Chief Pharmacist - UPMC Kildare

Location: UPMC Kildare Hospital
Job type: Permanent

Overview of role:

We are currently recruiting a Chief Pharmacist for UPMC Kildare Hospital (Permanent, part-time contract, 15hrs/week).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Act at all times to ensure that the care and safety of patients is assigned the highest priority.
Understand, model, and promote UPMC core values: Quality and Safety, Dignity and Respect, Caring and Listening, Responsibility and Integrity, Excellence and Innovation.
Have a strategic focus on the development of the UPMC Pharmacy Service in line with legislation, national guidelines, and professional best practice.
Ensure legal and ethical pharmaceutical practice, the provision of the pharmacy service and ensure that operations comply with all relevant requirements of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI).
Provide advice, information, and direction to relevant Pharmacy, Medical, Nursing and/or other staff on best practice in relation to all aspects of medicines management, including the proper and economic use of drugs and alternative types of drugs and medicines.
Maintain accurate and complete records for purchasing, quality control and dispensing, and other aspects of the Pharmacy service as agreed with the Director of Pharmacy.
Analyse data, supervise, and prepare reports relevant to the Pharmacy services in UPMC Kildare Hospital for dissemination to relevant stakeholders across UPMC.
Be fully conversant with best practice and relevant competency frameworks for the delivery of Pharmacy services.
Manage the safe and cost-effective entry of new medications on to the hospital formulary, supporting colleagues in Pharmacy and other disciplines with expert advice and education as appropriate.
Work closely with the Pharmacy Technician Lead (Procurement and Technical Services Integration) to safely and effectively manage medicine stock shortages within UPMC.
Lead and oversee the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) required for all aspects of the Pharmacy service in UPMC Kildare Hospital and ensure that these are updated and implemented in line with changing practices locally, nationally and internationally, and in accordance with Pharmacy law.
Achieve and maintain competence in the use and administration of the Cúram/Meditech Expanse electronic health record, once implemented (June 2027), acting as the Pharmacy lead for operational and training issues relating to this system.
Contribute to the provision of medicines information and advice on drug availability and procurement to clinical staff in relation to medicines.
Collaborate with senior Pharmacy colleagues across UPMC to oversee the agile and efficient development of medicine information resources for clinical colleagues and patients e.g. patient information leaflets, monographs, policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines.
Collaborate with colleagues in the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to optimise medication workflows.
Contribute to the development of clinical guidelines as part of the MDT.
Identify and address deficiencies in medications management systems and processes, where applicable.
Highlight any discrepancies, incidents, or deficits in services to the General Manager in UPMC Kildare Hospital and the Director of Pharmacy as appropriate.
Proactively identify, assess, manage and monitor risks within his/her area of responsibility.
Ensure that correct procedures are adhered to in relation to accidents and investigations and ensure that proper reporting arrangements are in place in line with the requirements of the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005, to include frequent risk assessments and adherence to UPMC health and safety policies.

Take a leadership role in UPMC Kildare Hospital to encourage reporting on medication incidents/near misses across the organisation to support management and mitigation of risk and to inform quality improvement initiatives.

Oversee the auditing of compliance to good clinical practice standards in relation to medicines e.g. with respect to labelling, storage, dispensing, and documentation.
Plan and organise a risk-informed audit programme for UPMC Kildare Hospital which is strategically aligned with the service goals of UPMC Pharmacy and UPMC Ireland.
In collaboration with the Director of Pharmacy and Chief Pharmacists on other UPMC sites, develop and compile reports on Key Performance indicators (KPIs) for the Pharmacy service and ensure that these are disseminated to, and actioned by, appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner. These KPIs will include metrics describing capacity, workload, drug costs, quality and medication safety.
Assist with the timely provision and analysis of drug usage reports to colleagues in Finance and UPMC senior management.
As agreed with the Director of Pharmacy, provide expert support to colleagues in Finance and Hospital leadership to help manage the drugs budget, through regular reporting, analysis, and horizon scanning.
Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, hospital committees and working groups as required e.g. Clinical Governance, Drugs and Therapeutics, Medication Management and Use, Medication Safety.
Act as a leader and role model within UPMC Pharmacy, UPMC Kildare Hospital, and UPMC Ireland.
Build effective partnerships both within UPMC Ireland and across the wider health system to manage and develop services that meet the needs and aspirations of patients, UPMC, and other collaborative partners as appropriate.
Propose, lead, and manage innovation and technological improvements in the Pharmacy service, preparing and presenting business cases for service development as appropriate.
Co-ordinate service delivery with the other Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Technicians, to ensure a high level of efficient and cohesive teamwork within the Pharmacy service.
Assist in the recruitment, development, mentoring and motivation of staff to maximise performance and delivery of service objectives and priorities.
Implement and maintain systems to ensure the effective induction and on-going training of all Pharmacy staff in UPMC Kildare Hospital.
Supervise and line manage staff within the Pharmacy service in UPMC Kildare Hospital.
Support Pharmacy colleagues in enhancing their skills and assuming additional and advanced responsibilities.
Promote and actively participate in continuing professional development and research activities consistent with the post.
Ensure that all UPMC Human Resource policy and procedures are adhered to.
As agreed with the Director of Pharmacy, manage performance of Pharmacy team members against measured and reported competency and performance metrics.
Participate in the performance review and appraisal process as required.
Ensure that systems are in place to promptly identify poor performance and that any individuals identified are appropriately managed and supported to achieve the required performance level.
As agreed with the Director of Pharmacy, oversee attendance and wellbeing within the Pharmacy team.
Delegate tasks as appropriate to members of the team in line with skill set and job role.
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with academic and research partners.
Undertake, co-ordinate, and publish Pharmacy practice-based research, ensure that all relevant GCP standards are adhered to.
Facilitate and encourage others within the Pharmacy team to undertake audit and research and to present and publish their findings.
Carry out any other duties relevant to this role as designated by the Director of Pharmacy, including deputising for the Director of Pharmacy as required.
Support the Director of Pharmacy as required in developing and implementing the UPMC Pharmacy Transformation Strategy.
Engage in continuous professional development appropriate to the role and in compliance with professional obligations.
Have a working knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role e.g. National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.
Participate in the Hospital’s accreditation process.

Qualifications & Experience:

Qualifications & Experience
Essential:

Be registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland or be entitled to be so registered.
Have at last 5 years satisfactory post-registration hospital experience (or equivalent).
Possess the requisite specialised knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the role.
Significant, proven post-registration hospital practice experience, with a broad clinical pharmacy experience and experience of line management.
Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development and role-specific learning.
Ability to demonstrate:

excellent planning, organisational and resource management skills
excellent leadership, interpersonal and people management skills
experience of change management and quality improvement initiatives

Desirable:

Formal management and leadership training or equivalent experience in management, training and supervision of Pharmacy staff.
Previous experience of, and participation in, Hospital Accreditation Programme(s).
Experience of Good Clinical Practice
A further qualification such as a post-graduate diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy.

Salary: €84,455.00-€106,596.00 per annum based on a 35 hour work week

This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility. As UPMC and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the business.

Equal Opportunity Statement and Benefits

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At UPMC we provide a total rewards program that is not only market competitive, but fair and provides growth opportunities for all our colleagues.

Benefits – Fully paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents. Competitive Pension Plan, company funded Death in Service Benefit x 3 times. Critical Illness cover for all employees up to the age of 66.

Performance and Recognition – Rewards for performance that supports the goals and mission of UPMC through our annual ACES programme.

Work-Life Balance – Enhanced annual leave up to a maximum of 27 days. Flexible working opportunities to support you to work around external family commitments.

Development and Career Opportunities – Opportunities for each employee to reach their career goals through continued learning and/or advancement.

About UPMC

UPMC is a renowned multinational academic medical centre committed to delivering people-focused care that’s close to home. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC shapes the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research and education. UPMC expands its expertise globally, bringing world-class care across continents through its UPMC International division — an owned and operated network of hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Italy, Ireland and Croatia. UPMC International brings new access to the signature specialty services of UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, UPMC Sports Medicine and others to more people in more places around the world.

In Ireland UPMC has provided high-quality healthcare in the South East since 2006. UPMC’s operations in Ireland now include UPMC Whitfield Hospital in Waterford, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin, UPMC Kildare Hospital in Clane, and UPMC Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny. Outpatient care is available at the UPMC Carlow Outreach Centre, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre radiotherapy locations in Waterford and Cork, UPMC The 4th Practice in Mallow, and across UPMC Sports Medicine Clinics in Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, Tipperary, Cork, and Mayo. UPMC has also established a nationwide Concussion Network. UPMC's Global Technology Operation Centre is based in Kilkenny.

Chief Pharmacist - UPMC Kildare

Benefits

Job Description