Advanced Specialist Dermatology Pharmacist

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Oxford is seeking a pharmacist to provide specialist pharmaceutical care in Dermatology clinics. The role involves advising on biologic therapies and ensuring continuity of care, requiring a strong background in pharmacy and excellent communication skills. Candidates should have GPhC registration and a postgraduate diploma. This position offers opportunities for professional development and exposure to innovative therapies.

Qualifications

• Pharmacy degree and GPhC registration required.
• Experience in Dermatology preferred.
• Proven ability to negotiate and influence.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice on biologic and high-risk therapies.
• Ensure continuity of supply of specialist therapies.
• Review patients in pharmacist-led consultations.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team

Time management

Clinical prioritisation

Education

Pharmacy degree and GPhC registration

Post-graduate diploma or equivalent

Leadership qualification or training

Job description

Overview

Provide a holistic, specialist pharmaceutical care service to patients attending Dermatology clinics, including advising on biologic and high risk therapies, ensuring continuity of supply of specialist and homecare therapies, and contributing to pharmacist‑led consultations that may involve prescribing, ordering and interpreting blood tests, and communicating with GPs. Maintain and develop the Homecare service for Dermatology patients, manage medicines safety issues related to Dermatology, and deliver education and training to enable high standards of patient care and safety. Promote and monitor safe and cost‑effective use of medicines within Dermatology through regular communication and feedback to achieve high standards of medicines‑related aspects of patient care. For full job description and person specification, please see the attached job description.

This role offers the opportunity to impact patients’ physical and psychological wellbeing within Dermatology Outpatient Clinics, including managing ongoing therapies as an independent non‑medical prescriber after relevant qualification. The role provides exposure to novel immunomodulatory drugs, governance, finance and risk management, and opportunities to develop clinical and leadership skills. You will need excellent communication skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, aligning with Oxford University Hospitals’ vision and values. A diploma in pharmacy practice or equivalent and broad clinical pharmacy experience are expected. Band 8a candidates should have prior Dermatology experience and have completed the Clinical Pharmacy Diploma (or equivalent) and the prescribing course; candidates without these qualifications may be considered for a Band 7 to 8a progression.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice and counselling on biologic and high‑risk therapies.
• Ensure continuity of supply of specialist and homecare therapies.
• Review patients as part of a pharmacist‑led consultation, which may include prescribing, ordering and interpreting blood tests, and correspond with GPs.
• Establish and monitor compliance with shared care protocols for appropriate delegation of prescribing and monitoring to primary care.
• Maintain records of patients on biologic therapies and assist with monitoring (e.g., BlueTeq) to ensure compliance with NICE and commissioning guidelines.
• Maintain and develop the Homecare service for Dermatology patients.
• Manage Medicines Safety issues related to Dermatology and ensure compliance (e.g., Pregnancy Prevention Programme for oral retinoids, MHRA alerts).
• Provide specialised professional and technical education and training to enable clinical units to meet high standards of patient care and safety.
• Promote, monitor and improve safe and cost‑effective use of medicines within Dermatology through regular communication and feedback.

Qualifications

• Pharmacy degree and GPhC registration.
• Post‑graduate diploma or equivalent.
• Leadership qualification or training.

Desirable criteria

• MSc Clinical Pharmacy.
• Independent prescriber.
• Teaching/coaching qualification.
• RPS credentialing.
• Human Factors Training; broad clinical pharmacy provision in multiple clinical areas.
• Experience working with senior clinicians and managers.
• Understanding of medication funding streams, drug usage and expenditure reports, and use of financial reports to influence practice.
• QI (Quality Improvement).
• Medicines management policy development and implementation.
• Change management at a team level.
• Risk management and investigation of incidents.
• Dermatology experience; recognition as an expert at trust level.
• Experience working across organisational boundaries and implementing cost reduction programmes.
• Line management experience and clinical tutoring for postgraduate diplomas; evidence‑based, methodical approach.
• Clinical prioritisation, negotiating and influencing, problem identification and resolution.
• Proven time management skills; ability to work under pressure; able to work autonomously or within a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Evidence of balancing conflicting priorities; member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS); member of relevant professional groups (e.g., UKCPA).
• Ability to travel to all sites, including use of public transport; appropriate UK professional registration.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals: John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the Horton General Hospital. Our values—Delivering Compassionate Excellence—focus on compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. Find out more via the OUH YouTube channel. Within Pharmacy, we are a vibrant and dynamic service committed to supporting everyone in reaching their best potential and working well as a team.