered to.
32. Carry out any other duties relevant to this role as designated by the Chief Pharmacist, including deputising for the Chief Pharmacist as required.
33. Support the Chief Pharmacist and Director of Pharmacy as required in developing and implementing the UPMC Pharmacy Transformation Strategy.
34. Engage in continuous professional development appropriate to the role and in compliance with professional obligations.
35. Participate in the Hospital's accreditation process.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Be registered with the pharmaceutical society of Ireland or be entitled to be so registered.
• Essential minimum 5 years experience.
• Possess the requisite specialised knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the role.
• Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development and role-specific learning.

Ability to demonstrate:
Excellent planning, organisational and resource management skills
Excellent leadership, interpersonal and people management skills
Experience of change management and quality improvement initiatives

Equal Opportunity Statement and Benefits

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At UPMC we provide a total rewards program that is not only market competitive, but fair and provides growth opportunities for all our colleagues.
Compensation – Competitive pay for the work employees do – base pay, performance related pay and premium pay where applicable.
Benefits – Fully paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents. Competitive Pension Plan, company funded Death in Service Benefit x 3 times. Critical Illness cover for all employees up to the age of 66.

Performance and Recognition – Rewards for performance that supports the goals and mission of UPMC through our annual ACES programme.

Work-Life Balance – Enhanced annual leave up to a maximum of 27 days. Flexible working opportunities to support you to work around external family commitments.

Development and Career Opportunities – Opportunities for each employee to reach their career goals through continued learning and/or advancement.

About UPMC

A $26 billion healthcare provider and insurer, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based UPMC is inventing new models of patient-centred, cost-effective, accountable care. Working in close collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC shares its clinical, managerial and technological skills worldwide through its innovation and commercialisation arm, UPMC Enterprises, and through UPMC International.

Providing high-quality healthcare in the South East since 2006, UPMC's operations in Ireland now include UPMC Whitfield Hospital in Waterford, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin, UPMC Kildare Hospital in Clane and UPMC Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny. Outpatient care is available at the UPMC Carlow Outreach Centre, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre radiotherapy locations at UPMC Whitfield and in Cork, the UPMC Sports Medicine Clinic at SETU Arena, Waterford, TUS Moylish Campus, Limerick, TUS Thurles Campus, Tipperary, and the UPMC Concussion Network. The UPMC Institute for Health is located in Mayo and the Global Technology Operation Centre is based in Kilkenny. UPMC is the Official Healthcare Partner of the GAA and GPA.