Position overview

The Pharmacy sits within the Division of Medical Services (EDMS) which includes the Physician Training Office, Medical Officer Support, Credentialing, Employment and Training Unit (MOSCETU), GP Liaison Unit (GPLU), Pathology, Pharmacy, Medical Imaging and Library Services. The Canberra Health Services (CHS) Pharmacy Department have a dynamic, talented team of approximately 100 staff, including: pharmacists, technicians, couriers and administration staff. The department provides a range of clinical services to inpatients and outpatients including several specialised services.

A new Surgical Procedures, Interventional Radiology and Emergency Centre has just been opened which has transformed the acute services delivered at the Canberra Hospital in the near future. This new centre delivers additional Emergency Department treatment spaces, theatres, additional intensive care unit (ICU) beds, as well as including new paediatric ICU beds.

This position will work within clinical teams to provide clinical and operational services across a range of clinical and operational areas across the Canberra Hospital campus during and outside of standard business hours.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Under limited direction of the Lead Pharmacist and Deputy Directors of Pharmacy you will work closely with a team of technicians and pharmacists to deliver a safe, efficacious and patient centered service. The responsibility of this position is to provide clinical and operational pharmacy services:

1. Clinically screen, dispense and check medicines for inpatients, outpatients, patients on the self-administration of medicines program and for patients being discharged from the hospital, including counselling patients about their medications to optimise therapeutic outcomes. This includes dispensing of dose administration aids for appropriate patients when working in the repackaging pharmacy and University of Canberra Hospital.
2. Provide clinical pharmacy services in accordance with departmental standards, the AdPha Standards of Practice for Clinical Pharmacy and The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, including providing basic drug information to patients and other health care professionals.
3. Provide general supervision to interns, pharmacy staff, and students.
4. Provide pharmacy services on weekends and after hours as rostered, including across hospital sites.
5. Participate in the department quality improvement projects, educational programs and research activities.
6. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

Pharmacists must meet the competencies outlined in the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia¹ at the General level. The competencies defined within this framework includes the following 5 Domains:

• Domain 1: Professionalism and ethics

To comply with legislative standards, including a legal responsibility to work within their competence, and commit to life-long learning and professional development to maintain and build competence. And to uphold ethical standards, demonstrate the professional behaviours reasonably expected of a registered health professional and strive to improve quality and safety within the health system.

• Domain 2: Communication and collaboration

To communicate and work effectively with professional colleagues, patients (which includes carers, guardians, and families), other clients as well as members of the general public.

• Domain 3: Medicines management and patient care

Apply their expertise to promote wellness or work in direct consultation with patients or in collaboration with other health professionals to improve health. Including participation in public health and health promotion activities, the assessment of patients to develop a patient-centered medication management plan and the provision of medicines (prescription and non-prescription) and compounded products.

• Domain 4: Leadership and management

Demonstrate self-leadership as well as their leadership role in sharing a vision for the future and promoting the use of initiative and innovation to respond to change and drive progress. This includes applying management skills to undertake organisational and business planning, including the management of finances, human and other resources, the professional environment, and the service delivery arrangements.

• Domain 5: Education and research

To contribute to the education of professional colleagues. Including the ability to analyse and synthesise information from medical and pharmaceutical literature, identify and respond to gaps in the evidence-base by conducting research, share research findings and apply evidence in practice.

Reference: 1.  National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia. Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. 2016.

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered or eligible for registration as a Pharmacist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working professionally as a registered pharmacist in an Australian environment (or in a country where reciprocal arrangements apply with the Australian Pharmaceutical Council Competency Stream Skills Assessment method)

Desirable

• Previous hospital pharmacy experience
• Experience or knowledge of 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, including on call and working across hospital sites as necessary.

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 and must be addressed in your application:

1. Proven basic level of knowledge, expertise and skill sufficient to provide pharmaceutical care to patients in a hospital setting.
2. High level interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to consult, negotiate and liaise effectively with patients and with colleagues in the multidisciplinary setting. This includes building and maintaining effective working relationships, and the maintenance of a supportive work environment.
3. Demonstrated evidence of self-motivation, good problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to different and changing working environments.
4. Demonstrated ability to provide professional supervision to graduates, students and support staff and demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development, including self-directed learning.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.