Palliative Care Pharmacist

Working as part of the Care Navigation hub, the post holder works with the Head of Care Navigation, Triage Manager, Doctors, Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) with expert advice on medicines, prescribing and stewardship. They oversee the onsite drugs room, work closely with TRFT pharmacy services for medicines supply, and lead the hospice transition to e prescribing.

The Palliative Care Pharmacist is responsible for clinical pharmacy services, medicines governance, policies and audits, and for ensuring that medicines support Living Lifes Wishes, helping patients to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life in the safest and most effective way possible.

Clinical Responsibilities

Deliver

expert pharmaceutical care to hospice inpatients, day patients, and community

patients where applicable

Review

and optimise medication regimens for symptom control e.g. pain, nausea,

agitation, breathlessness

Provide

advice on complex prescribing, including syringe drivers and anticipatory

medications

Support

deprescribing and rationalisation of medicines in line with patient goals of

care

Monitor

for adverse drug reactions and interactions, particularly in frail and complex

patients

Participate

in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings

Medicines Management

Ensure

the safe, legal, and effective supply of medicines within the hospice

Oversee

controlled drugs management in accordance with UK legislation

Develop

and implement policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures

Support

audit and quality improvement initiatives related to medicines use

Contribute

to formulary development and cost-effective prescribing

Education and Training

Provide

training and education to healthcare professionals on palliative care

pharmacotherapy

Support

the development of junior pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff

Offer

guidance to patients and carers on medication use, including administration and

side effects

Patient and Family Support

Provide

compassionate, patient-centred counselling on medicines

Support

patients and families in understanding treatment options and symptom management

Contribute

to advance care planning discussions where appropriate

Governance and Quality

Participate

in clinical audit, research, and service evaluation

Ensure

compliance with professional standards e.g. GPhC, NICE, local policies

Contribute

to risk management and incident reporting processes

E

prescribing preparation and implementation

Lead

the planning and implementation of e prescribing within the hospice, working

with clinical, IT and external partners.

Contribute

to system design, testing, training and go live planning to ensure safe and

user friendly e prescribing processes.

Develop

and maintain associated policies, procedures and guidance for e prescribing and

medicines administration.

Team

leadership and development

Line

manage and support the Pharmacy Technician, ensuring regular supervision,

appraisal and development.

Promote

a culture of openness, learning and high standards within the pharmacy and Care

Navigation teams.

General

Act

at all times in line with the values and behaviours of Rotherham Hospice.

Ensure

compliance with hospice policies, including health and safety, infection

prevention and control, safeguarding, lone working, information governance and

confidentiality.

Participate

in meetings, training and mandatory updates as required.

Undertake

any other duties commensurate with the role and grade, as agreed with the Head

of Care Navigation.

Rotherham Hospice is a charity dedicated to the people of Rotherham, offering specialist palliative and end of life care to our community since 1996.

We provide comprehensive, compassionate care through two primary patient services:

Additionally, we offer wider support to patients and their families through:

Qualifications

Experience