Advanced Mental Health Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatients- Chelmsford)

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Chelmsford is seeking an experienced pharmacist to join its inpatient mental health pharmacy team. The role involves providing clinical leadership, mentoring team members, and enhancing patient care through robust medicines optimisation. Candidates should hold a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy, be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and have experience in clinical pharmacy practice. This is a full-time position with various shift requirements including weekends and holidays.

Benefits

27 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Excellent pension scheme

Staff discounts

£8K relocation package

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Must have a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Should be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Evidence of postgraduate training and continuing professional development in clinical pharmacy practice required.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership within the pharmacy service.
• Act as a senior referral point for healthcare professionals.
• Develop, promote and implement high quality and cost-effective use of medicines.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical pharmacy expertise

Mentoring and line management

Excellent communication skills

Education

Master’s Degree in Pharmacy

Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council

Job description

Vacancy at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

A Vacancy at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. We are seeking an inspiring and dynamic pharmacist to join our inpatient mental health pharmacy team. The role will provide clinical leadership within the clinical pharmacy service in Chelmsford, to support the medicines‑related care of patients, address and improve existing pathways in mental health, participate in training, education and research as required, and to support robust medicines optimisation. The role will deputise for the Pharmacist Team Manager for Adult and Elderly Inpatient Mental Health Services in Mid and South Essex. This post would suit an experienced pharmacist with uncompromising standards who will strive to make a deep footprint on quality of care we provide to our patients. The post is based in Chelmsford, with responsibility for Mid and South Essex Inpatient and Urgent Care Services.

They will be highly visible on wards in actively modelling best practice and coaching our ward teams to ensure that our patients consistently receive the best pharmaceutical care. Working with our senior departmental team of specialists and within the wider Trust, you will set the professional standard and develop our pharmacy team members to achieve their best, and make the transition to the next level of their careers. The role is full time (37.5 hours per week), including participation in on‑call, weekend, early, late and Bank Holiday rotas, as necessary.

The successful candidate will exemplify EPUT values of we care, we learn and we empower, and demonstrate the ability to create a high‑performing team from the outset. You might not be conventional in your approach, but kindness and empathetic leadership are a must, as is the ability to see the bigger picture and help take our team in this direction. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is committed to driving improvements, and whose passion for patient care is infectious. You should have a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent, be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and be able to demonstrate evidence of postgraduate training and continuing professional development in clinical pharmacy practice. Whilst ideally this would be in mental health, this post is first and foremost about operational delivery of Great Care – your transferrable skills means you will have what it takes to do what it takes. Experience in mentoring and line‑managing teams with energy and enthusiasm are vital ingredients, and anyone with a track record of similar in a non‑specialist trust is encouraged to apply.

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us.
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

To work within clinical competence, as part of a multi‑disciplinary team, to provide highly specialised advice in medicines optimisation.

• Develop, promote and implement high quality, evidence‑based, and cost‑effective use of medicines, in a manner that maximises the benefits of medicines to patients and service users whilst minimising clinical, legal and financial risks.
• To act as the senior referral point for healthcare professionals working within local inpatient and urgent care services and undertake clinical audit where required to improve services.
• To help support and maintain patients and their families seen by services by advising patients and carers about the actions and use of medication, optimising drug therapy, providing information for team members, and liaising with other care providers to enhance seamless transfer of care.
• To be experienced in dealing with service users who present with challenging and complex behaviour.
• To advise on physical health and wellbeing, support appropriate medicines monitoring and provide expert advice and perform interventions to improve physical health.
• To participate as an active member of clinical teams in Essex to support the safe and effective use of medicines.
• Communicate highly complex clinical pharmacy advice on the management of patients with mental illness in order to maximise benefit and minimise risk in relation to medicines. Develop, promote and implement tools that support the safe use of psychotropic medicines.
• Plan and organise research and audit within own clinical area.
• Analyse interventions implemented for effectiveness, audit and research.
• To plan, organise and provide education and training to secondary healthcare staff, service users and carers.

This advert closes on Friday 9 Jan 2026