Please see below Job Description/Specification and General Conditions of Service
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1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
NHS TAYSIDE – AGENDA FOR CHANGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title Principal Pharmacist Pharmacoeconomics
Department(s)/Locati on
Number of job holders
Tayside Medicines Unit
1
2. JOB PURPOSE
1. To lead and manage the pharmacoeconomics service within NHS Tayside, providing guidance directly to Directors of Pharmacy, Directors of Finance, Executive Management Teams, Clinical
Groups and CHPs.
2. To lead the managed introduction of new medicines within NHS Tayside, Clinical
Groups/Directorates and CHPs in accordance with advice from the Scottish Medicines
Consortium 5 .
3. To lead and develop prescribing review and initiate audit, and to provide specialist training in the area of pharmacoeconomics including course design, assessment and evaluation.
4. To co-ordinate, develop and deliver expert advice (including regular formal reports and recommendations) on safe, cost-effective, evidence-based use of medicines to meet the needs of patients, members of the public, health care and other professionals involved in providing care to the population of Tayside.
3. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION

4. SCOPE AND RANGE
The dimensions of the post are focused around the delivery of advice to NHS Tayside clinicians and managers and participation in national (Scottish) and NHS Tayside Drug & Therapeutics Committee structure.
The post holder has accountability for the pharmacoeconomics service across NHS Tayside (primary and secondary care). This includes the managed introduction of new medicines, the development and implementation of evidence-based policy on the use of new and existing medicines, horizon scanning, development/implementation of efficiency initiatives, analysis of prescribing trends and budget setting
(£111m prescribing allocation).
The post holder has direct contact with the following:

NHS Tayside Board: (11 Consultants in Public Health), Executive Team, NHS Tayside Finances &
Resources Committee, Director of Pharmacy, NHS Tayside Drug & Therapeutics Committee 1 and sub-committees

Secondary Care: (304 Consultant Physicians, ten Principal Clinical Pharmacists), Executive
Management Team, Mental Health Directorate Management Team

CHPs: (300 GPs, three CHP Lead Pharmacists, 39 Locality Pharmacists, 92 Community
Pharmacists)

Managed Clinical Networks: (20 established or under development)
The post holder is a member of the following Committees/Groups:

NHS Tayside Drug & Therapeutics Committee (DTC) 1 - bi-monthly

Medicines Advisory Sub-Group 2 of NHS Tayside DTC (new medicine lead) –monthly

Oncology & Haematology Medicines Management Group – monthly

Operational Unit Medicines Management Group (co-ordinator) – bi-monthly Nov-Mar

Tayside Medicines Utilisation Network (Chair) – quarterly

Finance Prescribing Support Group (Chair) – monthly

Principal Pharmacists Forum – quarterly

eHealth Project Team – monthly

Clinical Dashboard Project Team - monthly

Scottish Prescribing Advisors Association Steering Group – quarterly

DQIP (Data driven Quality Improvement in Primary care) Steering Group – quarterly

SMC Evaluation Steering Group – quarterly

SMC Horizon Scanning Steering Group - quarterly
The post holder is responsible for leading the managed introduction of approximately 80 new medicines per year.
1 NHS Tayside Drug & Therapeutics Committee – high level, strategic, multidisciplinary NHS Tayside
Committee responsible for endorsing Tayside policy decisions in relation to the use of medicines.
2 Medicines Advisory Sub-Group – multidisciplinary NHS Tayside group responsible for developing Tayside policy decisions and processes in relation to the use of both new and existing medicines.

5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To lead and manage the pharmacoeconomics service across NHS Tayside through the preparation, dissemination, and application of pharmacoeconomics information (cost-effectiveness of medicines) to assure value for money in relation to prescribing and the use of medicines. To develop a long-term strategy and operational plan for the pharmacoeconomics service.
2. To lead the managed introduction of new medicines within NHS Tayside in accordance with national advice issued by the Scottish Medicines Consortium, to maximise benefits, minimise clinical and financial risks and to assure value for money associated with new medicines. This includes the development of Tayside policy on the use of new medicines, the preparation, dissemination and application of relevant clinical and financial information, and the development of local processes to manage the introduction of new medicines within Clinical Groups/Directorates and CHPs.
3. To lead the development of Tayside evidence-based policy on the use of new and existing medicines, including development and implementation of the Tayside Area Prescribing Guide 3 , through active participation in the
Medicines Advisory Sub-Group 2 and the parent NHS Tayside Drug & Therapeutics Committee 1 , to assure safety,
efficacy and value for money in the use of medicines. To lead the development of electronic formulary developments.
4. Contribute to the NHS Tayside Drug & Therapeutics Committee to assure consistent clinical governance and risk management processes for medicines across NHS Tayside
5. To lead the prescribing allocation process through co-ordination of the Operational Unit Medicines Management
Group and by development of clear transparent and equitable processes to inform distribution of the GP/nonmedical prescribing budget and secondary care prescribing budget at NHS Tayside, Directorate, CHP and practice level. To estimate future demands on the prescribing allocation.
6. To assist in the development of national (Scottish) policy on the use of new medicines through active participation in the Scottish Medicines Consortium to assure value for money and uniform availability of new medicines throughout Scotland.
7. To co-ordinate, develop and deliver expert advice on safe, cost-effective, evidence-based, use of medicines to meet the needs of patients, members of the public, health care and other professionals involved in providing care to the population of Tayside.
8. To monitor, analyse and interpret data on medicines use to support NHS Tayside clinical and corporate governance in respect of medicines. To apply standard medicines research methodology to explain trends and variation. To make recommendations to shape NHS Tayside policy/guidance based on findings.
9. To develop and contribute to governance processes for particular specialities such as Oncology and Haematology to ensure high risk (clinical or financial) use of medicines is managed effectively.
10. Implementation and development of a practice research and development programme, and participation in multiprofessional research and audit, to improve the delivery of the Tayside Medicines Unit service and the standards of patient care – do we need to clarify this more – there may be an expectation that this is a large component of the role .
11. To line manage the Prescribing Support Officer and relevant staff providing services within the Tayside Medicines
Unit.
12. To actively contribute to the Continuing Professional Development to maintain highly specialised knowledge and skills in drug evaluation and pharmacoeconomics and to maintain awareness of national policy and guidelines in relation to medicines use.
13. To contribute to the development and delivery of local education and training for pharmacy and other health care professionals in relevant aspects of expertise delivered by the Tayside Medicines Unit
14. To develop effective communication and networks with all health care professionals involved in the use of medicines to promote consistent standards of care and to ensure efficient service provision.
15. The postholder is expected to contribute two sessions per week to the clinical pharmacy service in NHS Tayside
16. To ensure effective liaison with Procurement staff
17. Advise NHS Tayside re the most effective electronic mechanisms for Pharmacoeconomic aspects and advise ePharmacy Board and Project Team in relation to this
As a guide the proportion of time spent on these tasks can be apportioned:
Local strategic
– developing policy – 30%
National strategic – developing policy – 15%
Operational
– analysis and interpretation of data on medicines use – 15%
Communication – meetings, dissemination of expert advice (written, verbal) – 40%
3 Tayside Area Prescribing Guide – Tayside wide document that advises prescribers on the most appropriate and cost-effective choice of medicines for most common conditions and provides specific guidance in selected therapeutic areas.

6. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The need for highly developed and interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbal, formal and informal is essential.
The post holder will be required to influence NHS Tayside policy decision-makers (ie NHS Tayside
Executive Teams, NHS Tayside Drug & Therapeutics Committee 1 , NHS Tayside Finance & Resources
Committee) in relation to proposed NHS Tayside policy on medicines use, and to influence prescribing behaviour in individual clinicians (both contracted and managed) at all levels of NHS Tayside.
The post holder must have the ability to effectively convey/present highly complicated clinical and financial information in a form that can be readily understood by a variety of audiences including clinicians, finance managers, patients, politicians and NHS Tayside communications department/media. Information may be confidential/sensitive on occasion. The post holder will be required to negotiate with clinicians/managers as part of the influencing process to gain policy agreement/change in prescribing behaviour.
Effective communication both within and outwith the Tayside Medicines Unit and the overall pharmacy service is necessary, to facilitate consistent standards and to ensure efficient service provision.
Internal communication links:

The postholder will be expected to work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues across NHS
Tayside and develop systems of communication and good working relationships – this includes clinicians of all grades, nursing staff, Clinical Team and CHP Managers in all Clinical
Groups/Directorates and CHPs and finance staff at NHS Tayside level.
External communication links:

Scottish Medicines Consortium. Pharmacy and other professional colleagues outwith Tayside.
Patients, politicians, the public and the media. Academic colleagues.
7. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
The post holder will be practising pharmacist with a first degree of MPharm or equivalent, registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. They will have knowledge relevant to this specialist service, able to demonstrate a high level of professional practice and possess appropriate post-graduate qualifications such as a diploma or MSc in Prescribing Science or Clinical Pharmacy and qualification in health economics or experience to the equivalent level. They will also have experience in critical appraisal, evaluation of clinical and economic data, analysis and interpretation of data on medicines use and the application of this type of information to clinical practice.
Wide experience and understanding of the NHS including the General Medical Services and Community
Pharmacy Contracts, the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection Act, national and local strategies and guidelines in relation to the use of medicines are required. The post holder will have a good working knowledge of all sectors of pharmacy practice. They will be comfortable using standard Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint and will have working knowledge of primary and secondary care medicines utilisation systems. The post holder will demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development.
Excellent presentation and report writing skills are required to communicate with specialists and nonspecialists. Planning, organisation and co-ordination skills are required to develop and deliver the pharmacoeconomics service.
ESSENTIAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
8. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
The post holder will be required to operate a computer, using standard Microsoft packages, internet search facilities and medical databases, as well as specialist programmes such as prescribing analysis databases and statistical tools and website design software.
The post holder must have the ability to obtain and interpret prescribing data from the Information and
Statistics Division PRISMs system and the new Prescribing Information System (PIS) and the NHS Tayside
Prescribing database systems.
The post holder will be required to travel extensively and ability to travel is essential, driving licence desirable.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All records created in the course of the business of NHS Tayside are corporate records and are public records under the terms of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937. This includes email messages and other electronic records. It is your responsibility to ensure that you keep appropriate records of your work in
NHS Tayside and manage those records in keeping with the NHS Tayside Records Management Policy and with any guidance produced by NHS Tayside specific to your employment.
9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
The post holder is required to operate a computer for long periods while producing reports and analysing/interpreting data on medicines use.
The post requires sustained mental effort in various situations such as during meetings, while interpreting and evaluating complex data, and when preparing bulletins and reports. The post also requires an ability to maintain the train of thought, as the workload is subject to constant interruptions, and work is not predictable as priorities change at very short notice requiring immediate attention to meet the needs/demands of the service/management often working to tight deadlines.
Requests for formal and informal advice are frequent by email, telephone and in person.
The postholder is required to deal with direct inquires from patients, politicians and NHS Tayside communications department/media in relation to NHS Tayside policy and funding decisions around the use of new medicines.
10. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
The post holder is expected to act decisively and autonomously in their professional capacity, being accountable for their actions, without regular need to refer to line management. They will work in a selfdirected fashion within the parameters of national and local priorities and policies for health and regulatory frameworks. This includes all legal and professional frameworks governing clinical practice. The post holder is responsible for the interpretation of medicines legislation, national policy and regulations in relation to prescribing and will advise NHS Tayside on the interpretation of national guidance in relation to the costeffectiveness of medicines.
Objectives are jointly agreed by the Head of Tayside Medicines Governance and reviewed annually by appraisal. The post holder has responsibility for prioritisation, planning and deciding how objectives are to be reached. In addition, the post holder is expected to anticipate the effects of new strategies or problems, and address these as they arise.
The post holder is expected to exercise their judgement in the distillation of clinical and economic information to present key issues and, based on their interpretation of this information, to influence NHS
Tayside policy decision-makers and prescribing behaviour of individual clinicians and shape NHS Tayside policy. Consequences of failing to use professional judgement and initiative could result in litigation to the organisation e.g. because a new treatment was withheld without consideration of the individual patient circumstances, or cost to the patient in terms of increased morbidity and mortality e.g. because of incorrect clinical advice regarding medication for an individual patient.
The post holder will be expected to lead on the development and implementation of NHS Tayside policy on medicines use this involves making judgments on the appropriate use of medicines taking account of national policy/advice and views of local specialists and negotiating with specialists on behalf of NHS
Tayside.

11. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
The post holder is responsible for anticipating and influencing the financial impact of medicines whilst ensuring that patients receive the best clinical care. This often results in competing priorities within the organisation which require resolution.
To communicate verbally and in writing highly complex and specialised information.
To work to tight deadlines, producing reports from complex data analysis and policy documents.
To build effective relationships in an evolving structure to enable delivery of integrated, high quality, patientfocused pharmaceutical services within resource constraints and continually increasing demand.
To influence behaviour change in clinicians of all disciplines in both contracted and managed service around the appropriate use of medicines.
To maintain concentration in a variety of situations, particularly under emotional circumstances connected with handling press queries, MSP queries or patient complaints in relation to NHS Tayside policy decisions.
To meet dead-lines in an environment where work priorities may change at very short notice according to service/management demands.

CRITERIA
EXPERIENCE:
QUALIFICATIONS:
(Training;
Research;
Publications)
KNOWLEDGE &
ESSENTIAL
Evidence of influencing prescribers and members of the multi-disciplinary team (A and I)
Experience of undertaking research, audit and service improvement methodology to advance pharmaceutical care (A and I)
A working knowledge of clinical information systems, pharmacy computer systems, MI databases and other information systems
(A)
Experience of planning and co-ordinating pharmacy services (A and I)
Line management experience and evidence of contribution to the performance review of members of staff (A and I)
Experience of developing and implementing innovative work practices that improve patient care (A and I)
Advanced level of clinical experience, reasoning and judgement where information may be limited (A and I)
Detailed knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical standards and national guidelines (A and I)
DESIRABLE
Extensive post registration experience in a relevant field (e.g. a Healthcare setting) (A)
Experience of policy and service development (A)
Evidence of strategic planning of pharmaceutical services (A and I)
Significant experience of providing advice at a high level to multidisciplinary or senior management teams
(A and I)
Experience of specialist area for this post (A)
Budget management experience for a service/department and preparation of funding applications for service developments (A and I)
Registrant of General Pharmaceutical
Council (GPhC) and commitment to CPD
(A)
Post graduate Diploma/MSc in relevant field
(e.g. Prescribing Sciences or Clinical
Pharmacy) or demonstrate evidence of knowledge, training and experience equivalent to that level (A)
Demonstration of leadership and management training (A)
Detailed knowledge and understanding of
Independent prescriber or willingness to undertake the training to obtain the qualification (A and I)
Member of Professional
Body (e.g. Royal
Pharmaceutical Society) (A )
Stage 2 Tutor (A)
Pre-registration tutor (A)
Knowledge of healthcare

SKILLS:
PERSONAL
QUALITIES: legislation (A and I)
Project management and service improvement experience including change management (A and I)
Excellent analytical and problem solving skills (I)
Ability to process, utilise and communicate highly complex drug and medicines information to patients and Health Care
Professionals including prescribers where the information may be challenged (A and I)
Ability to effectively manage and prioritise own workload, delivering to deadlines with minimal supervision often under pressure and in stressful situations (I and R)
Ability to work autonomously and to make clinically based judgements (I and R)
Excellent presentation skills and experience in the successful delivery of education and training of members of staff (A and I)
Ability to recognise limitations of own experience and willingness to seek expert advice where appropriate (A and I)
Ability to process, utilise and communicate highly complex drug and medicines information to patients and Health Care
Professionals including prescribers where the information may be challenged (A and I)
Evidence of identification and management of risks within service area (A and I)
Effective written and verbal communication skills with patients and Healthcare
Professionals (A and I) structures and operational policies, including those relating to clinical, corporate and staff governanace (A)
Experience of preparing business cases and budget management (A and I)
Experience of initiating, undertaking and coordinating research
(A and I)
Ability to prioritise own workload and service workload for specialist area (A and I)
Ability to form working and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of people and to work as an effective team member (A and I)
Ability to apply therapeutic knowledge to clinical situations and to tailor the information to suit the recipient (I and R)

OTHER
A – Application
I – Interview
R - Reference
Ability to work calmly and accurately under pressure to meet required deadlines
(I and R)
Flexibility with working hours/base to meet the needs of the service and patients

POST REF NO: D/LR/140/12
JOB TITLE/GRADE:
LOCATION:
Conditions of Service
PRINCIPAL PHARMACIST PHARMACOECONOMICS
NHS TAYSIDE
Remuneration
Hours of Duty
Superannuation
Annual Leave
The terms and conditions of service for this post are those determined by the NHS Staff Council.
The current salary scale for the post is £45,254 to £55,945 per annum (pro rata for part-time staff). Placing on the scale on appointment is normally at the minimum but may be higher subject to verification of previous relevant service.
Salary is paid monthly by Bank Credit Transfer.
The hours of the post are 37.5 hours per week.
Start and finish times will be determined by the needs of the service.
Membership of the NHS Superannuation Scheme is not compulsory but is open to all staff between the ages of 16 and
70 (65 in some instances).
The contributions paid are a percentage of superannuable pay, which is essentially basic pay excluding, for example, overtime or travelling expenses.
Contribution rates with effect from 01.04.12 are as follows:
Annual Pensionable Pay Contribution
(Full-time equivalent)
Up to £15,000 5%
£15,001 to £21,175
£21,176 to £26,557
£26,558 to £48,982
£48,983 to £69,931
5%
6.5%
8.0%
8.9%
£69,932 to £110,273 9.9%
£110,274 to any higher amount 10.9%
Contributions are subject to tax relief and reduced National
Insurance contributions. NHS Tayside also makes a substantial contribution towards scheme benefits
– currently around 14% of basic pay.
On appointment = 27 days (pro rata for part-time Staff) or 5.4 weeks per year.
After 5 years aggregated service = 29 days (pro rata for part-time staff) or 5.8 weeks per year

References
After 10 years aggregated service = 33 days (pro rata for parttime staff) or 6.6 weeks per year
Public Holidays = 8 days (pro rata for part-time staff) or 1.6 weeks per year
All offers of appointment are subject to receipt of two satisfactory references
Clearance
Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974
(Exclusions and
Exceptions) (Scotland)
Order 2003
Disclosure Scotland
Immigration, Asylum and
Nationality Act 2006
Professional Registration/
Health Service are subject to a medical examination.
Medical examinations are arranged and undertaken by the
Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Service (OHSAS).
All current or spent criminal convictions, cautions, warnings or any case pending must be disclosed prior to commencing in employment as detailed on the application form.
Please note that having a conviction will not automatically debar you from obtaining employment with NHS Tayside. Careful consideration will be given to the relevance of the offence to the particular post in question. However, if you are appointed, and it is found that you did not reveal a previous conviction your employment may be terminated.
The successful applicant will be required to become a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) in respect of regulated work with protected adults and regulated work with children.
It is a criminal offence for an employer to employ anyone who does not have permission to live or work in the UK.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to produce specific original documentation at interview e.g. Passport, or full birth certificate together with an official document giving the applicants permanent National Insurance Number and name issued by a
Government Agency or a previous employer, as well as photocopies of these documents. you should have current and continuing professional registration of Conduct
Smoking Policy
Applications
Smoking is prohibited within NHS premises and grounds.
Completed forms should be returned to: recruitment.tayside@nhs.net quoting the job reference in the subject line or Workforce Services, Level 9, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1
9SY
By closing date of Saturday 23 rd March 2013