AGENDA FOR CHANGE
NHS JOB EVALUATION SCHEME
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title:
Clinical Pharmacist
Reports to:
Principal Pharmacist – Mental Health
Department, Ward or Section:
Pharmacy Department, New Craigs
Operational Unit:
Inner Moray Firth Operational Unit
Job Reference:
SMOUMENTNEWCPHAR02
No of Job Holders:
One
Date:
January 2016
2. JOB PURPOSE
1. Provide specialist clinical pharmacy service (mental health) to:
 All in-patients, day hospital patients and out patients
 Community based patients & community based healthcare professionals
2. Responsible for developing and planning mental health input into joint formulary processes.
Co-ordination of alterations to the formulary regarding psychotropic medicines.
3. Responsible for the delivery of education and training to professionals, students, and lay
people working in the community.
3. DIMENSIONS
Staffing
-
member of a team of 4 grade D pharmacists that deliver specialist clinical pharmacy services
-
undertake clinical supervision of 2 MTO1 and 1 MTO3 pharmacy technical staff, preregistration pharmacists, pharmacy students and work experience pupils
Other statistics

84 Acute psychiatry

50 Rehabilitation

60 Care of the elderly

28 Learning disability – continuing care

6 Learning Disability – dual diagnosis

6 Learning Disability – Crisis Administration

Acute Day Hospital – Braeside

Addiction services – Osprey House

Outpatient dispensing
To provide ad hoc specialist clinical pharmacy service to patients with mental health needs to
the above.
In particular provide continuous specialist clinical pharmacy services to acute beds in
allocated sector (Dingwall).
4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
See attached sheet
5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
The pharmacy aims to assure quality of patient care in the provision of treatment with
medicines, for both mental and physical health.
This is achieved by:
1. Providing pharmaceutical care to individual patients by meeting their particular needs
whilst maximising efficiency in use of resources
2. Providing medicines through a system of quality control to ensure safe, effective and
economic use.
6. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Promote and provide the delivery of integrated specialist clinical pharmaceutical care to
allocated sectors of inpatients and outpatients (Dingwall area) to ensure safe, appropriate
and cost effective use of medicines. 25%
2. Participate in multidisciplinary ward rounds for this sector to contribute to all aspects of
patient care and drug treatment. 20%
3. Take responsibility for delivery of community based education and training. 20%
4. Assist in the development and delivery of regular training to other healthcare
professionals and students within the hospital.
5. Provide medicines information and professional advice to healthcare professionals to
optimise patient treatment.
6. Produce plain English information sheets on psychiatric drug related issues for use
throughout Highland.
7. Prepare drug histories where relevant particularly for all patients with enduring mental
illness.
8. Provide support and information to patients and carers on the safe use of their medicines.
9. Participate in development, maintenance and monitoring of standard operating
procedures.
10. Participate in the development, maintenance and monitoring of psychotropic drug
treatment protocols and algorithms.
11. Participate in clinical audit of the above.
12. Assist as necessary in the supply & monitoring of Clozapine in accordance with CPMS
guidelines.
13. Liaise with Primary Care team to support and maintain services to patients with a mental
health illness.
14. Liaise with Community Pharmacists to ensure continuity of treatment at discharge from
hospital.
15. Co-ordinate the supply of medicinal products used in clinical trials.
16. Deputise, on a day to day basis, for Principal Pharmacist and other pharmacists in their
absence.
7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY
Understand and use PC and have basic understanding of software packages including:

Word – for letters, pharmacy documentation

Excel – for medication histories

PowerPoint – for teaching and presentations.
2. Operate PAS system competently to generate prescription labels and manage stock
control.
3. Use Results reporting system
4. Use intranet, internet & email system
5. Use PC to prepare presentations, accompanying notes and use photocopier for handouts.
6. Use overhead projector in teaching.
7. Use fax machine
7b. SYSTEMS
1. Create and maintain records of patient profiles, patient medication histories and letters to
healthcare professionals
2. Complete relevant parts of the integrated care pathway documentation
3. Use of the electronic immediate discharge letter system to ensure safe, efficient and
accurate discharge prescribing and dispensing
4. Use of Clozaril patient monitoring service online to access and submit information
8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
1. Report to Principal Pharmacist who will carry out performance appraisals on objectives
agreed.
2. Responsible for clinical pharmacy service to allocated sectors without supervision but
with peer support if required.
3. Attend regular meetings within the department where strategic decisions are made and
tasks set and participate in peer review presentations.
4. Plan and prioritise workload
5. Develop services where needs are agreed from discussions with manager.
6. Develop standard operating procedures where needed.
7. Operate within defined policies and procedures.
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
1. Professionally accountable for all decisions and actions taken
2. Professionally accountable for supervision of pharmacy technicians and students to meet
legal requirements.
3. Professionally accountable for judgements made in relation to giving of advice in complex
cases using all available resources (including discussion with patient, carers and
multidisciplinary team; use of searchable databases and agreed guidelines such as SIGN
& NICE) Recommendations would be based on analysis of the situation as it is presented.
4. Make necessary decisions and judgements when deputising for other team members and
principal pharmacist in their absence.
5. Identify deficiencies within the service and remedy them or report to manager.
10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
1. Decision-making in complex cases particularly when risk/benefit analysis is unclear.
2. Dealing with mentally ill patients so that information is given in such a way that the
patient can make informed decisions.
3. Dealing with potential aggression and challenging behaviour that can accompany some
mental illnesses.
4. Managing emotional and distressing circumstances in relation to this patient group.
5. Presenting complex medical information in simple plain English when teaching groups of
community workers, many of whom do not have a medical background.
11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
1. Discuss medication with patients with understanding, empathy and motivational skills in
order that they get full benefit of prescribed medication
2. Support patients’ families and carers so that they understand the treatment options being
offered
3. Communicate with members of the community teams and primary care members to ensure
continuity of care and provide education.
4. Communicate professionally within multidisciplinary team.
5. Communicate within the department to ensure good working relationships. Maintain good
working relationships with other pharmacy staff in Highland.
6. Communicate with other professional bodies: Nursing college, Rethink & Pharmaceutical
Society etc.
7. Communicate with patient groups, carers organisations & Highland User Group.
12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
The job requires the following attributes:
A degree of physical activity in movement of pharmacy boxes and unloading of stock.
Frequent concentration is required for problem solving, checking of prescriptions and this
can be difficult with interruptions from telephone and immediate needs within the
department.
Ability to provide immediate but considered responses in pressured situations.
Need to empathise with patients and carers and the emotional involvement this can entail.
13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
Masters Degree in Pharmacy and ONE year pre-registration training
Postgraduate clinical diploma/MSc
Experience: Extensive post registration experience including experience in clinical speciality
or relevant hospital experience.
Undertake CPD commitment as required by R.Pharm.Soc. 
Attend courses organised by NHS Scotland Education,

Attend courses organised by UK Psychiatric Pharmacy Group

Participate in peer review meetings in the department
Attend courses within the Health Board i.e. dealing with Violence & Aggression
Teaching experience and/or qualification.
Good computer skills
Good oral and written communication skills
Driving licence
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
I agree that the above Job Description is an accurate reflection of my duties and
responsibilities at the date of signing.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Date:
Manager’s Signature:
Date: