• Why did you choose to work for us?

  I saw an advertisement for a Trainee Pharmacist Prescriber position with Medvivo funded by the Pharmacist Integration Fund and thought it would be a great opportunity to develop my clinical skills in the Urgent Care environment. 

  The successful applicant would be supported to study towards an Independent Prescribing qualification whilst being seconded to the NHS 111 service, and then work in the Integrated Urgent Care (IUC) service as a Pharmacist Prescriber for Medvivo upon qualification. This seemed like the perfect platform to develop myself professionally as a relatively newly qualified pharmacist. 

• What did you do before joining us?

  I was working full time as a Community Pharmacist and was keen to develop my clinical skills and become an Independent Prescriber (IP). The opportunity offered by Medvivo was just what I was looking for so I joined Medvivo on a part-time contract and continued to work in community pharmacy part-time. 

• What do you get up to on a typical day/shift?

  I work both clinically and non-clinically for Medvivo. My clinical work occurs on Saturdays when I do a 5-hour shift in the Clinical Assessment Service at the main office. During this shift I triage cases which have been referred to the Medvivo out of hours service from NHS 111 and Nursing Homes and deal with medication queries and requests. This gives me the ability to regularly use my IP qualification and keep myself clinically up to date. 

  In addition to this I work non-clinically with the Medvivo’s Quality Team alongside my substantive role. This work involves membership of the Antimicrobial Stewardship and Sepsis committees, working with the Medicines Management team and helping with educational pieces and audits relating to medicines use. 

• What do you like most about working here?

  Honestly, there are several things which I like about working for Medvivo. I like the people here; everyone has been so friendly to me since I joined. My line manager and colleagues have been patient and supportive as I have developed in what was a new role for me as a Pharmacist. 

  The camaraderie in the Clinical Assessment Service during the out of hours shifts is great – it really is a collaborative working environment with many different healthcare professionals under the one roof, so support is easy to come by. 

  Medvivo’s focus on quality is exceptional; pharmacists are known to be perfectionists so to work for an organisation who is dedicated to high quality and safety is very comforting. 

  Finally, I like the sense of belonging here; I genuinely feel like I am a valued employee. 

• What has been your biggest achievement?

  Without question I am most proud of attaining the Independent Prescribing qualification! The course was intense and demanding but incredibly rewarding.

  I received invaluable support from Medvivo to achieve this and I am very grateful for that. Medvivo ensured I had a supportive GP to act as my tutor throughout the course, they provided me with study leave and were flexible with my working pattern which allowed me to focus on the coursework and assessments. 

• What challenges do you face in your role (and how do you overcome them)?

  As in any area of healthcare practice there are challenging cases to deal with and out-of-hours is no exception. I find that some cases can take a completely different trajectory than was initially thought and that can be difficult as I am very conscious of practicing within my scope of competence. 

  However, these kinds of cases help with professional development and there are always several experienced GPs or Nurse Practitioners to call on for support. 

• What makes someone successful here?

  Being open to new opportunities has helped me integrate well within Medvivo so I would advise anyone to say ‘yes’ to any projects or activities they are invited to participate in. It was my role in Medvivo’s Quality Team which convinced me to accept my substantive role outside Medvivo as a Medicines Governance Pharmacist.

• How are you supported in your role?

  My line manager has always been supportive and helpful whenever I have sought advice or guidance.

  Additionally, the senior team of GPs at Medvivo are incredibly supportive and approachable. Medvivo has a dedicated Safeguarding Lead who is an invaluable source of support for these kind of cases .Other clinicians on shift also support each other as we all have our own strengths and areas of expertise. 

• How does the approach to flexible working patterns suit you?

  Medvivo has been supportive when I have requested my working pattern to be adapted. I have been doing my non-clinical work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this has been working well for me.

• What makes us unique as an employer?

  Medvivo’s dedication to quality (evidenced by two consecutive ‘Outstanding’ CQC ratings) makes it unique. I have never felt pressured to work outside my scope of competence.

  The ability to dedicate the required time to clinical cases, and not worry about hitting targets, makes it a uniquely safe place to work in healthcare.

• What would you say to someone who is thinking of working for us?

  I would say “go for it!” I can only speak from personal experience, but I have been given great opportunities here and my professional development has benefitted enormously since becoming a Medvivo employee. I am genuinely happy working here.  

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