Highly Specialised Neurosciences Lead Clinical Pharmacist

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a forward-thinking Band 8a Highly Specialist Lead Pharmacist for Neurosciences to lead the neuroscience pharmacy team at Southmead Hospital.

You will provide expert pharmaceutical care across neurology, neurosurgery and stroke services within a dynamic multidisciplinary team, with a focus on governance and education.

Qualifications

• UK registered Pharmacist with GPhC and a Pharmacy degree (MPharm/BPharm/BSc).
• Completed trainee year and registration exam; clinical diploma or postgraduate qualification.
• Qualified Independent Prescriber or willing to complete.
• Hospital pharmacist experience at band 7 or higher.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Neuroscience pharmacy team across Neurology, Neuropsychiatry and Neurosurgery.
• Deliver high-quality clinical pharmacy services aligning with trust policies and standards.
• Champion safe, effective and optimised medicines provision for Neuroscience patients.
• Contribute to strategic planning and service reviews to meet future healthcare demands.
• Lead education and professional development of junior pharmacists and the wider team.
• Autonomously practice and progress clinical pathways as an Independent Prescriber.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Independent Prescriber

Leadership

Governance

Mentoring

Education

UK registered Pharmacist with GPhC

Pharmacy degree (MPharm/BPharm/BSc)

Clinical diploma or postgrad qualification

Independent Prescriber (or willing to complete)

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Post includes weekend and bank holiday working on a sessional basis) Job ref 339-CCS6269-DY

Employer Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Southmead Hospital Town Bristol Salary £57,528 - £64,750 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 23/11/2026 23:59

Highly Specialised Neurosciences Lead Clinical Pharmacist

Band 8a

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a forward-thinking, adaptable, and experienced clinical pharmacist to join our team at the Southmead Hospital Operating Unit (SHOU) to lead the neurosciences pharmacy team.

As the Band 8a Highly Specialist Lead Pharmacist for Neurosciences, you will utilise your strong problem-solving capabilities and exceptional interpersonal skills to lead and deliver expert pharmaceutical care across our Neurosciences Directorate including; the acute neurology and neurosurgical wards and the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit.

We are seeking a self-motivated professional who thrives in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment, possesses a sharp eye for clinical governance, and is passionate about mentoring junior staff. Ideally, you will hold an independent Non-Medical Prescribing qualification to fully integrate into our clinical pathways.

By stepping into this role, you will join a supportive and progressive pharmacy team located within the Brunel Building at Southmead Hospital, which prides itself in fostering a caring and compassionate workplace culture dedicated to facilitating advanced clinical practice and professional development.

Main duties of the job

• Partner closely with the Neurosciences Directorate and work with the multi-disciplinary team at Southmead Hospital Operating Unit (SHOU) to deliver a high-quality clinical pharmacy service that aligns with Bristol Foundation NHS Trust (BFT) policies, national legislation, and professional standards.
• Lead clinical pharmacy services for Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, and Neurosurgery patients, managing care across both inpatient settings and HomeCare services.
• Champion the safe, effective, and optimised provision of medicines for all Neuroscience patients across the organisation.
• Support the Trust’s vision by contributing to strategic planning and service reviews to meet future healthcare demands.
• Lead the education, training, and professional development of junior pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and the wider healthcare team in the Neurosciences Directorate on topics related to medicines.
• Practise autonomously and enhance patient pathways as a qualified Independent Prescriber.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• UK registered Pharmacist with GPhC
• Degree in Pharmacy (4-year programme leading to MPharm, BPharm or BSc [Pharmacy]) and successful completion of the trainee year and registration exam
• Completed the clinical diploma or other recognised postgraduate qualification suitable for this role
• Qualified Independent Prescriber (or willing to complete)

Experience

• Previous experience as a qualified hospital pharmacist for at least 1 year at band 7 or higher
• Experience of producing and maintaining policies, procedures and guidelines
• Experience of teaching or supporting learning (e.g. mentoring, DPP, DPS, Educational Supervisor)
• Evidence of leadership
• Problem solving appropriate to the level of the post. Including; responding to queries at a high level from senior clinical and non clinical staff.
• Experience of service development or project delivery
• Clinical pharmacy experience in managing neurosciences patients in the secondary care setting
• Experience of supporting neurosciences service objectives
• Experience of working with colleagues across organisational boundaries

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Evidence of continual CPD
• Experience of audit and quality systems
• Familiar with all relevant Trust policies and departmental Standard Operating Procedures
• Ability to proactively use, maintain and develop professional knowledge in specialist area to enhance patient care through the safe and effective use of medicines
• Review and process complex information with minimum supervision
• IT skills – pharmacy computer system, standard PC office software to ECDL level and data base searches
• Able to advise on pharmacy legislation relevant to specialist area
• Ability to plan, manage, monitor and review therapeutic programmes for patients
• Ability to review and process complex information e.g. provision of reports on drug expenditure and other performance indicators, applications for new formulary medications
• Evidence of ability to publish, including posters
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present information, both orally and written, in a clear and concise manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in order to communicate effectively with patients/carers, medical and nursing staff, colleagues within the pharmacy and staff working in external organisations
• Able to manage time and prioritise effectively
• Ability to use own initiative and work as part of a team using an adaptable and flexible approach.
• Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge in order to enhance patient care
• Ability to successfully develop knowledge in specialist area
• Adaptable and flexible approach to work

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name: Rachael Pilkington
Job title: Co-Lead Principal Pharmacist for NMSK
Email address: [e-mail]
Telephone number: 0117 41 42267
Additional information: I only work on Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays.

Alternatively, please contact the current post holder, Gemma Westlake
[e-mail]