Consultant Antimicrobial Pharmacist, Band 8c

at  Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This post holder will be the named antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) lead within Pharmacy for the trust and will be responsible for the leadership and operational delivery of a high-quality antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme in line with the agreed priorities for the Trust along with the Medical and Nursing Leads.
Pharmacists who have not yet completed their Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPS) consultant credentialing will join the Trust as Lead Pharmacist- Antimicrobial Stewardship at band 8b and would be supported over a maximum period 24-month period to become credentialed. Once credentialed the post holder would move up to a Band 8c and be awarded the Consultant Antimicrobial Pharmacist title (assuming accreditation by the RPS that this post can be a Consultant post)
The post holder will work in conjunction with the Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Medical Lead for AMS in GHNHSFT (in Microbiology), Infection Prevention Control Team, Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager, the Pharmacy Senior Management Team and the wider Gloucestershire ICB to develop the strategic direction of the AMS service, developing and supporting the delivery of the AMS strategy across the Trust and the wider system.
Please note: this post is currently subject to accreditation by Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to approve this post can be a Consultant post.
The post holder will practice as an expert consultant antimicrobial pharmacist, providing consultant level evidence-based advice in infection management and the safe and effective use of antimicrobials and antifungals (adults & children). They will work autonomously and demonstrate accountability in managing own clinical caseload. They will provide expertise and leadership support to the Trust AMS Group and the ICB, including the development and delivery of an AMS strategy and programme. They will identify and support the development of innovative services within the trust and manage the change process required to achieve this. Contributing to improving health outcomes for patients using a holistic approach to care, ensuring the safe and effective use of antimicrobials, they will also act as an expert resource, role model and mentor locally and nationally, ensuring a consistently high level of service in line with both local and national initiatives. The will lead, undertake and publish research, in collaboration with others including Higher Education Institutes and support, develop and monitor the training and education of all pharmacists and other healthcare professionals working across the trust. They will lead on the development, integration and maintenance of the AMS strategy/guidelines. They will also manage, lead and co-ordinate the AMS pharmacy team (OPAT and AMS).
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates, access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir.

Leadership

• To provide strategic, clinical, and professional leadership in AMS across the Trust, being accountable and responsible for delivering a highly specialised clinical AMS pharmacy service to patients to ensure the modern, safe, clinically effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines.
• To support the Gloucestershire ICB on the system wide delivery of AMS and to work with UK HSA, primary, community, acute care stakeholders and South West Regional Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead to ensure delivery of the NHSE Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) strategy.
• To provide expert advice to colleagues and members of the multidisciplinary teams, within the Trust, ICS and other external organisations.
• To work collaboratively with pharmacy staff, medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management, to ensure implementation of local and nationally agreed pharmacy services objectives.
• To support the Chair and provide leadership to the AMS Group.
• To be an active member of local, regional and national AMS networks.
• To represent the AMS pharmacy team on relevant governance groups and working parties in the trust as well as regionally and nationally and proactively engage with such groups.
• To represent the AMS Pharmacy team at the relevant ICS AMS groups, which may include chairing of the ICS AMS group.
• To provide professional guidance, leadership, co-ordination, and operational management of all grades of clinical pharmacists with regards AMS and infection management.

Management and evaluation of service

• To undertake line management of the team of antimicrobial pharmacists.
• Ensure all relevant AMS CQUINs and other relevant local or national targets are delivered across the Trust.
• To develop, implement, monitor and evaluate protocols and guidelines.
• To identify and manage risks related to AMS.
• To lead on the integration of AMS priorities into the electronic prescribing programme, working closely with the digital/ EPR development team.
• Optimise use of IT and analytics to provide accurate and efficient methods of data collection, analysis and reporting of antimicrobial consumption and prescribing data.
• Monitor and advise on performance against National and local performance indicators, leading on effective implementation of strategic outcomes.
• Horizon scan and evaluate new antimicrobial therapy in conjunction with the consultant microbiologists and relevant formulary committees.
• Lead the review and implementation of NICE guidance and advice relating to antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral drugs.
• Identify service barriers and develop strategies to drive change, including best practice models for AMS to ensure quality and safety of patient care.
• Plan, oversee and co-ordinate projects and audits to review antimicrobial use and prescribing within the trust including working with the multidisciplinary team to ensure changes in practice occur where necessary.

Clinical Practice

• To demonstrate the ability to provide safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of medicines.
• To contribute to improving health outcomes for patients using a holistic approach to care, ensuring the safe and effective use of medicine through provision of medicines-related aspects of patient care.
• To input into the day-to-day delivery, development and expansion of the countywide OPAT service. Contributing to the extension of this service into COPAT practice.
• Oversee and/ or lead regular face-to-face antimicrobial ward rounds, with or without a consultant microbiologist, across the Trust.
• To participate in joint infection ward rounds/multi-disciplinary meetings providing highly specialist advice to senior clinicians on drug treatments for individual patients, applying critical analysis skills, professional knowledge and judgement where information is lacking or opinion is divided to influence consultant medical staff on the management of pharmaceutically complex cases.
• To review prescriptions and where appropriate challenge or recommend treatment choices in order to influence treatment options.
• To be an Independent Prescriber. To accept, manage and make appropriate referrals.
• To provide expert information and advice to patients and their carers to support the use of antimicrobials and other medication as required.
• Work closely with infection prevention and control teams to support healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) investigations and implementing strategies to reduce HCAIs.
• Maintain professional practice through participation in limited ward cover (one afternoon a week) and weekend/bank holiday rota (about 1 in 10), participating in other areas of pharmacy practice in order to ensure a broad base of pharmaceutical knowledge.

Research and Development

• To lead, design, plan, supervise and organise practice research relating to antimicrobial stewardship in collaboration with the microbiology and IPC team at the Trust.
• To publish results of research and audit in peer reviewed journals and present findings and implications at national, European and international conferences.
• To integrate research evidence into practice.
• To establish and develop research partnerships with HEIs.
• To submit grant applications to obtain funding for research projects in collaboration with HEIs.
• To lead, plan and undertake clinical audit and quality improvement within the pharmacy department and the Infection Service, including reviewing the appropriateness of clinical audit programmes.

Education and Training

• To develop and deliver a Trust strategy for education and training in relation to antimicrobial prescribing, design curriculum, plan and deliver specialist training on medicines optimisation of antimicrobials to a wide range of healthcare professionals and students, internally and externally to the organisation.
• To develop links with HEIs.
• To contribute to the development of post graduate clinical pharmacy training in AMS and infection management.
• To undertake continual professional development and maintain a CPD portfolio including continuing education and attendance at appropriate courses, conferences and study days.

Performance/Finance

• To provide relevant AMS related performance and activity data for the Trust.
• To be responsible for aiding the financial management of antimicrobial medicines expenditure and its oversight.
• Liaise with appropriate health care professionals within ICS/ ICB to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources across the primary/secondary care interface and lead on implementation of new Blueteq processes for AMS.
• Act as change agent by recognising service needs. Take a proactive role in the development and implementation of services in accordance with local, Trust and national requirements.
• To contribute to the formulation and delivery of annual savings targets.

Medication Safety

• To work with the Medication Safety Pharmacist regarding clinical governance and medication safety issues regarding AMS and infection management, ensuring issues are addressed and communicated.
• To ensure complaints and incidents regarding Antimicrobial Stewardship/ infection management are investigated and used as lessons for learning.
• To oversee the clinical governance strategy and processes for AMS – this would include compilation and dissemination of regular (Quarterly) reports on safety related issues for AMS including incidents, Datixes and trends.

Professional

• To maintain high standards of work at all times, in line with the General Pharmaceutical Council standards.
• Act as a role model at all times and lead by example.
• Participate in Revalidation, as per department policy and national requirements from the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs within pharmacy and in all other areas of the hospital.
• Take care of their own safety and others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
• Adhere to Trust and Departmental Health and Safety Policies and use any equipment or personal protective equipment provided to ensure safety. Co-operate with their managers to maintain safe systems and safe workplaces.

Please refer the Job description for details