Clinical Informatics Pharmacist

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Utilise specialist pharmacy experience and knowledge to contribute to the design of new ways of working, utilising digital systems,and designing new processes to ensure maximum levels of safety and quality.

Ensure the provision of specialist pharmacy input to both trust-wide and critical care electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems (EPMA) across UHBW; and contributing towards both operational and strategic developmentof clinical systems.

Report any pharmacy related risks and issues that could be generated by the transition from the current to the future state; working closely with the project implementation team and Lead Pharmacists for Clinical Informatics, Pharmacist Leads for specialty areas including critical care areas, and Pharmacy Operational Management. 

UHBW (University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust) is at the forefront of clinical informatics and is a Global Digital Exemplar. The hospital is situated in the centre of a vibrant and buzzing city, well known for its restaurants, culture, harbour side and sporting activities balanced by easy access to the motorway network and airport links.

Main duties of the job

Your day to day duties will include but may not be limited to:

• Provide input to system and supplier evaluation, configuration, testing and training on the EPMA systems. Help to ensure that each EPMA system supports best clinical pharmacist practice in the validation of medicines.
• Undertake change management activity and act as project lead for departmental service improvement projects, with a focus on: Digital transformation and use of data to drive practice. Improving efficiency and productivity of service and intra-and inter-departmental communication.
• Providing pharmaceutical expertise and advice to the adult pharmacy team.
• Contributing to the professional education agenda within the pharmacy department including training for junior and trainee pharmacists.
• Collaborating with the lead pharmacists on a variety of projects across the adult pharmacy and service delivery teams.

The ideal candidate will:

• Use strong communication skills to discuss therapeutic options and decisions with physicians.
• Show a compassionate approach to individual patient care.
• Exhibit good leadership skills in a small team.
• Be proactive in looking for quality improvement opportunities.
• Seek to facilitate continuous development in themselves and the wider pharmacy team.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

• Masters degree in Pharmacy.
• Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Postgraduate certificate (or equivalent) in Clinical Pharmacy.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable criteria

• Membership of a recognised professional Pharmacy body.
• Membership of the British Computer Society.
• Membership of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics.
• Postgraduate Diploma or equivalent in Clinical Pharmacy.
• Independent Prescriber.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Problem identification and solving.
• Evidence of ability to complete work on time.
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload of self and others.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and organise own and others’ work to meet agreed deadlines.
• Ability to use judgement to challenge inappropriate prescribing and influence prescribing decisions to enable optimal therapy.
• Knowledge of the legal framework for the dispensing, prescribing and administration of medicines.
• Knowledge of basic medicines information and critical appraisal techniques .
• Highly computer literate e.g. advanced word processing, use of spread sheets and presentations, report writing.
• Influencing skills.
• Ability to critically analyse prescriptions for clinical appropriateness, clinical risk, cost-effectiveness, adherence to local & national guidance and legality.
• Knowledge of the common conditions encountered in area of practice and of safe & appropriate drug treatments.
• Knowledge of the legal framework in England for the dispensing, prescribing and administration of medicines.
• Understanding of medical and nursing practice, record keeping and terminology.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to critically analyse different approaches to problem solving in a project environment.
• Ability to manage own workload to maximise productivity when working remotely/home-based working.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Evidence of UK patient facing pharmacy experience.
• Demonstrates experience working with EPMA systems.
• Demonstrates experience working with Digital clinical systems.
• In depth understanding, and experience, applying audit as a tool for improvement

Desirable criteria

• Experience leading one-to-one, small group teaching, and lecturing.
• Demonstrates relevant experience of project working and responsibility for delivering on project objectives, including benefits realisation.
• Demonstrates experience in project leadership.
• Demonstrates experience in critical care environment.