Pharmacists – Dublin North City & County Social Inclusion Addiction Service
The Dublin North City & County Social Inclusion Addiction Service is currently looking for senior and staff grade pharmacists.
The service currently operates eight dispensing sites – seven Drug Treatment Centres (DTCs) and one residential stabilisation unit. A second residential stabilisation unit is opening in the coming weeks.
There is a total number of 950 patients attending these dispensing sites. Within this service each member of the pharmacy team works collaboratively as part of the multi-disciplinary team within the clinic site and reports directly to the Chief ll Pharmacist.
Pharmacists are responsible for the dispensing and supply of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) i.e. methadone and buprenorphine as well as other directly observed therapy, associated with their addiction. These include prescribed psychotropic medications and periodically medication for infections, DVTs, Hepatitis C and other health problems. Anti-retroviral therapy may also be dispensed and supplied on site for patients in some DTCs. Where appropriate, medication is also provided from the pharmacies for take home use.
Within each DTC the pharmacy staff attend weekly clinical team meetings. Multidisciplinary cooperation and a high level of communication between both clinical and non-clinical staff members is required, to ensure the needs of the patients attending are met and a continuum of care is provided.
Within the client group who attend the service for treatment there are a number of patients with co-addictions to a range of illicit drugs, prescription medications and alcohol. A significant number of patients have complex needs. The team work to improve social, housing, psychological and other aspects of the lives of the client cohort by interventions within the team and with outside agencies in each location. Key-working and care-planning are approved systems of care within the service.
The pharmacy discipline is responsible for monitoring medication safety including identification of possible interactions and reporting these to the medical staff and the clinical team.
The pharmacist is often the health professional best placed to highlight any concerns, pertaining to an individual patient, to other members of the team, reporting on attendance, presentation, possible intoxication etc.
The majority of DTCs operate on a seven-day basis and the pharmacist provides a service to some patients each day. Patients who have stabilised in their treatment may be prescribed OAT and medication for self-administration at home. The pharmacist is responsible for supply and appropriate packaging, including correct labelling as well as counselling the patients on safe storage and their dosage regimen. Packaging and labelling of take-home products must comply with the PSI’s best practice guidance eg Child resistant caps are used.
Pharmacists are expected to be familiar with all aspects of treatment offered and to engage in Continuous Professional Development with a particular focus on medication supplied within the service.
Pharmacists are required to be familiar with drug-drug interactions and adverse effects of illicit and other drugs which may be misused by patients who attend the service. Engagement within the team may require the provision of information to other pharmacists and preparing presentations on various topics and engaging with the development of Policies and Standard Operating Procedures form time to time.
Pharmacists should ensure up-to-date knowledge of warnings of adverse effects, side- effects and interactions issued by organisations such as HPRA, PSI etc.
The post will involve a period of induction and training across all sites - gaining experience in all aspects of the role from dispensing medication and patient counselling, participation with the clinical team in the DTCs to stock control and ordering of medication.
For an immediate interview please forward your CV to [email protected]
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