Foundation Pharmacist

If you are looking to begin your career as a hospital pharmacist as a member of a supportive, professional, cohesive team, where training is a priority, come and join us in South Devon. We welcome applications from trainee pharmacists who are due to register in 2024. If you are a pharmacist with more experience, perhaps outside of hospital pharmacy, do get in touch, we are very happy to discuss possibilities for part time or flexible working if that is important to you.

Our foundation pharmacists work on a rotational basis and their training and supervision is provided through a number of collaborative initiatives between TSDFT, NHS Devon CCG and Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Foundation pharmacists are employed by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT), which is an integrated care organisation.

The rotation includes the provision of medicines optimisation services to acute and community hospitals, intermediate and primary care and mental health

The purpose of the foundation pharmacists' role is to develop and utilise the clinical and professional skills defined in the South Devon Pharmacist Foundation Programme in order to provide clinical pharmacist input into medicines optimisation services for patients across all sectors of the healthcare system.

Main duties of the job

You will :

-be a pharmacist, who acts within their professional boundaries, working within the pharmacy team and alongside the multidisciplinary healthcare teams in each of their rotation placements.

-work on a rotational basis, gaining competencies and experience as defined by the Foundation Programme. In each rotation you will be supported, mentored and managed by the senior clinical pharmacy team.

-be competent to practice safely and autonomously at a foundation level within each rotation specialty (competencies and timeframes for assessment and achievement are defined in the Foundation Programme handbook).

-provide clinically appropriate, patient-centred, evidence based and cost-effective pharmaceutical care to patients in all of your rotational placements.

The Foundation Programme forms the basis of an innovative career pathway for pharmacists. It has the support of local and national pharmacy leaders and provides foundation pharmacists in South Devon with the opportunity to develop a wide range of clinical and professional skills and experience across a number of healthcare settings while actively utilising these skills supportive teams.

The TSDFT clinical pharmacy team culture is team based, patient focussed, innovative and supportive. Continuing professional development is expected from all team members and the support for the training and development of pharmacists and technicians through a well-established foundation programme is a key component the team's work.

The team is well integrated with the multidisciplinary teams across the Trust and all team members are expected to represent the pharmacy department and their profession in a visible, approachable and competent manner, demonstrating flexibility, positivity and problem-solving ability as appropriate to their role and competency. The ward facing clinical pharmacy teams (each consisting of highly specialist, mid-grade and foundation pharmacists, specialist and foundation technicians and ATOs) are supported by and provide clinical support for medicines information, medicines governance, aseptic services, homecare, high cost drugs, dispensary and dispatch teams.

Why work with us- Torbay Hospital provides acute care for the local community and has several community hospitals, and is a hot-spot for those who are considering living by the sea or within half an hour of Dartmoor National Park and an hour to Exmoor National Park. Meanwhile, Plymouth and Exeter are also both within a short drive to enjoy the culture, maritime history and shopping experiences.