clinical mental health pharmacist

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health trust in the UK is seeking a full-time Clinical Mental Health Pharmacist to deliver comprehensive pharmacy services across multiple inpatient settings. This role involves building clinical relationships, supporting multidisciplinary teams, and mentoring pharmacy staff. The ideal candidate will possess a pharmacy degree, broad-based clinical knowledge, and excellent communication skills. Opportunities for ongoing training and a supportive work environment are provided.

Benefits

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Travel reimbursement between sites

Qualifications

• Motivated and forward-thinking individual with experience in clinical pharmacy.
• Ability to work effectively in mental health teams.

Responsibilities

• Deliver clinical pharmacy services aligned with Trust policies.
• Build relationships with patients and healthcare professionals.
• Attend MDT meetings and engage in discharge planning.
• Supervise and mentor pharmacy team members.
• Train clinical staff on medicines-related issues.
• Support medicines optimisation within clinical settings.

Skills

Broad-based clinical knowledge

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork ethics

Education

Pharmacy degree

Job description

As a clinical mental health pharmacist, you will:

• Deliver comprehensive clinical pharmacy services to inpatient wards aligned with Trust and departmental policies, procedures, and standards.
• Be responsible for building strong clinical relationships with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals in your in‑patient settings.
• Directly support patients, prescribers, and other healthcare professionals via attendance at multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and one‑to‑one or group patient consultations, engage in discharge‑planning with the MDT, and take the lead on medicines optimisation and quality improvement programmes within your clinical setting.
• Train, supervise, coach and mentor other members of the pharmacy team.
• Advise, prepare, and deliver training for clinical staff (e.g., nurses, support workers, and doctors) on a wide range of medicines‑related issues.
• Support the Principal Pharmacist in communicating relevant Trust decisions and policies relating to medicines to local clinical areas.
• Be supported in continuing professional development through regular management, clinical and peer group supervision and education sessions within the Pharmacy department and externally where practicable.

Working for our organisation

This role will be part of a team delivering a high‑quality patient focused clinical pharmacy services to:

• Adult mental health inpatient wards
• Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment
• Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit

NSFT is a forward‑thinking hospital offering mental health care in Norfolk and Suffolk. We are one of the largest mental health trusts in the UK with strong links to the School of Pharmacy and Medical School at the nearby University of East Anglia. Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly, and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? The Pharmacy Department is at the forefront of healthcare delivery with a strong focus on Medicines Management and Optimisation, and innovative pharmaceutical practice. We have challenges, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

We are looking for a motivated and forward‑thinking full time clinical pharmacist, whose career has demonstrated broad‑based clinical knowledge and excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work within the mental health teams across Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

The position is suitable for pharmacists wanting to move sector and from any clinical background. It is a great opportunity to start or continue a career in mental health. The successful candidate will have a choice of two locations as base at Woodlands Unit in Ipswich or Wedgwood House in Bury St Edmunds and will be expected to travel between the two sites if necessary, with travel reimbursement.

This is a patient facing full time role and the post holder will collaborate with other healthcare team members to provide ward‑based clinical pharmacy services alongside a team of medicines management technicians. You will have a flexible approach to meet the needs of the service and have a strong teamwork ethics.

There is no dispensary and on‑call commitment. Mental health experience is desirable but not essential as the post holder will receive support to complete an inhouse training programme and undertake further accreditations as appropriate.