Lead Pharmacist – Sponsorship Opportunity

The Lead Pharmacist – Dispensary will provide leadership, management, and coordination of the dispensary services at Canberra Health Services.

This vital role will oversee all aspects of dispensary workflows including daily resource allocation to meet the medication supply needs including of inpatient medication, discharge medication supply, and outpatient medication supply. This includes optimisation of dispensary workflows to ensure efficient, accurate, and timely medication supply.

They will provide leadership and coaching of pharmacy dispensary staff utilising data-driven review of dispensary output, staff performance, and patient-reported experiences.

Additionally, this position will contribute to protocol development, quality assurance programs, and the implementation of policies and procedures to continuously improve the dispensary service.

The lead pharmacist will collaborate closely with other pharmacy, nursing, and medical teams within the organisation to promote safe and quality use of medicines within CHS.

Key Responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Deputy Director of Pharmacy (Operations) you will lead and manage a team of technicians and pharmacists to deliver a safe efficiency, accuracy, and timely medication pharmacy services. You will:

1. Manage the day-to-day operations of the dispensary, including the dispensary workflow, prioritisation, and delegation of tasks to ensure departmental key performance indicators are met.
2. Provide professional supervision, training, coaching, education, and mentorship to dispensary pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians, intern pharmacists and other relevant groups.
3. Review relevant data and metrics to support continuous quality improvement and inform performance coaching.
4. Ensure all medications are supplied safely, and in accordance with relevant policies, and legislation.
5. Develop, document, train, monitor, and optimise dispensary workflows to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and timely medication delivery.
6. Represent the pharmacy department through professional leadership and advocacy, and liaise with internal and external stakeholders as required, including national pharmacy networks relevant to pharmacy dispensary services.
7. Develop and contribute to practice-based research, medication safety initiatives, accreditation activities, policy and procedure review, strategic planning and service review, and quality improvement projects relevant to pharmacy dispensary services in collaboration with the Quality Use of Medicines, Research and Education and management teams.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following.

• Commitment to Patient Safety and Ethics: Candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to patient safety and well-being, as well as adhere to high ethical standards and professional conduct. (Standards 1.1, 1.2)
• Exceptional Communication and Collaboration: Candidates must demonstrate exceptional communication skills, including the ability to effectively interact with patients, healthcare professionals, and the public. They should also be skilled at partnering with other team members to achieve improved patient experiences and optimized outcomes. (Standards 2.1, 2.2)
• Deep Understanding of Medicines and Regulations: Candidates should have a deep understanding of relevant medicines and poisons regulations, as well as the ability to apply these regulations to hospital pharmacy practice. They must also demonstrate an understanding of the nuances of regulatory and governance frameworks related to medication use and be able to balance patient outcomes with resource allocation. (Standards 1.3, 1.5, 3.1)
• Proficient in Pharmacy Practice: Candidates should have a proven understanding of pharmacy practice, medication safety, and the legislative and regulatory requirements relevant to hospital pharmacy practice. (Standards 1.3, 1.5, 3.1, 3.5)
• Strong Leadership and Management Skills: Candidates must demonstrate strong leadership, management, and interpersonal skills. This includes the ability to manage teams effectively, coach individuals, and allocate resources appropriately. (Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)

Qualifications

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a hospital or health systems pharmacist.

Desirable

• Prior experience in a leadership role within a pharmacy department, coaching or managing teams is highly desirable.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Clinical Pharmacy, Management, Education or Research (e.g., Master of Pharmacy (Clinical), Master of Business Administration (Healthcare)).
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven high level of competence, expertise, skills, and ability to apply clinical judgment in the provision of hospital pharmacy services, including a high level of understanding of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the principles of formulary management.
2. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team to achieve departmental key performance indicators by prioritising workload, coordinating workflow, leading activities to improve service provision, and providing supervision for junior staff.
3. Demonstrated high level interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to consult, negotiate and liaise effectively with colleagues in the multidisciplinary setting and with patients, showing a commitment to building and maintaining effective working relationships.
4. Demonstrated expertise in education, mentoring and training, and the ability to impart knowledge and skills to pharmacy staff, students, hospital clinicians, and other stakeholders.
5. Demonstrates a commitment to work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience and displays behaviour consistent with Canberra Health Service’s values of Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind.