Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for a motivated Pharmacist with mental health experience at NHS to join their specialized Pharmacy team. Located at Prospect Park Hospital, the role includes providing clinical pharmacy services to mental health inpatient wards and crisis teams, offering a chance for professional development and further qualifications.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days annual leave plus service increases

Generous NHS pension scheme

Career development opportunities

'Cycle to Work' scheme

Discounts at popular retailers

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Pharmacy Honours degree (BPharm or MPharm) required.
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is necessary.
• Experience in mental health pharmacy is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide a high-quality clinical pharmacy service to CRHTT and inpatient wards.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings for expert medicines advice.
• Deliver education and training to healthcare professionals.

Skills

Mental health pharmacy experience

Clinical pharmacy services

Communication skills

Education

Masters in pharmacy

Clinical or psychiatric postgraduate diploma

Job description

Job summary

Are you a motivated Pharmacist with mental health experience wanting to progress your career?

Do you want to gain further qualifications in an 'Outstanding' Trust that prioritises staff wellbeing and professional development?

Join our Pharmacy team and enjoy a varied, interesting role delivering specialised services to mental health crisis teams and mental health inpatient wards.

Based at Prospect Park Hospital in Reading, you'll work with the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) for 2 days and with the Mental Health Inpatient wards for 3 days. We welcome full time applications or a part time application to cover either or both areas.

We are pleased to offer this role at Band 8a and as a development pathway for a Band 7 Pharmacist to progress into an 8a role. We'll offer you support and funding to obtain your postgraduate psychiatric pharmacy diploma and Independent Prescriber qualification.

As a specialist psychiatric clinical pharmacist, you'll deliver a high standard of clinical pharmaceutical care and be a key member of the multidisciplinary teams providing expertise in medicines related issues. The post holder will support the medicines optimisation agenda within own area of specialty.

You'd work our usual service hours of9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, with participation in our team emergency duty rota

Applications for this role will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as vacancies may close early.

Main duties of the job

• To provide high quality, specialist clinical pharmacy service to the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) and mental health inpatient wards to ensure the safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of drugs

• To participate in MDT meetings to provide expert medicines advice and support the wider medicines optimisation agenda

• To work closely with other community-based and inpatient clinical pharmacists to ensure seamless pharmaceutical care is provided throughout each patient's journey

• To provide education and training to healthcare professionals, service users and carers

• To provide clinical pharmacy advice on the management of patients with mental illness in order to maximise benefit and minimise risk in relation to medicines

• To be responsible for updating and reviewing relevant SOPs, guidelines, PGDs and ePACT analysis

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
• Free parking across Trust sites

Details Date posted

30 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £60,504 a year per annum (pro rated if part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

371-TAP-CS1684

Job locations

Prospect Park Hospital

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Job description Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

• Pharmacy Honours degree (BPharm or MPharm)
• Clinical or psychiatric postgraduate certificate (Band 7) or Clinical or psychiatric (preferred), postgraduate diploma (for Band 8a)
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Experience in mental health pharmacy (hospital or community mental health)

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Dr Elizabeth Francis on 07876 217104 or email: [e-mail] wholl be delighted to help.Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

• Pharmacy Honours degree (BPharm or MPharm)
• Clinical or psychiatric postgraduate certificate (Band 7) or Clinical or psychiatric (preferred), postgraduate diploma (for Band 8a)
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Experience in mental health pharmacy (hospital or community mental health)

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Dr Elizabeth Francis on 07876 217104 or email: [e-mail] wholl be delighted to help.Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• Masters in pharmacy or equivalent from a British School of pharmacy or recognised equivalent
• Statutory registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Clinical or psychiatric postgraduate certificate
• Clinical or Psychiatric postgraduate diploma (for Band 8a)
• Independent prescriber (or willingness to work towards gaining the qualification)

Desirable

• Membership with RPS
• Membership of the College of Mental Health Pharmacists

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• Trust induction and mandatory training

Previous Experience Essential

• Substantial post registration experience as a practicing pharmacist (for Band 8a)
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in mental health hospital pharmacy (for Band 8a)
• Good working knowledge of mental health therapeutics and prescribing issues in mental health (for Band 8a)
• Experience in clinical audit (for Band 8a)
• Experience in project facilitation
• Experience of collaborative working including MDT mental health team working
• Experience of providing information to mental health patients
• Experience in carrying out medicines information queries, providing both verbal and written specialist advice
• Experience of managing unpredictable work patterns and to effectively manage situations where concentration may be frequently interrupted, for advice

Desirable

• Can demonstrate an understanding of the key stakeholders the post is likely to be supporting and how they will be expected to support them.
• Experience of budget management
• Experience of service development

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Excellent written and verbal skills for communicating with pharmacy team members, public and other healthcare professionals
• Ability to work well independently
• Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills
• Ability to demonstrate attention to detail, accuracy and numeracy/ calculation skills
• Sound IT skills
• Ability to evaluate quality of own work
• Ability to critically appraise research and incorporate into practice
• Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to the clinical governance agenda
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Ability to exercise own initiative within specialist area of mental health
• Ability to plan/ organise new/future services
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines
• Ability and willingness to travel across all Trust sites within the Berkshire Health economy
• Flexible approach to work patterns in line with the needs of the service

Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training Essential

• Masters in pharmacy or equivalent from a British School of pharmacy or recognised equivalent
• Statutory registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Clinical or psychiatric postgraduate certificate
• Clinical or Psychiatric postgraduate diploma (for Band 8a)
• Independent prescriber (or willingness to work towards gaining the qualification)

Desirable

• Membership with RPS
• Membership of the College of Mental Health Pharmacists

Continuous Professional Development Essential

• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• Trust induction and mandatory training

Previous Experience Essential

• Substantial post registration experience as a practicing pharmacist (for Band 8a)
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in mental health hospital pharmacy (for Band 8a)
• Good working knowledge of mental health therapeutics and prescribing issues in mental health (for Band 8a)
• Experience in clinical audit (for Band 8a)
• Experience in project facilitation
• Experience of collaborative working including MDT mental health team working
• Experience of providing information to mental health patients
• Experience in carrying out medicines information queries, providing both verbal and written specialist advice
• Experience of managing unpredictable work patterns and to effectively manage situations where concentration may be frequently interrupted, for advice

Desirable

• Can demonstrate an understanding of the key stakeholders the post is likely to be supporting and how they will be expected to support them.
• Experience of budget management
• Experience of service development

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential

• Excellent written and verbal skills for communicating with pharmacy team members, public and other healthcare professionals
• Ability to work well independently
• Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills
• Ability to demonstrate attention to detail, accuracy and numeracy/ calculation skills
• Sound IT skills
• Ability to evaluate quality of own work
• Ability to critically appraise research and incorporate into practice
• Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to the clinical governance agenda
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Ability to exercise own initiative within specialist area of mental health
• Ability to plan/ organise new/future services
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines
• Ability and willingness to travel across all Trust sites within the Berkshire Health economy
• Flexible approach to work patterns in line with the needs of the service

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Prospect Park Hospital

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Prospect Park Hospital

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)