Job overview
This is an ideal opportunity for a pharmacist looking to develop advanced clinical practice within a supportive and progressive department. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including consultants, nurses and allied health professionals, to optimise medicines use, improve patient outcomes and support safe and effective prescribing. The role includes participation in the weekly Critical Care MDT and involvement in quality improvement projects across the Lancashire and South Cumbria Critical Care and Major Trauma Operational Delivery Network.
The successful candidate will provide specialist pharmaceutical input to patients across critical care, anaesthetics and surgical specialties whilst contributing to service development, medicines governance, clinical audit, education and research activities. Independent Prescribing development and practice is supported in line with departmental strategy.
Main duties of the job
As a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist, you will:
- Deliver a high-quality clinical pharmacy service to patients within Critical Care, Anaesthetics and Surgical specialties. Work alongside consultants and multidisciplinary teams to optimise medicines use and ensure safe, evidence-based prescribing. Participate in consultant ward rounds, medicines reconciliation, therapeutic drug monitoring and discharge planning. Provide expert advice on complex medication-related issues to medical, nursing and allied healthcare professionals. Support medicines safety, clinical governance, risk management and the investigation of medicines incidents and complaints. Contribute to the development and implementation of medicines management policies, guidelines and clinical protocols. Lead and participate in medicines optimisation audits, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives. Support the education, supervision and development of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and trainee healthcare professionals. Help develop innovative pharmacy services including electronic prescribing, medicines management technology and technician-led initiatives. Deputise for senior pharmacy colleagues when required and provide professional leadership within the clinical pharmacy team. The post also includes participation in weekend and, where required, out-of-hours pharmacy services
- Deliver a high-quality clinical pharmacy service to patients within Critical Care, Anaesthetics and Surgical specialties.
- Work alongside consultants and multidisciplinary teams to optimise medicines use and ensure safe, evidence-based prescribing.
- Participate in consultant ward rounds, medicines reconciliation, therapeutic drug monitoring and discharge planning.
- Provide expert advice on complex medication-related issues to medical, nursing and allied healthcare professionals.
- Support medicines safety, clinical governance, risk management and the investigation of medicines incidents and complaints.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of medicines management policies, guidelines and clinical protocols.
- Lead and participate in medicines optimisation audits, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
- Support the education, supervision and development of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and trainee healthcare professionals.
- Help develop innovative pharmacy services including electronic prescribing, medicines management technology and technician-led initiatives.
- Deputise for senior pharmacy colleagues when required and provide professional leadership within the clinical pharmacy team. The post also includes participation in weekend and, where required, out-of-hours pharmacy services
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Job Description and Personal Specification for full details.
We are seeking an enthusiastic pharmacist who is:
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Committed to delivering high-quality patient care.
- Passionate about medicines optimisation and patient safety.
- Able to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
- Motivated to develop advanced clinical and leadership skills.
- Interested in contributing to service development and innovation within Critical Care, Anaesthetics and Surgery.
Person specification
Judgement
Essential
- Demonstrates clear thinking and able to analyse highly complex problems of an ethical, pharmaceutical, or clinical nature
- Makes sound decisions with limited information
- Intuition – anticipate difficulties and take appropriate action
- Knows when to consult (own limitations
- Reflects on own practice and learns from experience
- Able to identify, prioritise and evaluate work
Experience
Essential
- Advanced practice in one or more relevant areas
- Supervisory management of a team
- Advanced clinical pharmacy experience and practice
- Ability to deal with complex clinical issues
- Reports to committees
- Multidisciplinary working with medical and nursing staff
Desirable
- Experience of leading pharmacy services in primary or secondary care
Qualifications
Essential
- MPharm Degree (4 years) or equivalent
- Member GPhC
- Postgraduate clinical diploma (or working towards)
Desirable
- UKCPA membership to Critical Care Group
- Intensive Care Society Membership
Special Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of local and national NHS and Pharmaceutical Policy
- Understanding of medicines legislation and guidance i.e. Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, Medicine Guidance Notes, MHRA Alerts
- Understanding of clinical and risk management guidance as applied to Medicines Management
- Broad range of understanding of clinical practice and knowledge of medical conditions
- General knowledge of NHS developments including primary and secondary care
- Understanding of clinical governance principles
- Knowledge of external agencies concerned with patient safety NHSLA, NPSA, NPC
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Has vision and imagination, initiative, creativity, able to see beyond barriers
- Supportive and motivational
- Can balance strong leadership and working within a team
- Prioritises and meets deadlines
- Mature in approach and has professional credibility
- Able to be seen as a role model – reliable fair and balanced
- Flexible
- Systematic approach
- Energetic and can enthuse, ‘can-do’ approach
- Calm under pressure
- Thrives on change
Communication Skills
Essential
- Good verbal and written communication
- Courteous with all customers both internal and external including members of the public and other healthcare professionals
- Able to communicate highly complex information of a clinical nature
- Ability to influence senior Pharmacy and hospital staff and other people
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Clinical Pharmacist – Critical Care, Anaesthetics & Surgery with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in Blackburn, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Pharmacist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 31 Jul 2026.
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