Senior Pharmacist/Lead Pharmacy Technician, Research

Job overview

The purpose of this role is to develop the successful candidate into a future researcher. The role will provide a combination of actively working on one or more research projects, learning key skills within the clinical trials team and developing a grant application to further progress their research career. Outputs will include abstract submission at conference, publication of one or more articles in peer reviewed journals and a funding application. They will be supported by the clinical academic research lead for pharmacy. The post will also work with the clinical trial pharmacy team to help with current demand to open more competitive trials for KCH in line with Lord O'Shaughnessy and Department of health current directives.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work alongside the Clinical Academic Research Lead as part of the Academic Research Unit as well as supporting the Clinical Trials Pharmacy Team.

The post holder will participate in the following:

· Attend and contribute to the management of the monthly Research and Audit Group (RAG).

· Provide support to the pharmacy department for research activities.

· Track and monitor research outputs and proposals that come through RAG.

· Undertake 1 or 2 research projects on a yearly basis.

· Support the Clinical Academic Research Lead with their research activities.

· Actively focus on creating a research profile through conference attendance, abstract and article submission.

· Work towards a funding application to progress career as a clinical academic.

· Maintain a clinical or operational commitment of 4 hours per week.

· Contribute to the clinical trials pharmacy service one day a week.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership

· To develop skills to be able to lead on own area of research to include study design, appropriate methodology, data analysis and dissemination.

· To guide and support others in the pharmacy department with their research projects.

· Be involved in developing training and guidance to support research in the department.

· Leading development and delivery of research initiatives.

· Ensuring effective communication of research initiatives.

Research and Development

• To regularly lead, participate in and co-ordinate relevant research projects.

• To participate in audit and practice research to investigate and where appropriate improve the quality of patient care.

• To publish and present the results and outcomes of own research and audits locally, nationally or internationally as appropriate.

• To liaise with clinical trial nursing and pharmacy staff with regards to monitoring and continuing supply of trial medicines to patients.

• Contribute to the organisation of the monthly Research and Audit Group (RAG) with regards to preparing the agenda, participating in the meeting, supporting presenters prior to the meeting, recording the proposals on the InPhase audit register, following up with staff regarding projects outcomes and supporting with the yearly RAG report.

• Monitoring and recording research outputs for the pharmacy department.

• Completing and sending out the monthly research newsletter.

• Maintaining the pharmacy research webpage.

• To participate in the induction of new staff on behalf of the academic research unit.

• To integrate research evidence into practice.

• To supervise/co-supervise MPharm students with their final year research project.

• Become an associate principal investigator for a research study through the NIHR associate PI scheme.

• To be part of the Clinical Trials Pharmacy Team in the delivery of research at King’s.

Clinical Responsibilities

• To contribute to a specific clinical or operational area.

• To contribute and adhere to clinical pharmacy service standards.

• Where appropriate and necessary to practice as a prescriber in area of own expertise, as appropriate, and provide direct high quality of care to patients.

• To ensure appropriate and timely supply of medication to patients in conjunction with dispensary staff.

• To liaise with other pharmacists/healthcare professionals to ensure efficient transfer of clinical and medicines management issues.

• To participate in discharge planning.

• To participate in patient education and counselling schemes for patients/carers.

• To ensure appropriate and timely supply of medication to patients, including participation in the POD scheme.

• To liaise with other pharmacists, doctors and GPs to ensure efficient transfer of clinical and medicines management issues.

• To participate in Trust adverse incident reporting scheme.

• To provide clinical expertise in the development of clinical trials.

Financial Management

• To understand and manage costing within the clinical trial setting.

• To be able to undertake costing as part of a research grant or project.

• To educate other healthcare professionals on the costs associated with drug therapy and promote the use of evidence-based, cost-effective prescribing across the Trust.

• To identify areas of potential cost-savings within the Care Group, and to implement systems to realise savings and contain prescribing costs.

People Management and Training

• To lead, coach and manage the performance of junior staff in line with good people management practices, ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.

• To participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure line reports have a clear set of objectives and development plans.

• Ensure direct reports are compliant with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements.

• Manage absences of direct reports including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is kept to the highest possible level.

• Support with the recruitment of the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.

• Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.

• Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.

• To participate in teaching and supervising students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

• To act as postgraduate tutor for Diploma students if appropriate.

• To act as a tutor for trainee pharmacists or trainee pharmacy technicians.

• To participate in teaching nurses, medical staff, and AHPs.

• To participate in the recruitment and selection of pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, trainee pharmacy technicians, pharmacy technicians and junior pharmacists as needed.

• To participate in the in-service clinical pharmacy training of all pharmacy staff.

• To undertake CPD to ensure that knowledge is continually updated.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

Essential criteria

• Professional registration with the GPHC
• NVQ Level 3 plus accredited underpinning knowledge [BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent] or equivalent
• Mandatory CPD to maintain fitness to practice
• Further qualification e.g. Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) as part of Pharmacy Technician Training or as a standalone (eg. CPPE or Buttercups)

Desirable criteria

• GCP accreditation
• RPS member

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Specialist clinical knowledge and skills relevant to area of practice
• Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to the clinical governance agenda
• Experience of practice research, audit, quality improvement and/or service evaluation
• Experience of delivering training and education at postgraduate level

Desirable criteria

• Experience in the delivery of clinical trials from a pharmacy perspective

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Be able to provide highly complex information to all levels of healthcare professionals
• Self-motivation, team-working and autonomous working
• Basic knowledge of critical appraisal skills to analyse article quality and its application
• Ability to plan the day to day activities of self and others

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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