Lead Pharmacist - Intensive Care

Alfred Health

Alfred Health is a leader in health care delivery, improvement, research and education. We are the main provider of health services to people living in the inner southeast suburbs of Melbourne, from ambulatory to inpatient and home and community-based services.

• Permanent Full Time Position (80hrs per f/n) + monthly ADO 
• Approximately 60% clinical facing time and 40% dedicated to quality improvement activities, education and research in ICU 
• Grade 4 (TA20-TA22) 
• Located at the Alfred
• Great Staff Benefits! 5 Weeks Annual Leave & Salary Packaging

About the Team

The Alfred Hospital Intensive Care Unit is one of Australia's leading Intensive Care Units, admitting approximately 2000 patients per annum. The state-of-the-art 45 cubicle unit is one of the largest and certainly has the most complex case mix in the country.  It is a university-attached quaternary referral centre, providing State Services for heart & lung transplantation (including paediatric lung transplantation), artificial heart technology, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and burns.  Clinical pharmacy services are fully integrated into the unit, with a dedicated team providing clinical input seven days a week.

The Intensive Care Services also incorporate the Hyperbaric Unit as well as the Intensive Care Liaison and Medical Emergency Teams.

The Pharmacy Department is a recognised leader in the provision of comprehensive contemporary pharmacy services and has integrated clinical, educational, research and stewardship programs.  This includes unit based and patient centred clinical pharmacy programs supported by established education programs including foundation and advanced training residencies as well as formalised credentialing programs for many innovative clinical roles. The Pharmacy Department prioritises the delivery of excellence in patient care and the development, evaluation and adoption of innovative practices that improve the services provided.

The pharmacy service to ICU is extensive and includes several pharmacist-led initiatives such as the partnered pharmacist medication charting (PPMC) model and an extended-hours service.

Further information is available at https://www.alfredhealth.org.au/services/pharmacy-at-alfred-health 

About the Role

The Lead Clinical Pharmacist Intensive Care position is a clinical leadership position.  The post will provide progressive patient-centred clinical services to Alfred Health’s most critical patients. The Lead Clinical Pharmacist ICU – Quality and Innovation is responsible for the delivery and development of clinical pharmacy services to the Intensive Care Unit, and oversight of the pharmacy services to the hyperbaric medicine and ICU liaison and medical emergency teams. 

This position will be responsible for managing a team of ICU pharmacists, including senior and rotational pharmacists. The position will devote approximately 60% of their time providing direct patient care, with 40% of their time dedicated to innovation, research, education and training.

Duties

• Coordination, management and development of the clinical pharmacy services of the Alfred Health Pharmacy Service to the Intensive Care and Hyperbaric Services.
• Provision of safe, efficient and economical use of medicines.
• Supervision of relevant pharmacy staff in the performance of their day to day responsibilities.
• Ensuring relevant pharmacy staff compliance with pharmacy and hospital procedures relating to their responsibilities including but not limited to Medicines Formulary and Medicine Guidelines.
• Education, mentoring and performance management of relevant pharmacy staff and post and undergraduate pharmacists.
• Development and contribution to practice based research program relevant to the specified unit or ward.
• Provision of a clinical pharmacy service to a specified clinical unit or ward.
• Ensuring expenditure is monitored and managed and information provided to advise prescribers and pharmacy on medication use.

Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with AHPRA Pharmacy Board of Australia, or equivalent Pharmacist degrees overseas depending on registration requirements
• Relevant clinical post-graduate qualification such as Masters in Clinical Pharmacy Practice or equivalent.
• Completion of a specialist qualification, or completion or progression towards a PhD highly desirable.
• Recognised subject matter expertise within profession and or Advanced Practice Portfolio in the specialty highly desirable.

Experience

• Experience in the provision of clinical pharmacy services to critically ill patients.
• Extensive hospital pharmacy experience with a demonstrated understanding of contemporary practice in hospital clinical pharmacy services, QuM and therapeutics. 
• Experience in supervising, mentoring and developing staff.
• Extensive experience in the critical evaluation of medical literature and demonstrated ability to translate into clinical practice.
• Superior administrative and organisational skills, and exhibit the ability to work and communicate effectively with pharmacy staff and other health professionals. 

Benefits

• Salary Packaging & Novated Leasing through Maxxia.
• Flexible Heath Insurance coverage through HCF Health Insurance.
• On-site car & bike parking opportunities, Deducted Pre-Tax!!
• Fantastic onsite fitness facilities at The Alfred through ProSport Health and Fitness.
• Child Care Services at The Alfred managed by KU Children’s Services.

If applicable, specify specific requirements that you require in the cover letter or CV. 
Any queries please contact Erica Tong, Deputy Director of Pharmacy, on 9076 2061 or [email protected].
Applications closing 11pm AEST, Friday 3rd January 2025

Alfred Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve.  Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged.

In accordance with the Health Minister's Covid-19 Mandatory Vaccination Order, all Alfred Health employees are required to be fully vaccinated (3 doses) for COVID-19 or hold an acceptable medical exemption. Furthermore, in accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption. 

Website: www.alfredhealth.org.au