Antimicrobial Pharmacist

NHS; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Fixed Term or Secondment until 31st March 2026.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time and the antimicrobial stewardship agenda is one of the top priorities for the NHS.

An exciting, brand-new opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and forward-thinking Pharmacist to join our SNEE Medicines Optimisation team to lead on the delivery of high quality, cost-effective, sustainable prescribing of antimicrobials for our local population. This pivotal role involves leading and optimising antimicrobial stewardship programmes to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, reduce resistance and improve patient outcomes. This exciting and high-profile post blends a combination of highly specialist clinical pharmacy practice, with involvement in developing and implementing strategy to promote the stewardship agenda and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

There are no requirements for weekend, bank holiday or evening working. We also welcome applications for part-time working. We promote flexible working for all team members, offering a mix of remote and office environments which support a healthy work-life balance.

For more information, please contact Rachel Belton at [e-mail] or Mark Cheeseman at [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

1. Developing, managing, and monitoring the delivery of safe, high quality Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) that delivers key regional and national benchmark performance standards throughout the Integrated Care System.
2. To work as part of the multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship team across the Integrated Care System to deliver the Antimicrobial Stewardship strategy. To help reduce development of resistance by promoting stewardship and reduction of inappropriate consumption of antimicrobials.
3. Represent the ICS Antimicrobial technical working group on regional and national meetings and collaboratives.
4. Monitor performance of national CQUIN projects related to antimicrobials use.
5. Responsible for ensuring the governance, risk management, financial, safety and operational aspects of Antimicrobial Stewardship (including COVID-19 antivirals) within the Integrated Care Board by providing pharmaceutical advice on complex issues to local health care professionals.

About us

The NHS Suffolk and North-East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) plans and buys healthcare services for our population. This function is commonly referred to as commissioning. To do this, we work within a budget of around £1.5 billion, which is set by NHS England, and work closely with local government and the NHS providers in our area. Our performance is judged by how well our local health and care system as a whole is working, including the health outcomes of our communities.

The ICB has delegated some authority to the three health and wellbeing alliances that operate in Suffolk and North-East Essex to act on its behalf. This is to ensure that the needs of smaller, local areas are addressed.

The ICB remains accountable for all of its functions, including those it has delegated. Local residents have a big role to play in the operation of the ICB. We rely on the experiences and perspectives of our communities to help shape our decision-making.

Job responsibilities

The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.

Person Specification

Other

• Able to use Visual Display Unit equipment for prolonged periods of time and on most working days.
• Able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time.
• Able to work in a variety of environments to include own home office, GP practices and care homes.
• Able to travel routinely and independently across Suffolk and North East Essex (and occasionally further afield).
• Able to travel routinely between locations within the East of England and to travel outside the region, sometimes out of normal working hours.

Skills

• Able to use a keyboard to enter clinical, prescribing or financial data with a very high degree of accuracy.
• Able to apply highly developed specialist knowledge when undertaking the review of patient records and complex prescribing patterns.
• Able to document clinical information and recommendations accurately using nationally approved coding.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI (for data extraction and analysis).
• Highly proficient in the use of SystmOne.
• Able to interrogate and interpret highly complex clinical, financial and prescribing data.
• Able to create clinical and or financial audits and interpret the results.
• Able to disseminate information accurately and to facilitate collaborative working across organisational barriers.
• Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills.
• Report writing skills.
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team.
• Time Management and prioritisation skills.
• Critical appraisal skills and ability to analyse clinical papers.
• Able to resolve conflict and overcome barriers in order to have difficult conversations and/or challenge unwanted behaviours.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence.
• Able to present information to a variety of people from professional and non-professional backgrounds.
• Able to establish positive relationships and mutual respect with people at all levels.
• Able to prepare and produce concise communications for dissemination to a broad range of senior stakeholders.

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated and able to motivate and lead others.
• Able to maintain high standards of diplomacy and understands the principle of confidentiality.
• Demonstrates empathy and concern for others.
• Confidence to deal with consultant/senior manager level.

Equality & Diversity

• Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent, with one year pre-registration training.
• Further specialist knowledge acquired through diploma level training and experience in practice area.
• Post-graduate qualification in leadership management or equivalent experience.
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Specialist knowledge acquired through non-medical independent prescribing qualification (nb. no prescribing will be undertaken as part of this role).
• Leadership training.

Autonomy

• Able to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
• Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work and can define the responsibilities of others.
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information working to tight and often changing timescales.

Experience

• Experience of practice aligned to antimicrobial stewardship.
• Demonstrated experience in a healthcare provider or commissioning environment.
• Experience of using critical appraisal skills to aid decision making.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategy policy and change or innovation projects in specialist areas with potential to impact beyond own area of work.
• Experience of delivering contentious information in a hostile environment.
• Experience of using recognised behaviour change techniques to influence a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience of training presenting to large groups.
• Experience of working with primary care and medicines optimisation.
• Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes.
• Experience of managing staff and other resources.
• Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at senior management team level.
• Experience in leading on service development for a specialist area at a senior level.
• Experience of working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Highly developed specialist knowledge in antimicrobials.
• Robust knowledge of NHS structure and commissioning arrangements.
• Extensive knowledge of GP funding mechanisms, including those relating to Dispensing Doctors.
• Robust understanding of finance and budget information.
• Extensive and specialist knowledge of the legal framework relating to medicines prescribing and pharmacy.
• Robust understanding of the financial and contractual relationships between provider organisations.
• Knowledge and understanding of the prescribing and medicines optimisation challenges facing primary and secondary care.
• Thorough knowledge of national and local drivers including NICE, Health Education England, NHS England and their local implementation.
• Experience of working with the local authority, care homes and care home provider organisations.
• Experience in using sources of prescribing data e.g. ePACT2, Open Prescribing.
• Knowledge of CQC and inspection process.
• Knowledge of community pharmacy funding mechanisms.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.