Advanced Pharmacist - Critical Care

The Methodist Church in Britain; Kettering; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 8a Critical Care Pharmacist to join its specialist pharmacy team. You will provide expert clinical pharmacy for critically ill patients, participate in ward rounds, medicine reconciliation, and non-medical prescribing, with weekend and on-call duties.

The role includes leading MDT education, supervising junior staff, monitoring drug spend, developing policies, and contributing to audits and trials in Critical Care and theatres.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in pharmacy or equivalent qualification.
• Postgraduate qualification in hospital pharmacy or equivalent (3+ years).
• Membership of the Intensive Care Society.

Responsibilities

• Lead specialist clinical pharmacy services for Critical Care and advise on medicines legislation and guidelines.
• Participate in MDT rounds and prescribe as an independent prescriber within scope.
• Supervise junior pharmacists and technicians and provide education.
• Monitor drug spend and contribute to drug safety, audits and policy development.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Leadership

Clinical pharmacy

Critical Care

Education

Master's degree in Pharmacy

Postgraduate hospital pharmacy qualification

ICU Society membership

Job description

Band 8a Critical Care Pharmacist in the specialist pharmacy team at Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The work centres on expert clinical pharmacy for critically ill patients, covering ward rounds, medicine reconciliation at admission and discharge, and non-medical prescribing. The post also leads MDT education, supervises junior pharmacists and technicians, and includes weekend work and on-call. Applicants need GPHC registration and independent prescriber status.

What the job involves

• Deliver and develop specialist clinical pharmacy services for Critical Care, giving expert advice on medicines legislation, national guidance and regulatory frameworks
• Take part in consultant and MDT ward rounds and attend Critical Care MDT meetings, with joint prescription reviews
• Ensure seamless pharmaceutical care on admission and discharge, including medicine reconciliation and accurate documentation of discrepancies
• Hand over patients leaving Critical Care to pharmacist colleagues, and liaise with primary care and other hospitals on drug histories and ongoing supplies
• Prescribe as an independent prescriber within the non-medical prescribing scope and Trust prescribing standards
• Provide MDT education on pharmaceutical matters with the practice development team, and support training after medication errors
• Supervise, mentor and line manage junior pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, including appraisals and competency assessment
• Monitor and report drug spend in Critical Care and theatres, and highlight the impact of new medicines and NICE guidance
• Lead medication safety: analyse errors, identify governance risks, oversee safe storage of controlled drugs, and review ward stock every three months
• Develop pharmaceutical policies, clinical guidelines and protocols, and lead clinical audit and drug utilisation reviews
• Provide weekend, bank holiday and out-of-hours on-call pharmacy cover on a rotational basis
• Support formulary review and new medicine submissions, and assist with clinical trials in Critical Care and theatres

What’s required

Qualifications

• Master's degree in pharmacy or equivalent education, training or experience
• Postgraduate qualification in hospital pharmacy or equivalent (3 years or more)
• Membership of the Intensive Care Society

Registration & licences

• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Registered independent prescriber

Experience

• Clinical experience across a range of ward areas, and in Critical Care at foundation level or equivalent critical care pharmacy
• Experience of attending MDT ward rounds in Critical Care
• Teaching, training, coaching or tutoring experience
• Experience of leading or implementing change

Skills & knowledge

• Specialist knowledge of Critical Care and nutrition
• Knowledge of current NHS and national priorities, including NICE, CQC and NHS England
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Time management, organisation, delegation and prioritisation
• Demonstrable leadership, acting as a role model for junior pharmacists and MDT members
• Clinical audit or research evaluation experience

Other

• Commitment to the Trust's values, including equality, diversity and inclusion

Nice to have

• Working towards RPS Faculty recognition
• Membership of UKCPA