Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Critical Care

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for two Lead Critical Care Pharmacists to take on new, structured leadership roles within our Critical Care pharmacy teams. One post is based at the Royal Liverpool site and one at the Aintree site.

You will provide senior clinical expertise to your respective unit, supporting some of the most complex and high-acuity critically ill patients in the region, while offering clear direction, organisation, and strategic oversight to the wider team.  The RLH site hosts a wide range of highly specialised surgical services, while AUH is a designated Major Trauma Centre for the region, together offering exposure to clinical scenarios and units rarely seen elsewhere.

You will lead a dedicated group of pharmacists and technical staff on your site, ensuring the delivery of a consistent, high-quality, evidence-based pharmacy service, while working collaboratively across both sites. Working closely with intensivists, anaesthetists, and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to safe, innovative, and forward-thinking medicines optimisation for critically ill patients.

These roles require substantial hospital pharmacy experience, with essential experience in Critical Care, and the ability to structure team workflows, support staff development, and contribute to ongoing service planning at both site and Trust level. You will bring advanced clinical knowledge, strong leadership capability, and a commitment to driving excellence.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Leadership

• Provide senior clinical pharmacy leadership for the Critical Care service.
• Deliver specialist pharmaceutical input during consultant‑led ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings.
• Ensure safe, effective medicines optimisation for critically ill patients, including advanced clinical reviews and prescribing.

Team Leadership & Service Management

• Coordinate and manage the Critical Care pharmacy team to ensure a responsive, high‑quality service.
• Support, develop, and mentor pharmacists and MMTs within the specialty.
• Oversee pharmacy input into both elective and emergency critical care admissions.

Quality, Safety & Governance

• Lead medicines‑related risk reduction, incident investigation, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintain and support adherence to critical care guidelines, protocols, and best practice standards.
• Monitor medicines expenditure and contribute to financial efficiency plans.

Education & Research

• Deliver specialist training for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and MDT colleagues.
• Support the development of trainees within the pharmacy workforce.
• Contribute to research, audit, and evidence generation within critical care pharmacy practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Strategic Leadership of Critical Care Pharmacy Services

• Lead on the strategic direction, planning, and long‑term development of pharmacy services within the Directorate of Critical Care.
• Shape the design, implementation, and evaluation of advanced, patient‑centred pharmacy services aligned with Trust strategy and national critical care standards.
• Work collaboratively with intensivists, anaesthetists, senior nursing staff, and operational leaders to optimise medicines‑related pathways and models of care.

Service Development & Workforce Management

• Develop and implement robust systems and service structures that support high‑quality pharmaceutical care across critical care areas.
• Provide structured daily leadership, ensuring appropriate staffing, workflow planning, and service prioritisation for the Critical Care pharmacy team.
• Lead ongoing service evaluation, identifying and delivering improvements to support safe, effective patient care and enhanced team performance.

Training, Education & Workforce Development

• Oversee the training, competency development, and advanced practice progression of pharmacists and MMTs within the Critical Care team.
• Provide specialist teaching to rotational pharmacists, postgraduate trainees, and pre registration cohorts.
• Lead Critical Care education for multidisciplinary colleagues and support broader Trust‑wide learning initiatives.

Collaboration & Interface Working

• Work with primary, community, and secondary care colleagues to ensure safe and effective transitions for patients moving into and out of Critical Care settings.
• Contribute to the development of shared care protocols, discharge pathways, and communication processes that support continuity of care.
• Promote integrated working and best use of medicines across organisational and professional boundaries.

Training, Education & Workforce Development

• Lead and supervise the training and competency development of pharmacists and MMTs within the Critical Care pharmacy team.
• Provide specialist teaching and support to wider pharmacy staff, including rotational pharmacists, preregistration trainees, and postgraduate learners.
• Contribute to Trust‑wide education by delivering Critical Care–specific training to medical, nursing, and multidisciplinary colleagues.

Collaboration & Interface Working

• Liaise with appropriate health and care professionals across primary, community, and secondary care to ensure efficient, safe transfer of medicines‑related information for Critical Care patients.
• Develop shared care protocols and interface guidance where required to support seamless transitions of care for patients discharged from Critical Care to inpatient wards or community settings.
• Ensure collaborative working supports effective use of medicines and resources across organisational boundaries.