Advanced Specialist Pharmacist for Elderly Care & Frailty

NHS; Bedford; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Bedford is seeking a dedicated clinical pharmacist to join their high-performing pharmacy team. This role focuses on managing services for the Elderly Care & Frailty Clinical Service Line, driving excellence in patient care, and leading medicines optimisation initiatives. The successful candidate will benefit from supportive leadership and exciting opportunities to influence care policies and practices.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in providing Clinical Services to Older People/Frailty units.
• Staff line management experience.
• Experience in supervising and training staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop an advanced specialist clinical pharmacy service.
• Deliver specialist pharmaceutical care including non-medical prescribing.
• Support the Principal Pharmacist in clinical governance responsibilities.

Skills

Good written and verbal skills

Ability to influence other professionals

Ability to prioritise work

Education

Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

GphC registration

Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree

Job description

Job summary

Are you a pharmacist seeking a greater sense of purpose and looking to make positive interventions with patients and other healthcare professionals? If you are looking for a rewarding clinically-focused role that inspires and rewards you, look no further! At Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust we are committed to this vision.

Join a dynamic, innovative team driving excellence in patient care!

We are seeking a dedicated, enthusiastic, patient-focused and motivated clinical pharmacist to join our high-performing pharmacy team to manage the service provision to the Elderly Care & Frailty Clinical Service Line.

The post holder will lead in all aspects of medicines optimisation to the Elderly Care & Frailty areas and will further develop our well-stablished role in the transfer of care around medication and the Discharge Medicines Service.

Why join us?

• Supportive leadership:Collaborate with your Elderly Care Lead pharmacist counterpart and Principal Pharmacist to enhance your service and development.
• Influential role:Drive our Elderly Care/Frailty agenda, shape policy, and deliver exceptional care by participating in the falls, dementia and palliative care steering groups.
• Exciting opportunities: Participate in ward and board rounds and provide expert advice to the multidisciplinary team, directly impacting patient care.
• Innovative culture:Be part of a team that values ambition, innovation, and dedication while putting patients first.

Main duties of the job

To supervise and be a role model for other pharmacists in order to lead, plan and develop an advanced specialist clinical pharmacy service, which is consistent with the priorities and needs of the Elderly Care & Frailty Service Line. This should also be in line with local and national policies and best practice. This will ensure the safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines and staff resources.

To be responsible for delivering the defined service Key Performance Indicators and include close working with other Lead Pharmacists.To deliver specialist pharmaceutical care including (where applicable) non-medical prescribing to a defined caseload of patients, in line with the agreed scope of practice, undertaking risk management and ensuring compliance with local and national clinical guidance.

To support the Principal Pharmacist- Acute & Elderly Care in meeting its risk, financial management and clinical governance responsibilities around the use of medicines.

To lead and develop clinical pharmacy audit and practice research within the speciality and to take an active part in projects to support patient safety.

To undertake clinical supervision of junior pharmacists, medicines management pharmacy technicians and pre-registration pharmacistsTo act as a professional role model to all clinical pharmacy staff, actively demonstrating integrity, ownership and leadership

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details Date posted

16 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year PA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AHP2459-SJ-D

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ

Job description Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

• In collaboration with other Lead/Specialist Pharmacists to jointly provide professional, managerial and clinical leadership to the team of pharmacy staff involved in the delivery of pharmaceutical services to the relevant Clinical Service Line. To provide active support and mentorship to the Rotational Pharmacists to further develop their leadership potential.
• Develop, implement and monitor pharmacy services to ensure they are consistent with Trust priorities and requirements and are aligned to the over-arching patient focussed ethos of the pharmacy service whilst ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.
• To provide the Principal Pharmacist for Acute/ED & Elderly Care and Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager with regular assurance that the pharmacy service is meeting agreed Key Performance Indicators.
• To actively manage the day to day activities of Rotational Pharmacists, Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians and Pre-Registration Pharmacists to deliver a safe and responsive clinical and operationally effective service that meets the needs of patients and other healthcare staff
• To provide high quality clinical supervision and mentorship of Foundation Pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists, MSc students and pharmacy undergraduates in the provision of pharmaceutical care for patients.

Job description Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

• In collaboration with other Lead/Specialist Pharmacists to jointly provide professional, managerial and clinical leadership to the team of pharmacy staff involved in the delivery of pharmaceutical services to the relevant Clinical Service Line. To provide active support and mentorship to the Rotational Pharmacists to further develop their leadership potential.
• Develop, implement and monitor pharmacy services to ensure they are consistent with Trust priorities and requirements and are aligned to the over-arching patient focussed ethos of the pharmacy service whilst ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.
• To provide the Principal Pharmacist for Acute/ED & Elderly Care and Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager with regular assurance that the pharmacy service is meeting agreed Key Performance Indicators.
• To actively manage the day to day activities of Rotational Pharmacists, Medicines Management Pharmacy Technicians and Pre-Registration Pharmacists to deliver a safe and responsive clinical and operationally effective service that meets the needs of patients and other healthcare staff
• To provide high quality clinical supervision and mentorship of Foundation Pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists, MSc students and pharmacy undergraduates in the provision of pharmaceutical care for patients.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• GphC registration
• Bachelos/Master of Pharmacy degree

Desirable

• Independent prescriber
• Clinical Diploma tutor/Educational Supervisor
• Management/Leadership qualification
• Train the trainer qualification

Experience Essential

• Significant experience in providing Clinical Services to Older People/Frailty units
• Staff line management experience
• Experience in supervising and training staff

Desirable

• Experience in delivering E&T to various health care professionals
• Experience as Clinical Diploma Educational Supervisor
• Experience in policy and service development

Skills Essential

• Good written and verbal skills
• Ability to influence other professionals & communicate at consultant level
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines

Desirable

• Ability to lead and implement directorate service strategies
• Enthusiastic about development of pharmacy services
• Team player

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• GphC registration
• Bachelos/Master of Pharmacy degree

Desirable

• Independent prescriber
• Clinical Diploma tutor/Educational Supervisor
• Management/Leadership qualification
• Train the trainer qualification

Experience Essential

• Significant experience in providing Clinical Services to Older People/Frailty units
• Staff line management experience
• Experience in supervising and training staff

Desirable

• Experience in delivering E&T to various health care professionals
• Experience as Clinical Diploma Educational Supervisor
• Experience in policy and service development

Skills Essential

• Good written and verbal skills
• Ability to influence other professionals & communicate at consultant level
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines

Desirable

• Ability to lead and implement directorate service strategies
• Enthusiastic about development of pharmacy services
• Team player

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ

Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ

Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)