Foundation Pharmacist

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Foundation Pharmacist (Band 6) to join a rotation through clinical services including emergency care, medicine, surgery, care of the elderly, aseptics and dispensary. Open to qualified pharmacists or foundation trainees planning registration in January 2027.

The role offers exposure to a dynamic MDT, emphasis on patient safety and continuous professional development, with a permanent, full-time basis at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Pharmacy.
• Registered with GPhC or currently undertaking pre-registration training.
• Registered as an independent prescriber or working towards qualification.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical pharmacy input and prescribing support across directorates.
• Support Medicines Management across the Trust.
• Facilitate timely discharge and patient counselling on medications.
• Provide clinical advice to MDT members.
• Deliver training and education as part of the team.
• Carry out duties of the Responsible Pharmacist.
• Focus on patient safety and service development.
• Support 7-day clinical pharmacy service via late night/on-call/weekend rota.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy

Communication skills

Patient counselling

IT literate

Prioritisation

CPD

Audit

Education

Masters in Pharmacy

GPhC registration

Independent prescriber

Job description

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Foundation pharmacist to join our team. We provide a patient focused clinical pharmacy service whilst ensuring the optimal use of medicines within the organisation. This post represents a great opportunity for a pharmacist to progress their career in a clinically focused, innovative and supportive environment. The post holder will have the opportunity to gain experience working on rotation through the pharmacy clinical services including emergency care, medicine, surgery, care of the elderly, aseptics and the dispensary. This post is open to both qualified pharmacists and current foundation trainee pharmacists who are likely to register in January 2027.

Main duties of the job

• To provide clinical pharmacy input and prescribing support across all directorates.
• To support Medicines Management across the Trust.
• To facilitate timely discharge and patient counselling on their medications.
• To provide clinical advice and support to other members of the MDT.
• Work as part of the team to deliver and participate in training and education.
• Carry out the duties of the Responsible Pharmacist.
• Focus on patient safety and supporting service development.
• Work to deliver the 7-day clinical pharmacy service by supporting the late night, on call and weekend rota.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon Urgent Care Centre, Bensham Hospital, and the Clinical Diagnostic Centre at the Metrocentre, all within Gateshead. Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients. We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region. Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement. We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks. The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Job responsibilities

• To carry out medication histories and medicines reconciliation ensuring any discrepancies are actioned.
• Clinical screen of inpatient prescriptions following medicines reconciliation to provide advice on medicines, dosages and medicines information queries.
• To clinically check discharge prescriptions, assess patients own drugs for discharge and ensure patients receive counselling and the opportunity for a discharge medicines service referral to improve transfer of care.
• To provide advice and support to patients and the MDT to ensure that they get the best from their medicines.
• Independently prescribe within own competence and scope of practice.
• To provide clinical pharmacy input and maintain high standards of Medicines Management across the Trust via completion of quarterly controlled drug checks, Safe and Secure medicines audit and supporting policy and guideline review.
• Support departmental audit and adherence to KPIs.
• As part of the team you will work closely alongside other pharmacy colleagues, taking part within clinical supervision sessions and teaching.
• You will provide rotational clinical support to the directorates of emergency care, medicine, care of the elderly, surgery, aseptics and dispensary.
• Be the Responsible Pharmacist in the dispensary and participate in clinical and accuracy checking.
• Work to deliver the 7 day clinical pharmacy service by supporting the late night, on call and weekend rota.
• Participate in or lead audits or quality improvement projects.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: Masters degree in Pharmacy
• Essential: Registered as a pharmacist with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or currently undertaking pre-registration training year
• Essential: Registered as an independent prescriber or working towards the qualification

Experience

• Essential: Clinical pharmacy practice in a hospital, community pharmacy or general practice setting
• Essential: Evidence of CPD and self-directed learning
• Essential: Evidence of audit
• Desirable: Specialist knowledge of pharmacy systems
• Desirable: Experience working within a hospital setting

Knowledge and skills

• Essential: Ability to effectively communicate both written and verbally
• Essential: Effective patient consultation skills
• Essential: Evidence of self-reflection
• Essential: IT literate
• Essential: Ability to prioritise own workload
• Desirable: Experience supervising or mentoring others

Details

Closing date: 05 November 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 6

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 297-8325405

Location: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Gateshead, NE9 6SX

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Employer's website: https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk

For questions about the job, contact

Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Community Services and CSS, Clare MacGregor, [e-mail], 01914452314

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