Lead Clinical Pharmacist

Norfolk And Suffolk Nhs Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

Comprehensive training programmes

Career progression

27 days annual leave increasing with +

Staff physio service

NHS discounts

Job summary

Norfolk And Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in Norwich is seeking an experienced registered pharmacist for a senior leadership role. This full-time position leads clinical pharmacy services across inpatient wards, provides expert input within MDTs, and supports the pharmacy team and service improvement.

You will be registered with the GPhC, capable of line management, staff development, and driving medicines optimisation. The post is fixed-term for 12 months and based at Hellesdon Hospital.

Qualifications

• MPharm degree or equivalent recognised by GPhC.
• Current GPhC registration as pharmacist.
• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced clinical pharmacy and medicines-related care to service users.
• Lead operational delivery and development of pharmacy services for a clinical team.
• Ensure medicines prescribed are safe, effective, optimised and appropriate.
• Lead and manage designated pharmacy services for Head of Clinical Services.
• Mentor pharmacists and trainees; undertake line management of staff.
• Educate and develop pharmacy and wider healthcare workforce.
• Balance operational duties with strategic service management and Medicines Information.

Skills

Effective communication

Critical appraisal

Decision making under pressure

Proactive and manages busy environment

Education

MPharm

GPhC registration

Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy

Job description

Job summary

Are you a pharmacist looking for a new challenge in a senior leadership role?

We are looking for a self-motivated and enthusiastic registered pharmacist to join our friendly pharmacy team. This full-time post (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday) is based at Hellesdon Hospital, Norwich.

You will lead and develop clinical pharmacy services across designated inpatient wards, providing expert clinical input within multidisciplinary teams, line management and professional support to pharmacy staff, and operational leadership for designated pharmacy services on behalf of the Head of Clinical Services. You will also contribute to service improvement and medicines optimisation initiatives.

You must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving, prioritisation and organisational skills are essential.

Please note this is a fixed-term position for one year.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will;

• Provide advanced clinical pharmacy and medicines related care to service users with mental illness or learning disabilities in inpatient and community settings.
• Be responsible for the operational delivery and development of pharmacy services to a clinical team within a specified geographical area.
• Be responsible for providing pharmacy and medicines related care to allocated teams to ensure medicines prescribed are safe, effective, optimised and appropriate.
• Lead and manage designated pharmacy services on behalf of the Head of Clinical Services, ensuring delivery of service objectives, performance standards, quality improvement and ongoing development.
• Provide professional pharmacist support to the site you are based and mentor other pharmacists in the trust (including trainees) as required.
• Undertake line management responsibility for pharmacy staff.
• Have a responsibility to educate and develop the pharmacy and wider healthcare workforce as part of a teaching organisation.
• Divide your time between operational and service management responsibilities, hands‑on clinical pharmacy provision to allocated wards/units, and leadership of designated specialist pharmacy services, including Medicines Information and other services as required.

About us

Benefits of working for NSFT includes:

• NHS pension
• Comprehensive in house and external training programmes
• Career progression
• Starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
• Staff physio service
• NHS discounts and many more.

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing their experiences and learning from each other.

Details

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year gross per annum/ pro rata

Contract: Fixed term, 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 246-COR8315457

Closing date: 05 November 2026

Person Specification

Essential qualifications

• Master's degree in pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent qualification recognised by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Current registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Postgraduate Diploma, MSc, or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Clinical Pharmacy, or equivalent demonstrable experience

Essential knowledge

• Detailed knowledge of clinical pharmacy
• Detailed knowledge of mental health therapeutics

Essential experience

• Significant UK hospital pharmacy experience
• Clinical pharmacy experience at band 7

Essential skills

• Able to communicate effectively with individuals from all agencies and at all levels including service users, carers, and the public
• Critical appraisal and audit skills
• Proactive and ability to manage in a busy environment
• Ability to make decisions under pressure
• Flexible attitude to service provision and an enthusiasm for change

Desirable

• Membership of the Royal College of Pharmacy
• Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Pharmacy or equivalent specialist training
• Membership of the College of Mental Health Pharmacists
• Non medical prescriber
• Clinical pharmacy experience in mental health or similar specialty
• Education and training of others
• Good understanding of interface issues
• Experience of line management and HR processes
• Experienced in writing guidelines and reports

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Pharmacist Leo Boswell, [e-mail], 01603421212

Apply through our website

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. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.