Specialist Clinical Pharmacist, Obstetrics

The Obstetrics Pharmacy Team at Northampton General Hospital are delighted to offer a specialist pharmacist post for a band 7 obstetrics pharmacist to join our enthusiastic team. This role is for a dedicated pharmacist with a passion for women’s health and a desire to support women through their special journey from antenatal to intrapartum to postpartum stages. If you are driven to provide a high-quality service and to support your multidisciplinary team to do the same, then this is an ideal position for you. The post holder will have the opportunity to specialise in the use of medications in pregnancy and breastfeeding. We are encouraging staff to undertake an independent prescribing qualification which will be of unequalled benefit in this evolving, fast-paced environment. A completed clinical pharmacy diploma is desirable, but we will consider candidates who are working towards the qualification or who have equivalent skills and experience. We welcome applications from band 6 pharmacists who will meet the essential criteria for this position within 6 months and complete the 6-7 progression portfolio. The position is open to a full-time band 7 pharmacist, however part-time/substantive part-time hours can be considered. As a Band 7 Obstetrics Pharmacist your job role will include:

• Supporting a dynamic, exciting and fast-paced maternity unit, covering Maternity Observation Ward (antenatal), Labour Ward, Robert Watson Ward (postnatal), Balmoral ward (midwife-led unit) and Maternity Day Unit (outpatients)
• Engaging in daily board rounds, screening of prescriptions for safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding, promoting/supporting medicines management, education and training of midwives/nurses/junior doctors
• Reviewing/updating/developing pertinent guidelines & leading/participating in audits/improvement projects
• Promoting and supporting service development e.g., the introduction of electronic prescribing across the department
• Engaging with the wider pharmacy team – inclusion in late night/weekend/on-call rotas

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire. Our Excellence Values

• Compassion
• Accountability
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from Reach, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals. Clinical Services To provide information, advice and guidance on the safe, effective and economical use of medicines and to challenge poor practice. To maintain appropriate standards of service and safety; to enforce guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure standards are met. To optimise medicines management by reconciling drug histories, performing medication reviews and using patients’ own medicines. To detect, record and report adverse drug reactions to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and via Datix as per Trust Policy. To record your clinical activity and to monitor the outcome of your advice. To monitor interventions in treatment to identify training and information needs. To fulfil the requirements of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Good Professional Practice. To participate in medicines related CQUINs and QIPPs within obstetrics specialities. To lead and support on the auditing of medicines. To implement countywide and local prescribing strategies within the Trust. Facilitate the expansion of the tools within EPMA. Support the development and implementations of medicine related guidance, policies and procedures within speciality area. Support the process for new medicines being integrated into the Trust by Formulary submissions. To identify new opportunities for the development of pharmacy services and assist in the preparation of business cases to support these developments. To undertake validation duties in the dispensary. To supervise, check and, if necessary, undertake the supply of medicines. Technical checking is in place; pharmacists make initial validations and have a professional responsibility to decide on the need for their further involvement in the supply process. Speciality Clinical Pharmacy Role [Obstetrics] Have a working knowledge of current practice and protocols within the speciality and how these relate to national and other guidance. To optimise medicines through prescribing role operating within areas of competence (where appropriately qualified and authorised via the Trust NMP register). Provide a specialist clinical pharmacy service to speciality wards and clinics. To provide an Enquiry Answering Service for speciality-related enquires from other pharmacists or referred from other wards Service dependent, to work on a rotational basis through other specialities within NGH (eg Medicine, Surgery, Oncology) Education, Training and Supervision Attend clinical pharmacy meetings and education/training schemes relevant to post. To take part in formal and informal training of pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals, including MMT training; consultation skills; Medicines Management Training for Nurses. To be a supervisor on the Clinical Pharmacy Diploma course. To supervise aspects of pre-registration training. To line manage and lead those staff allocated, undertaking appraisals, supervision and identification of training and development of their skills and knowledge. To assist in the induction of staff into the service; to help identify training and development needs. To provide information to patients, parents and carers on admission, discharge and in outpatient clinics regarding treatment and medication to optimise patient concordance, particularly if there is a need to overcome language barriers. To maintain up-to-date clinical knowledge in clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice to ensure a broad base of pharmaceutical knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgement. To take responsibility for own personal CPD by participating in education and training programmes to improve competence. Develop specialist expertise within obstetrics. To obtain/maintain prescribing qualification and support antenatal / postnatal clinics and ward rounds as appropriate. Other Duties To undertake on call duties To provide a Pharmacy Service at weekends.