Job summary
The Hastings ADHD Service forms part of the wider Focus Sussex ADHD pilot programme and provides a locally delivered pathway for patients aged 18+ requiring ADHD assessment and treatment.

Integrated Family Healthcare delivers the service locally in Hastings, working within the wider Focus Sussex pathway and in collaboration with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT).

The service provides ADHD diagnostic assessment, medication initiation, titration, clinical review and ongoing management for patients who are suitable for care within the agreed pathway.

As the service continues to develop, we are expanding our multidisciplinary clinical team and are looking for an experienced pharmacist with an interest in ADHD and neurodevelopmental care to support the medication management element of the pathway.

Main duties of the job
The Clinical Pharmacist will play a key role in the safe and effective prescribing and management of ADHD medication within the service.

The post holder will primarily undertake medication initiation and titration appointments, working with patients following an ADHD diagnosis to agree and implement an appropriate medication treatment plan in accordance with service prescribing protocols, national guidance and individual patient needs.

The role will involve assessing treatment response, monitoring side effects and relevant physical health parameters, adjusting medication where clinically appropriate, providing medication-related advice and supporting patients through the titration process until treatment is stabilised.

The post holder will work closely with the ADHD Clinical Lead, GPs, other prescribing clinicians, Service Navigators and the wider multidisciplinary team.

About us
Our ADHD Service is delivered by a friendly and supportive multidisciplinary team, including GPs with an Extended Role in ADHD, mental health professionals, prescribing clinicians, Service Navigators and our Clinical Lead. We work closely together to provide a high-quality, person-centred service for adults with ADHD across Hastings and St Leonards.

As a developing service, we value teamwork, open communication, flexibility and continuous improvement. We encourage our team members to share ideas, contribute to how the service develops and support one another in delivering safe and effective patient care. We aim to create a positive working environment where people feel valued, trusted and able to use their professional skills and experience.

Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Medication Initiation
The post holder will:

• Undertake medication initiation consultations with patients following an ADHD diagnosis.
• Review the patient's diagnostic assessment, clinical history and agreed treatment recommendations before initiating medication.
• Confirm that appropriate baseline physical health observations and other required pre-treatment checks have been completed.
• Provide patients with clear information regarding medication use, monitoring requirements and when to seek clinical advice.
• Discuss available medication options with patients, including expected benefits, potential side effects, risks and alternatives.
• Support shared decision-making and ensure patients are appropriately involved in decisions regarding their treatment.
• Initiate ADHD medication within their professional competence and prescribing authority and in accordance with the service prescribing protocol.
• Clearly document prescribing decisions and treatment plans within the patient's clinical record.

Medication Titration and Review
The post holder will:

• Undertake scheduled medication titration appointments.
• Review treatment effectiveness and changes in ADHD symptoms.
• Assess and document medication side effects and tolerability.
• Review blood pressure, pulse, weight and other relevant physical health monitoring.
• Adjust medication doses where clinically appropriate and within the agreed prescribing protocol.
• Consider alternative medication options where treatment is ineffective or poorly tolerated, escalating where appropriate.
• Ensure patients understand their medication and ongoing monitoring requirements.
• Identify when a patient requires additional clinical review or escalation.
• Work towards achieving an effective and well-tolerated treatment regimen for each patient.
• Maintain clear clinical records of all medication reviews and prescribing decisions.

Prescribing and Medicines Management
The post holder will:

• Prescribe safely and within their professional scope of practice.
• Work in accordance with relevant ADHD prescribing guidance, service protocols and controlled drug requirements.
• Review medication interactions, contraindications, allergies and relevant clinical history before prescribing.
• Maintain appropriate standards for controlled drug prescribing and documentation.
• Identify and manage medication-related risks.
• Report and escalate medication incidents, adverse effects and other patient safety concerns in accordance with service procedures.
• Maintain awareness of relevant national and local prescribing guidance.
• Support safe transfer of prescribing arrangements back to local Practices when patients reach an appropriate stage of treatment.

Patient Care and Communication
The post holder will:

• Deliver person-centred consultations that recognise the communication needs of people with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions.
• Adapt communication approaches to maximise patient understanding and engagement.
• Provide clear explanations regarding medication, titration and monitoring.
• Encourage shared decision-making throughout treatment.
• Recognise barriers that may affect a patient's ability to engage with medication monitoring or treatment.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ensure reasonable adjustments are considered where required.

Clinical Risk and Safeguarding
The post holder will:

• Identify and respond appropriately to clinical risk arising during consultations.
• Recognise safeguarding concerns and follow IFH safeguarding and escalation procedures.
• Assess relevant mental and physical health risks associated with ADHD medication.
• Recognise presentations that fall outside their competence or the scope of the service and escalate appropriately.
• Seek advice from the Clinical Lead where required.

Clinical Governance
The post holder will:

• Work within IFH clinical governance arrangements, policies, pathways and SOPs.
• Work in accordance with applicable Focus Sussex and SPFT clinical pathways and prescribing protocols.
• Participate in clinical supervision and multidisciplinary case discussion as required.
• Participate in clinical audit, quality assurance and service evaluation.
• Contribute to incident reviews and learning where appropriate.
• Maintain all professional registration, competencies and mandatory training required for the role.

Multidisciplinary Working
The Clinical Pharmacist will work collaboratively with:

• The ADHD Clinical Lead.
• GPs with an Extended Role in ADHD.
• Other ADHD prescribing clinicians.
• Service Delivery Manager
• Mental health and other healthcare professionals within the pathway.
• ADHD Service Navigators.
• GP practices.
• SPFT and other partner organisations where appropriate.

The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary discussion and escalation of patients whose clinical needs require additional review.

Service Development
As the Focus Sussex ADHD Service is a developing service, the post holder will be expected to contribute positively to its ongoing development.

This may include:

• Providing feedback on medication pathways and clinical processes.
• Identifying opportunities to improve patient safety and experience.
• Supporting development and review of prescribing processes.
• Contributing to audit and quality improvement.
• Supporting consistent clinical practice across the service.
• Participating in service meetings and pathway development where appropriate.

The scope of the service may evolve during the pilot, and reasonable changes to responsibilities may therefore be required following discussion with the post holder.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• The post holder must:
• Be a qualified pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Be a qualified Independent Prescriber.
• Maintain appropriate professional registration throughout their engagement with the service.
• Have appropriate professional indemnity arrangements.
• Experience of prescribing and managing medicines within a clinical environment.
• Experience undertaking patient-facing medication reviews.
• Strong knowledge of medicines optimisation and safe prescribing.
• Understanding of physical health monitoring associated with medication.
• Ability to assess medication effectiveness, side effects, interactions and contraindications.
• Experience working autonomously within professional scope while recognising when escalation is required.
• Experience maintaining high-quality clinical records.
• Confidence using electronic clinical systems including SystmOne & EMIS.
• Effective multidisciplinary working.
• An understanding of different communication needs and the ability to adapt communication approaches to maximise patient engagement.

Desirable

• Previous experience working with patients with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Experience prescribing or reviewing ADHD medication.
• Knowledge of stimulant and non-stimulant ADHD medications.
• Experience of controlled drug prescribing.
• Experience working within primary care.
• Experience working within an ADHD, mental health or neurodevelopmental service.
• Experience of clinical audit or quality improvement.
• Experience contributing to development of new clinical services or pathways.
• Previous experience undertaking ADHD diagnostic assessments would be welcomed but is not an essential requirement for the core medication-focused role.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.