2025/119 Neonatal Advanced Specialist Pharmacist
Permanent, Full Time
This position is at Advanced Specialist Pharmacist grade, however the Rotunda Hospital will consider applications from Senior Pharmacists who may not meet the Advanced Specialist Pharmacist criteria but who are keen to develop their career within Maternal and Newborn care.
The Neonatal Advanced Specialist Pharmacist (ASP) will participate in ongoing service developments with a particular focus on evidence-based therapeutics and medication safety in the Neonatal Unit. The Neonatal ASP will lead on delivering medicines optimisation and ensure the contribution of pharmacists to the safe, effective and cost effective use of medicines in newborns. The successful candidate will be responsible for the provision of a robust clinical pharmacy service and medication safety programme for neonatal patients. The role will involve close collaboration with Nursing, Medical, Pharmacy, Dietetic and Allied Health colleagues. The Neonatal ASP will collaborate on implementation of neonatal aspects of the hospital's Medication Safety Strategy. The role will also involve quality improvement work and optimisation of the hospital's electronic health record and e-Prescribing system in a neonatal context.
The Neonatal ASP will act as a professional resource in advising other pharmacists and health care professionals in their area of expertise.
Demonstrate professional leadership within their designated clinical area through effective communication with other clinical practitioners, motivation of staff and challenging barriers to change.
The Advanced Specialist Pharmacist practices to a high level of capability across six domains of advanced practice aligned with International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Advanced Level II in the specialist area of practice.
The six domains of advanced practice are defined as follows:
Expert Professional Knowledge
Working with Others
Leadership
Management
Education, Training and Development
Research and Evaluation
Expert Professional Knowledge
Lead and support medicines optimisation as part of a multidisciplinary team within the area of speciality.
Deliver a specialised level of clinical input using advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in the area of specialty, also demonstrating high level of knowledge in other areas so as to take relevant co-morbidities into account when making treatment decisions commensurate with the grade.
Provide specialised medication related advice. This will include individualised advice on medication dosing, drug choice, administration, drug level monitoring and dose adjustment, the use of unlicensed medicines, the use of medicines outside the terms of their product authorisation and advice on the safety and storage of medications.
Provide medicines information and advice to patients and work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments.
Contribute to the organisation's wider antimicrobial stewardship programme.
Contribute to pharmaceutical initiatives to ensure the optimisation of patient safety initiatives including those which help with the seamless transfer of patients between different healthcare settings.
Be cognisant of and advise appropriately of regulations (Medicinal Products, Prescription and Control of Supply and Misuse of Drugs Regulations), as applicable to their area of speciality.
Working with Others
Act as a professional resource within their area of specialisation for advising other pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in the organisation.
Liaise with all healthcare staff, patients and carers in all areas of work.
Develop good working relationships and communications with all staff in the specialty multidisciplinary team, providing a link regarding all aspects of pharmacy service and medicines optimisation.
Use available information to ensure the most appropriate and cost-effective choice of therapy.
Leadership
Promote and lead in the development and delivery of best practice standards.
Provide effective clinical leadership to pharmacists assigned to their speciality and by working with other clinical leaders.
Act as a role model to pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy students and all other members of the multidisciplinary team, working as a pharmacist expert in the area of specialty and networking with peers in other organisations.
Management
Ensure the safe use of medicines by evaluating and managing risks associated with the use of medicines and by participating in the hospital's Medicines Safety reporting process.
Ensure the cost-effective use of medicines.
Contribute to formulary development and implementation.
Manage and professionally supervise other pharmacy staff assigned to that area of speciality.
Lead and/ or contribute to the development and implementation of SOPs, guidelines, protocols etc. relevant to their area of speciality.
Continually monitor the service to ensure it reflects current needs.
Optimise the potential of pharmacy resources, skills and knowledge through monitoring and evaluation, underpinned by research and professional development within their area of speciality.
Implement and manage identified changes.
Contribute to the service planning process.
Actively participate in risk management issues, identify risks and take responsibility for appropriate action.
Report and manage any adverse incidents in accordance with organisational guidelines.
Under the direction of their line manager, investigate critical incidents within their designated areas of responsibility and work with the multidisciplinary team to identify and implement preventative and corrective solutions in order to improve patient care.
Be aware of, contribute to, and implement agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
Participate in individual performance review.
Maintain records according to local and statutory requirements.
Education, Training and Development
Undertake continuous professional development and develop professional knowledge and competencies.
Identify own training needs and provide evidence of maintaining and updating specialist and general pharmacy knowledge.
Participate in mandatory training programmes.
Develop, support and assist in the training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students in their area of speciality as appropriate.
Develop and/or deliver teaching sessions for NCHDs, nurses and/ or HSCPs in relation to medication in their area of speciality.
Participate in education and training in an external environment as required by the Pharmacist Executive Manager. This may include having teaching responsibility in universities.
Research and Evaluation
Lead and Contribute to audit and quality improvement initiatives.
Actively promote the implementation of evidence-based practice within the area of speciality and/or organisation.
Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to contribute to research and its application within the area of speciality and/or organisation.
Presentation of research or evaluation findings at research or professional symposium.
General
Have cognisance of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards, antimicrobial stewardship, medication safety etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.
Promote a safe working environment in accordance with Health and Safety legislation
To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
In addition to national ASP standards, the additional local Duties & Responsibilities apply:
General
1. Work collaboratively with other members of the team to ensure that patient care is central to all activities of the Pharmacy Department.
2. Participate in service delivery as part of a professional, punctual and dedicated team.
3. Create, promote and maintain open communications and healthy working relationships.
4. Maintain the principles of equity, accountability and quality of service in daily work.
5. Work collaboratively with other Pharmacy Department staff to deliver clinical pharmacy services, respecting the role of other pharmacists in ensuring safe and effective care.
6. Carry out dispensary duties as required including purchase, storage and supply of medicines and related items ensuring quality and value for money.
7. Ensure accurate records relating to the procurement, storage, distribution, sale and destruction of medical products are maintained in accordance with good practice and applicable legislation.
8. Participate in stock-taking, invoice-processing and other administrative procedures as required.
NICU Clinical Pharmacy Service
1. Participate in collaboration with the Neonatal Pharmacy Team multidisciplinary ward rounds, acting as a medicines expert, providing guidance, information and support to medical, nursing and other colleagues to ensure best outcomes for patients.
2. Deliver a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service and the implementation of a quality improvement programme in line with the hospital's Medication Safety Strategy, national guidelines and international best practice in collaboration with the Pharmacy team and Neonatal Unit colleagues.
3. Ensure that all neonatal patients receive optimal pharmaceutical care from birth through to seamless discharge planning.
4. Provide admission, transfer and discharge medicine reconciliation processes in line with national and international guidelines and best practice.
5. Develop processes to ensure seamless ongoing delivery of neonatal clinical pharmacy services during periods of planned or unplanned leave.
6. Collaborate with the Neonatal Dietitian on the ordering of neonatal parenteral nutrition and auditing of use.
7. Develop, update and implement evidence-based prescribing and administration guidelines.
8. Participate in the development of clinical pharmacy service metrics and other key performance indicators.
9. Participate in Pharmacy Department and Neonatal Journal Clubs.
10. Act as a liaison between the Pharmacy Department and the wider neonatal multidisciplinary team.
11. Work closely with NICU colleagues to update, adapt and develop medication-related guidance for delivery to all prescribers and relevant staff through appropriate media including the Rotunda Prescriber's Guide App, online portals or Wikis and use content management systems to ensure that medication-related content is kept up to date.
12. Educate prescribers, nurses and other staff on medication use processes including prescribing and administering medications on MN-CMS and using other eHealth technology e.g. Infusion pumps, information resources, infusion libraries and infusion labelling solutions.
13. Participate in quality initiatives relating to medication use in neonatal care.
14. Participate in regular local feedback on medication use and drug safety huddles relevant to neonatal care.
15. Integrate research into daily practice to generate an evidence base to inform safe and effective medication use in neonatal care.
16. Participate in the delivery of clinical trial services.
17. Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to change in particular in relation to strategic developments at local, regional & national level.
18. Provide expert pharmaceutical advice on the use of medications in neonates throughout the Rotunda Hospital.
19. Participate in the development of IT resources, e.g. Apps, survey instruments and electronic prescribing, in order to optimise the medication use process for neonates in the Rotunda Hospital.
20. Develop medication-related reports from the hospital's electronic health record.
21. Participate in feedback and audit mechanisms to the Pharmacy Services Manager and the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee. This will include facilitating the development of audit tools and models to enable the statistical analysis of defined prescribing guidelines as well as intervention and outcome analyses.
22. Ensure that antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control policies are facilitated by close collaboration with the Antimicrobial Pharmacist and communication between medical, nursing and pharmacy services.
23. Ensure that safe and effective use of medications is facilitated by clear communication between medical, nursing and pharmacy services.
24. Ensure the cost effective use of medicines, targeting high-cost items, and appraise the Pharmacy Services Manager of any proposed changes in practice likely to lead to significant changes in expenditure or purchasing patterns.
25. Ensure that ongoing quality requirements in relation to medication are met in line with National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services, the National Medication Safety Monitoring Programme and other relevant national standards.
(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition have the following:
(i) Be a registered Pharmacist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) or be entitled to be so registered
And
(ii) Possess a Level 9 or higher post registration, postgraduate qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland, in an area relevant to the role.
Or
(iii) Possess a relevant qualification at least equivalent to (ii) above
And
(iv) 4 years post registration hospital experience, of which at least 2 years[1] must be in the relevant specialty demonstrating the required level of specialist practice
(b) Or
(i) Be a registered Pharmacist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) or be entitled to be so registered
And
(ii) Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) including relevant courses in an area relevant to the role
And
(iii) 5 years post registration hospital experience of which at least 3 years[1] must be in the relevant specialty demonstrating the required level of specialist practice
And
(c) Candidates must possess the requisite clinical, leadership, managerial and administrative knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
[1] A minimum of 0.5 WTE must have been in the specialist area for the duration of this time.
The Rotunda Hospital recognises that non-neonatal ICU or other specialist experience will also be relevant to this post.
Informal enquiries regarding this post should be addressed to Prof Brian Cleary, Pharmacist Executive Manager at
Closing Date: 23rd September 2023