
Job overview
Are you an enthusiastic & experienced pharmacist looking for a career change & your next challenge?
We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Clinical Pharmacist to join our modern purpose-built facilities at Colchester Hospital and support and lead the departments clinical pharmacy service within Critical Care and associated specialist areas.
You will be based within the Pharmacy department but will spend a significant amount of time working at ward/clinical level, ensuring the delivery of all aspects of pharmacy service to specialist high-risk patients.
Our friendly pharmacy team are dedicated to nurturing, mentoring and developing our staff to reach their full potential. As well as direct one-to-one training, the department provides pharmacy forums, clinical huddles and other educational activity. We support personal development plans, smart objective setting and opportunities for study.
ESNEFT has embarked on a full, site wide implementation of the EPIC electronic patient record which includes electronic prescribing and administration and pharmacy stock control system replacement.
In addition to our fully automated dispensaries, we host one of the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service medicines advice sites and the Regional Pharmacy Manufacturing Unit.
This post is fixed term / secondment until November 2027 to cover maternity leave. Internal applicants currently employed by ESNEFT will be offered on a secondment basis only.
Main duties of the job
We would consider a Band 7 developmental post where you will receive a competency-based programme to gain the skills required to reach the Band 8a.
Please follow our link to find out more About our Pharmacy Service: https://esneft.pagetiger.com/csusdpr/1
Provide an advanced level clinical pharmacy service to Critical Care patients in line with the pharmacy Key Performance Indicators and agreed clinical standards.
Provide oversite and clinical expertise to patients within Recovery and Theatre areas.
Support the wider Nutrition Service affecting patients within the speciality
Provide a key level of support to the Principal Divisional Clinical for Surgery and Critical Pharmacist.
Provide ongoing clinical support and leadership to other pharmacy colleagues and the multidisciplinary team contributing to practice within the specific areas of working.
Assist senior multidisciplinary colleagues in ensuring that all required medication safety and clinical governance issues are actioned and implemented in a timely manner within the respected specialities.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Medicines Management / optimisation
- Basic clinical knowledge of issues relevant to Critical Care and Nutrition patients gained through training & experience
- Good all-round clinical knowledge in other areas and practical skills
Desirable
- Knowledge of governance frameworks and Risk Management
- Basic understanding of clinical issues relating to theatre practice
Experience
Essential
- Previous extensive hospital experience inclusive of Clinical Pharmacy practice
- Demonstrated experience of multi-disciplinary working
- Handling of high risk medicines
- Previous experience of educating and training other staff
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with Critical Care patients
- Previous experience of working with Total Parenteral Nutrition
- Experience of writing guidelines and procedures
Qualifications
Essential
- GPhC Registered
- Masters Degree plus Pre-registration training
- Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Practice or clinical equivalent
- Evidence of, and commitment to, Continuing Professional Development
Desirable
- Non-Medical Prescribing qualification
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Lead Clinical Pharmacist – Critical Care and Theatre Services with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Colchester Hospital. It is listed as a Band 8 Pharmacist role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum. The contract type is 12 months (Fixed term / secondment until November 2027). The application deadline is 28 Aug 2026.
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