Band 8a

Job summary

SCFT already have established MOCH Teams in parts of East and West Sussex, and are seeking to expand to cover all of Sussex. Our MOCH Teams consist of specialist pharmacy staff who support care homes and their residents to achieve best outcomes from medications. They do this by reviewing medications with individual residents/carers and providing guidance on medicines use, supply and management of medicines within the care homes.

Our MOCH Teams are core members of the Enhanced Health in Care Home Multi-Disciplinary Teams, working at PCN level with Care Homes, Care Home Matrons, GP Practice teams, Community Pharmacies, Social Services, Acute hospitals, CQC, and many others involved with care home residents and their medicines.

Main duties of the job

The role: As a MOCH Senior Clinical Pharmacist you will be delivering medicines reviews and leading on medicines optimisation to residents within care homes. You will review prescribing and make recommendations to GPs to improve patient outcomes focusing on quality and safety. You will establish and maintain effective working relationships and networks across a defined PCN locality.

The person: We are looking to appoint highly enthusiastic, committed and self-motivated Senior Clinical Pharmacists with an understanding of the medicines optimisation issues within the care home setting. You will need to be able to prioritise work and understand the importance of key performance indicators to demonstrate the difference made to patient care and patient outcomes and take responsibility for the development and delivery of practice quality improvement within the care home setting.

The skills: We are looking to build on your enthusiasm for working with the frail elderly and learning disability patient groups. Warmth and empathy are essential, as are clinical and technical skills around medicines optimisation. An ability to be self-motivated to learn and manage your work flow is a prerequisite.

Post qualification experience relevant to the post and a proven track record of successful implementation of medicines optimisation is desirable. Robust relevant CPD such as chronic conditions in older people, is essential and applicants are welcomed from all branches of pharmacy practice.

About us

Sussex Community Foundation NHS Trust (SCFT) are the largest provider of community NHS healthcare in Sussex, with a substantial Medicines Management Department led by our Chief Pharmacist. Our Medicines Management Department provides opportunities for continued learning / CPD and supervision, with education supervisors supporting training for cross-sector Pharmacy Technician trainees and Clinical Pharmacists.

Our Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) Teams are embedded within our Medicines Management Department, and have access to our wider NHS Trust infrastructure, including organisation development and training opportunities, and employee benefits such as Occupational Health Team, Staff Networks (BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+, and Religion and Belief), Carers Support, workplace Nurseries with subsidised staff rates, Pool cars and bikes, and Employee Assistance Programme.