Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist

SWLStG; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is seeking an Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist to lead medicines optimisation within community teams in London. The role supports the Trust’s goal of improving health outcomes and reducing hospital admissions through expert pharmacotherapy.

The post- holder will work 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with opportunities to develop Non-Medical Prescribing skills and contribute to service development across boroughs.

Qualifications

• Advanced clinical knowledge in medicines optimisation for mental health.
• Experience as a clinical pharmacist in mental health.
• Experience supervising staff within a clinical setting.
• Experience developing and delivering training to multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience implementing and evaluating protocols/guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Deliver advanced medicines optimisation services to community mental health teams.
• Collaborate with psychiatrists, prescribers, care coordinators, GPs and MDT to optimise treatment.
• Conduct medication reviews and make recommendations to initiate, optimise, switch or discontinue medicines.
• Support use of clozapine and long-acting injectables where appropriate.
• Promote adherence, education and management of medication side effects.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy

Mental health

Medicines optimisation

Non-medical prescribing

Education

Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent

GPhC registered

Higher degree/Clinical Pharmacy or Psychiatric therapeutics

CPD evidence

CMHP member

RPS member

Registered non-medical prescriber

Practice/Educational supervisor

QII training or equivalent

Tools

EPMA

Job description

Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 294-CORP-8377346-AZ

Site Springfield University Hospital Town London Salary £66,274 - £73,496 per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAs Salary period Yearly Closing 02/11/2026 23:59

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

The SWLSTG Pharmacy Team has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Mental Health Pharmacist to join our friendly and innovative department, leading medicines optimisation services within our community mental health teams.

The post is Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, with no regular weekend, bank holiday or late duty commitments currently required.

The postholder will deliver specialist clinical pharmacy services aimed at reducing hospital admissions through medicines optimisation, improving patient and carer experience with prescribed medicines, enhancing physical health monitoring and management, and strengthening communication between secondary and primary care. Opportunities to develop and utilise Non-Medical Prescribing skills will be available.

You will be an integral member of a multidisciplinary team working across community mental health services. The role offers an exciting opportunity to influence and shape service development, supporting service users to optimise their medicines and achieve better health outcomes.

This role will primarily support community mental health services across the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver specialist medicines optimisation services to community mental health teams, promoting the safe, effective and person-centred use of medicines.
• Work closely with psychiatrists, non-medical prescribers, care coordinators, GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team to optimise treatment and support recovery.
• Undertake medication reviews and make recommendations to initiate, optimise, switch or discontinue medicines where appropriate.
• Support the early identification and appropriate use of clozapine and long-acting injectable antipsychotics to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of relapse and hospital admission.
• Promote relapse prevention through medicines optimisation, adherence support, patient education and proactive management of medication-related side effects.
• Improve physical health outcomes through medicines optimisation, physical health monitoring and collaborative working with primary care colleagues.
• Provide expert advice and education to service users, carers and healthcare professionals to support informed decision-making and medication adherence.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement, audit, research and education initiatives across the borough.
• Help shape and improve prescribing practice through clinical leadership, evidence-based recommendations and collaborative working.

Working for our organisation

Unless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. T he Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide highly specialist and advanced clinical knowledge, skills and decision making to the Trust Community Mental Health services, the Pharmacy service and across the wider Primary Care Networks.
• To support the lead pharmacist in the development, delivery and evaluation of pharmacy services relating to Mental Health within the community.
• To provide a clinical, pharmaceutical service to the Community Mental Health services, utilising clinical leadership skills. This will be based with the Community Mental Health Team but will outreach to the Primary Care Networks as services are transformed.
• To deliver an advanced comprehensive medicines optimisation service to SWLStG patients and the multidisciplinary treatment team responsible for their care.
• To act as a role model in the Community Service Line and provide a consistently high level of pharmaceutical service in line with Trust objectives and NHS Plan.
• To provide input into policy and procedures affecting the use of pharmaceuticals at both local and trust wide levels.
• To liaise with Trust pharmacy staff to support an effective dispensing and supply service.
• To deputise for the Lead Pharmacist which may include attending senior meetings.
• To act as a key member of the multidisciplinary team and provide expert advice to clinical teams across the organisation
• To be involved in the initiation and on-going support of projects and innovations within the Service Line, using Qii methodology.
• To support Trust staff to effectively optimise medicines in service users in recovery.
• To develop and deliver formal training on pharmacological interventions in mental health conditions for nursing, medical and pharmacy staff.
• Where qualified to be practice as an independent prescriber within the community service line.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Training & Qualifications

• Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
• Membership of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Higher Degree/Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy/Diploma in Psychiatric therapeutics
• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
• Member of the CMHP
• Member of the RPS
• Registered non-medical prescriber
• Practice/Educational Supervisor
• QII training or equivalent experience

Experience

• Demonstrable advanced experience of working as a clinical pharmacist practitioner in mental health
• Appropriate clinical experience and expertise in Mental Health
• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience of developing & delivering training and education to the multidisciplinary team
• Experience of developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating protocols and guidelines
• Experience of clinical practice in community mental health settings
• Experience of managing change
• Previous experience in undertaking audit and research
• Use of EPMA

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust’s authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.