Clinical Pharmacist

National Health Service; Olney; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board is seeking a specialist pharmacist to lead medicines optimisation across GP practices and care settings, aligning with ICB priorities and national guidance. The role will take responsibility for defined projects and governance workstreams, supporting decision-making and engaging in patient-facing activities where appropriate.

You will work with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider colleagues to promote safe, effective and equitable

Qualifications

• Educated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience, at a similar professional level.
• Master's degree in Pharmacy with foundation training or equivalent pre-registration requirements.
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist.
• Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or CPPE pathway completion or in progress.

Responsibilities

• Work autonomously to support safe, effective and cost-effective medicines use in line with ICB priorities.
• Provide specialist clinical advice to GP practices, care homes, pharmacists and wider system colleagues.
• Lead service improvement activities and implement new ways of working within medicines optimisation.
• Plan and prioritise workload; manage budgets and governance for medicines optimisation.
• Influence healthcare professionals to improve medicines use and escalate issues appropriately.
• Support defined clinical issues or projects with Head of Medicines Optimisation.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Leadership

Equality and inclusion

Education

Master's degree in Pharmacy

Foundation training completed

Tools

Prince2 Foundation

Microsoft Project

Job description

Job summary

Work collaboratively with colleagues within the Medicines Optimisation Team to provide specialist clinical pharmacist support for delivery of the ICB's medicines optimisation priorities. The role will take responsibility for defined areas of work, supporting safe, effective, equitable and cost-effective use of medicines across the system.This position will lead and support defined medicines optimisation projects and service improvement activities, working with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider colleagues to implement agreed priorities, standards and guidance.This position will undertake patient-facing and patient-supporting activities to promote effective medicines use, including engaging in shared decision‑making conversations with patients, carers and healthcare professionals where appropriate. Provide expertise to address both the public health and social care needs of patients, including lifestyle advice, service information, and help in tackling local health inequalities.The postholder will take responsibility for defined clinical, governance and transformation workstreams, supporting decision‑making, escalating risks and providing specialist pharmaceutical input to pathways and commissioned services.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will need to build and maintain constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to:Internal ICB staff including managers,colleagues,and senior management as appropriateICS partners, including portfolio leads, Local Authorities and Provider CollaborativesNon-NHS organisationsMembers of the public and service users as appropriateMatrix work across all other teams to address interdependencies and ensure alignment of mutual objectives.External consultancy, as required.

About us

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside serves a population of over 2.7 million people across nine localities, working with 16 NHS provider organisations, 51 Primary Care Networks, local authorities and voluntary sector partners. We are proud of Cheshire and Merseyside's record of collaborative working and there are countless examples of brilliant care, but there are also examples of variation in service which only serve to exacerbate health inequalities. Our vision is for everyone in Cheshire and Merseyside to have a great start in life and get the support they need to stay healthy and live longer. We will do this by working together, as equal partners, to support seamless, person‑centred care and tackle health inequalities by improving the lives of the poorest fastest. Our values are rooted in the NHS Constitution, and we strive to create a compassionate, collaborative and innovative culture where staff can thrive and make a real difference to local communities.

Details

Date posted13 October 2026

Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary 49,387 to 56,515 a year per annum

ContractPermanent

Working pattern Full-time

Reference number493-ICB-8363915

Job locationsNHS Cheshire and Merseyside Headquarters (with travel across Cheshire and Merseyside)WarringtonWA1 1QYUnited Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilitiesKey Duties & ResponsibilitiesWork autonomously and provide specialist pharmacist input to support safe, effective and cost-effective medicines use in line with ICB priorities. Provide specialist clinical advice and support to GP practices, care homes, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and wider system colleagues. ManagerialContribute to the development, implementation and review of standard operating procedures, policies and protocols.Support implementation ofevidence-basedmedicines optimisation policies, APGrecommendations andnational guidance (e.g. NICE).Manage staff performance, including appraisal, training, development, recruitment and absence optimisation, where required.Plan and prioritise workload to balance organisational, national and regional medicines optimisation priorities, escalating conflicts or delivery risks where required.Lead defined service improvement activities and support implementation of new ways of working within medicines optimisation.Undertake lone working in accordance with ICB lone working policies where required.Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and scope of the role.Work independently, planning and prioritising workload to deliver an effective service.Promote and support implementation of national and local medicines related policies and NICE guidance.Support management of prescribing budgets and delivery of medicines optimisation priorities.Lead medicines optimisation policy implementation and service development within assigned GP practices.Influence and support healthcare professionals to improve medicines use, resolve medicines-related issues and escalating complex clinical or governance concerns appropriately. Lead on defined clinical issues or projects as agreed with the Head of Medicines Optimisation.Support the work of other Medicines Optimisation colleagues.Contribute to system-level decision-making within agreed areas of responsibility and support implementation of agreed actions through established governance routes.LeadershipImplement medicines optimisation plans in GP practices and other care settings in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Provide accountable specialist pharmacist advice and education on prescribing and medicines optimisation to healthcare professionals, patients and carers, supporting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians where appropriate. Clinical/Technical Work independently, planning and prioritising workload to deliver an effective service. Promote and support implementation of national and local medicines related policies and NICE guidance.Support management of prescribing budgets and delivery of medicines optimisation priorities.Support medicines optimisation policy implementation and service development within assigned GP practices. Contribute to APG subgroups and processes as required, including supporting the development and implementation of APG recommendations within defined areas of responsibility. Influence and support healthcare professionals to improve medicines use and resolve medicines-related issues, including direct patient intervention where required. Lead on defined clinical issues or projects as agreed with the Head of Medicines Optimisation.Support the work of other Medicines Optimisation colleague

Person Specification

Person Specification Knowledge, Training and Experience EssentialEducated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist areaMaster's degree in Pharmacy (four years) plus one year foundation training with successful completion, or a pharmacy degree qualification and associated pre-registration or foundation training requirements applicable at the time of qualification.Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist.Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent e.g. CPPE Pathway completion or being undertakenDesirableComprehensive knowledge of project principles, techniques, and tools, such as Prince 2 Foundation and Microsoft Project Skills EssentialAbility to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as requiredExperience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholdersDemonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordinglyMust be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others.Experience of supporting and motivating colleagues, allocating work where required and maintaining effective relationships with a range of stakeholders. EDI EssentialNeeds to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems in the area.

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.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 nameNHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care BoardAddressNHS Cheshire and Merseyside Headquarters (with travel across Cheshire and Merseyside)WarringtonWA1 1QYUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer details