Job overview
Are you an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacist eager to be part of the future of pharmacy service development? Do you believe that patient safety and experience should always come first? If so, we have exciting opportunities for you at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (BHFT).
We are recruiting pharmacists at the Band 6 entry level, as well as those ready to take the next step in their career, with opportunities to join at Band 6 or Band 7, depending on experience.
Our Pharmacy Department is a vibrant, forward‑thinking team with a strong emphasis on collaboration and professional growth. Through our structured rotation programme in Clinical Pharmacy Services (see job description for details), you will gain valuable experience across a range of specialties.
We are fully committed to your training and development, supporting you to maximise your contribution to patient care. Permanent post‑holders may also have the opportunity to study for a post‑graduate certificate, diploma, or independent prescribing qualification, alongside the general level competency framework (subject to funding).
Don’t forget to watch our recruitment videos in the supporting documents to learn more about our team and the exciting journey ahead!
Main duties of the job
Deliver a high‑quality ward‑based clinical pharmacy service through structured rotations, including drug chart reviews, drug history taking, medicines reconciliation, supply, patient consultations, medicines optimisation, and the Discharge Medication Service (DMS). Participate in departmental and regional education programmes, undertaking study towards the Certificate/Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice. Provide pharmaceutical advice on supply and clinical issues to healthcare professionals, and medication‑related guidance to patients, focusing on medicines started, stopped, or changed during admission, as well as side‑effect profiles to maximise benefit. Support the education and training of pre‑registration pharmacists and staff in training grades, while supervising junior pharmacy technicians and assistants. Contribute to dispensary services such as dispensing, clinical verification, prescription review, accuracy checking, and patient consultations. Ensure service continuity by participating in late‑night, weekend, and bank holiday shifts.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For pharmacists recruited at the band 6 entry point a pathway identifies criteria for progression and highlights the gradual introduction of key responsibilities as experience is gained working as a Band 6 Pharmacist. After typically being in post 19-24 months and being able to demonstrate they have met the key responsibilities the pharmacist will be eligible for progression to a band 7 post.
Please see full job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Person specification
Other
Essential
- Enthusiastic about delivering high quality pharmacy service focussed on the patient experience
- Able to thrive on development/change
- Flexible
- Good interpersonal skills
- Self motivated
- Accurate and precise
- Honest and trustworthy
- Confidence to interact at consultant /general manager level
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstration of up to date clinical awareness in medicine
- Knowledge and understanding of medication interactions and common prescribing problems
- Awareness of current developments in Pharmacy practice
- Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times
Desirable
- Computer literacy
- Knowledge and awareness of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies
Experience
Essential
- • Experience of audit
- • Experience of accurate dispensary work
- • Experience of patient medication consultation
- • Experience of clinical pharmacy services
- • Experience of hospital pharmacy
Desirable
- Experience of collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings
- Experience of training staff
Personal skills
Essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to influence other professionals
- Presentation skills
- Medication counselling skills
- Organised and able to plan and manage work programmes
- Ability to analyse problems and devise solutions
- Appropriate IT skills are required to utilise clinical information systems, pharmacy computer systems, databases and other software to improve patient care.
- Good presentation skills
Desirable
- Supervisory skills
- Negotiation skills
Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Pharmacy degree (Masters level)
- GPhC Registration as a Pharmacist or Provisionally Registered Pharmacist.
- Willing to undertake clinical training to post grad diploma level
Desirable
- Train the Trainer qualification
- Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
- RPS Faculty Member portfolio in preparation
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical Pharmacist – Band 6 to Band 7 Progression with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Luton, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Pharmacist role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £56,515 per annum. The contract type is Permanent: 37.5 hours per week. The application deadline is 07 Jul 2026.
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