Clinical Pharmacist for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Radlett; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust providing mental health services is seeking a Clinical Pharmacist to deliver exemplary pharmacy care across various settings. This role offers the opportunity for progression in a supportive environment, ideal for a UK Registered Pharmacist aiming to enhance their clinical skills. The successful candidate will play a key role in multidisciplinary teams, providing crucial pharmaceutical advice and contributing to quality improvement initiatives. A commitment to professional development is strongly encouraged, including support for postgraduate qualifications.

Benefits

Support for postgraduate qualifications

Direct Band 7 placement opportunities

Friendly and supportive work environment

Qualifications

• UK Registered Pharmacist and willing to pursue postgraduate clinical pharmacy qualification.
• Experience in audit and building audit tools.
• Relevant patient-facing pharmacist experience in a hospital.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality clinical pharmacy services across mental health settings.
• Contribute to the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Strategy.
• Participate in weekend and bank holiday duties.

Skills

Good communication

Empathetic skills

Problem-solving skills

Computer skills (Word, Excel)

Judgement in decision-making

Education

UK Registered Pharmacist

Postgraduate clinical pharmacy qualification

Tools

Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Clinical Pharmacist for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

Closing date: 04 January 2026

Progressive Clinical Pharmacist — Band 6 to 7

This post offers an excellent opportunity for band 6 to 7 progression. Progression is subject to completion of necessary in‑house criteria and offers a great opportunity to develop your clinical and professional knowledge and skills in a mental health care setting.

You will need to demonstrate a person‑centred approach and have effective interpersonal and organisational skills. Previous NHS Hospital pharmacy experience, including mental health, would be desirable but is not essential.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of an outstanding Trust focused on innovative patient care in mental health.
• Receive support for postgraduate qualifications and, if relevant, the Newly Qualified Pharmacist Pathway.
• Direct Band 7 placement possible for candidates demonstrating the required skills and experience.

"It's a privilege to help people make the changes they want to see in their lives. As a pharmacist, I advocate for my patients, ensuring they're involved in decisions about their medicines." – Current Clinical Pharmacist

Main duties of the job

As a Clinical Pharmacist, you will:

• Deliver high‑quality clinical pharmacy services across various mental health settings, including acute and older adult care, child and adolescent units, learning disability services, and forensic wards.
• Lead and contribute to impactful projects that drive forward the Trust's Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Strategy, supporting continuous improvement in patient care.
• Demonstrate flexibility, strong communication (written and verbal), and exceptional clinical and organisational skills, working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team with compassion and respect for individuals with mental health challenges.
• Participate in weekend and bank holiday duty following induction and training.
• Maintain active registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Successful candidates will work in a supportive, friendly and forward‑thinking environment and will be encouraged to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy during their role as a Band 6 pharmacist.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission and aim to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country. Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, and medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers – everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout.

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

• The Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation team within HPFT provides dispensary and clinical pharmacy services to mental health, learning disabilities and child and adolescent (CAMHS) services across Hertfordshire and beyond, where HPFT is contracted to provide a service.
• The post holder will contribute to the work of the Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation team to deliver the standards set by regulators and professional bodies such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) etc.
• The service will be provided to all medical, nursing, managerial, pharmaceutical and clinical professionals working in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities in designated units for which the post holder will be responsible.
• All staff should comply with the Trusts Anti‑Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

Key Responsibilities: To provide specialist pharmaceutical advice concerning the care and treatment of service users in Mental Health (including Forensics) and Learning Disabilities Services and to promote safe, effective, and evidence‑based cost‑effective use of medicines within the Trust.

• Provide specific advice to clinical team members on medicines related issues, such as drug interactions, medicines use in pregnancy, unlicensed/off‑label use of medicines etc.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide clinical pharmaceutical support to designated areas, maximising benefits and minimising risk to service users. This includes medicines reconciliation, prescription review, medication reviews, identification and management of drug interactions and adverse effects, advice on clinical monitoring, medicines information, advising on supply problems, compliance with legislation, Trust policies and guidelines, and participation in multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Participate in relevant QI projects to support service improvements and learning and development.
• Support updating, reviewing and maintaining Trust Policies and Guidance in relation to medicines.
• Attend relevant team meetings and contribute to pharmacy team meetings, including clinical presentations and case studies.
• Supervise junior pharmacy staff and students.
• Participate in the dispensary rota in line with departmental requirements and best practice.
• Participate in the provision and development of patient education sessions on relevant wards and units.
• Assist senior pharmacy colleagues in the development and delivery of training for clinical staff (e.g., prescribers, nurses) and participate in the Trust's induction programme.
• Participant in ward‑based training to undergraduate students and in training programmes for pharmacy and other healthcare staff.
• Be responsible for own continuing professional development in line with professional requirements, to continue updating clinical knowledge and skills.

Please see the attached JD for further details.

Qualifications

• UK Registered Pharmacist
• Working towards (or willing to) a postgraduate clinical pharmacy qualification
• Registration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
• Additional short courses, e.g., computer training
• Non‑medical prescriber

Experience

• Previous participation in audit, development of audit tools, data collection and collation
• Relevant experience in patient‑facing pharmacist roles
• Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge/experience working in a hospital setting
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of medication available for prescription in mental health

Skills

• Good communication, both verbally and in writing
• Empathetic and reassurance skills
• Able to make judgements involving complex facts or situations which require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Excellent computer skills, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and the Internet
• Shows initiative and has well‑developed problem‑solving skills
• Able to critically appraise clinical trial data and research papers
• Ability to work without close supervision, making decisions and acting within the job's limitations, or to refer appropriately

Accessibility

• Have a UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Diversity

• Show respect and treat people with dignity
• Communicate in a form or manner which is consistent with the person's level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating

General

• Self‑motivated and able to work independently
• Self‑confident and able to influence professionals

Knowledge

• Understand the issues facing the NHS and hospital pharmacy
• Understanding of primary and secondary care working and interface between them
• Good knowledge of all medicine's legislation relating to the supply and storage of medicines
• Understanding of adverse drug reactions and reporting

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required.

Address

Kingfisher Court Pharmacy Department, Kingsley Green, Harper Lane, Radlett, WD7 9FB

£40,617 to £56,908 a year, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAs)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

—

Reference number

367-CORP-9948

Job locations

Kingfisher Court Pharmacy Department, Kingsley Green, Harper Lane, Radlett, WD7 9FB