Community Services & Elderly Care (band 8a) | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Croydon Health Services; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in South London is seeking a Lead Pharmacist for Elderly Care. In this role, you will provide clinical expertise and leadership to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines within community health services. You will lead on service development initiatives and train healthcare professionals, making a significant impact on elderly care. The position requires a strong clinical background and dedication to improving services for older adults, with a focus on innovation and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Experience as a pharmacist in elderly care or similar field.
• Strong understanding of medicines management.
• Passion for improving care for older adults.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on medicines use and safety.
• Lead service development initiatives and audits.
• Support education and training of healthcare professionals.
• Drive innovation in frailty and pharmacy services.

Skills

Clinical expertise

Leadership skills

Medicines optimisation

Training and education

Innovation in pharmacy services

Job description

Lead Pharmacist - Elderly Care (8a)

1yr Secondment Opportunity (initially) + EDC

Are you an experienced and motivated pharmacist looking to develop your clinical and leadership skills? Do you want to be part of a forward-thinking and supportive team making a real impact in elderly care and community services?

An exciting Band 8a secondment opportunity has arisen at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust (CHS) for a proactive and enthusiastic pharmacist to lead on medicines optimisation for Elderly Care across Croydon Health Services NHS Trust (CHS). The role will also offer opportunities to contribute to Community Services, allowing you to make a meaningful impact within a highly integrated health system leading the way in NHS transformation.

About the Role

You will be a key member of our multidisciplinary team, providing clinical expertise and strategic support to elderly care services, including the acute care of the elderly ward and front door frailty service.

Working closely with clinical teams and service leads, your role will include:

1. Providing expert advice on medicines use and safety
2. Leading on service development initiatives, cost improvement projects and audits
3. Supporting education and training of healthcare professionals
4. Driving innovation in frailty and pharmacy services

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with a strong clinical background and a passion for improving care for older adults to take the next step into a senior leadership role.

Job Summary

• To provide expert leadership & specialist professional advice on medicines management within community health services for both adults & children.
• To be responsible for developing, managing and maintaining a service to support medicines optimisation issues for patients on the Elderly Care wards from admission to discharge.
• To make recommendations and support the development of necessary frameworks for ensuring safe management of medicines through related strategy, policy and training within the Trust.
• To support the Associate Chief Pharmacist in developing structures and support for safe practices within community health services for nurses and other non-medical staff employed, or contracted to the Trust.
• To supervise Band 7 and Band 6 junior pharmacists and trainees working on wards or in community services, as required.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provides hospital and community services from a number of clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people with a high level of ethnic diversity.

Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital, is one of the busiest in London. We are leading in providing healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres, and in people’s homes. Our district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals, and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon, and our Children’s Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without hospital visits.

**********See attached Job Description for full list of roles, responsibilities, and person specification*************

This advert closes on Thursday 17 Jul 2025.