Lead Divisional Pharmacist – Emergency & Integrated Care (EIC)

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in the UK is seeking an experienced pharmacist to lead and develop clinical pharmacy services within the Emergency & Integrated Care division. Responsibilities include managing a pharmacy team, enhancing medication use and safety, and ensuring high-quality patient-centered care. The ideal candidate will have a robust clinical pharmacy background and leadership skills. Applications are invited from all backgrounds, with early application encouraged.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in clinical pharmacy services.
• Strong experience in patient-centered care.
• Ability to manage a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical pharmacy services within the EIC division.
• Ensure delivery of clinical governance agenda.
• Manage and appraise trainee pharmacists and students.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical pharmacy expertise

Innovation in pharmacy practice

Interpersonal skills

Budget management

Education

Pharmacy degree

Registered pharmacist

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic pharmacist who can inspire others to deliver outstanding patient centred care. You will be responsible for leading and developing clinical pharmacy services within the Emergency & Integrated Care (EIC) division, providing senior leadership support across the EIC team, implementing trust-wide initiatives to improve medicine use, management and safety, and deputising for the Associate Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and be a role model for clinical pharmacy services to the clinical areas managed by the EIC Division, including Respiratory, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Care of the Elderly, Rheumatology, Emergency Medicine, ambulatory emergency care and acute medical unit patients.
• Lead, provide and develop clinical pharmacy services to meet the needs of the EIC Division in accordance with objectives set by the Associate Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services, to meet Trust objectives and the Clinical Governance Agenda.
• Lead by example in an agreed specialism (e.g., cardiology or care of the elderly) ensuring a consistently high quality clinical pharmacy service is delivered across the EIC Division in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Manage the clinical service provided by a team of pharmacists and technicians within the EIC Division.

Leadership

• Lead in the development and delivery of pharmaceutical issues to the EIC Division.
• Identify and promote best practice.
• Ensure delivery of the clinical governance agenda in relation to drug use in the EIC Division to minimise drug-related incidents.
• Motivate and inspire others (within pharmacy and the division) to create and maintain a good working environment and staff retention.
• Proactively develop clinical pharmacy services in line with local and national objectives.
• Demonstrate innovation in the specialised field of Cardiology, Care of the Elderly pharmacy practice, or other sub-specialty within Medicine and A&E.
• Ensure pharmaceutical care issues are represented within the EIC Division.
• Collaborate with pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management in the national agenda for pharmacy services and objectives.
• Ensure prescribing and medication use issues are managed within the development of Electronic Patient Records and prescribing systems.
• Act as Deputy for the Associate Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services when appropriate.

Management of Service

• Provide clinical pharmacy services for patients admitted to medical wards and the Emergency Department according to priorities set by the post holder and Associate Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services.
• Identify and prioritise clinical pharmacy services to the EIC Division and ensure all clinical areas are covered within resource limits.
• Ensure national and local agendas are delivered and establish processes for setting standards of care, managing changes and risks.
• Manage and appraise trainee pharmacists, diploma/MSc students and specialist pharmacists; be responsible for recruitment and staff retention.
• Advise on development and implementation of shared-care guidelines to promote seamless patient care.
• Monitor and report the division’s medicines budget and provide feedback to service managers, clinicians and accountants at division level.
• Identify changes in prescribing practices that may impact the medicines budget and provide advice on cost-effective use of medicines, including prescribing guidelines.
• Oversee medicines provision to patients at home via home care delivery companies.
• Demonstrate professional accountability to service users, stakeholders and the profession.
• Review drug-related incidents within the EIC Division and implement actions to reduce recurrence (membership of the Trust Drug Incident Committee).
• Assume responsibilities described in the Trust Major Incident Plan and implement actions during incidents.
• Investigate errors and complaints related to pharmaceutical services in the EIC Division, liaising with the Associate Chief Pharmacist and division risk managers.
• Deputise for the Associate Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services when appropriate and manage the team in her absence.
• Develop clinical pharmacy services for EIC outpatient clinics and support screening processes within the outpatient dispensary.
• Liaise with Senior Technicians to roll out medicines management services to the EIC Division and oversee technician-led medicines management.
• Represent Pharmacy / EIC Division on Trust committees or groups as appropriate.
• Provide advice on the implementation and maintenance of Patient Group Directions used in the EIC Division.

Evaluation of Service

• Monitor and evaluate clinical pharmacy services for patients admitted to the EIC Division.
• Evaluate contributions of EIC Division pharmacists through intervention monitoring, pharmacist transcribing and evaluation of on-call data.
• Ensure departmental standards are met and supervise/undertake clinical audits as part of the multidisciplinary audit process.
• Undertake assessments/evaluations of services, patient care and individuals as required.

Clinical Practice

• Act as a clinical role model for EIC Division pharmacists and provide safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient drug use.
• Provide highly specialist pharmaceutical care to cardiology patients (or other medical specialties).
• Participate in post-take ward rounds to integrate into the multidisciplinary team and raise the pharmacy profile at consultant level.
• Act as an independent prescriber within the agreed scope of practice where appropriate.
• Manage difficult and ambiguous problems with a whole-system, patient-focused approach and advanced clinical reasoning.
• Develop recognition as a national and/or international expert within the nominated medical specialty in terms of drug use.
• Maintain records of drug use by specialist area to resolve finance queries.
• Support all clinical staff in the use of medicines outside of licence and unlicensed medicines to ensure high-quality, safe medication use.
• Make appropriate referrals and communicate pharmaceutical needs clearly to other pharmacists and health care professionals inside and outside the trust.
• Be responsible for providing a clinical pharmacy service for patients admitted to the EIC Division.

Research and Development

• Demonstrate a critical approach to pharmacy practice in the EIC Division and integrate evidence into practice.
• Undertake own practice research, disseminate findings, and support others undertaking research.
• Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate protocols and guidelines; develop clinical pathways of care in the EIC Division.
• Actively seek to improve ward and clinical services and develop an annual research and audit programme related to medicines use in the EIC Division (Medicine and A&E).
• Present drug-related/pharmacy practice research at national and international conferences.
• Provide pharmaceutical advice for clinical trials undertaken within the EIC Division when necessary.

Education and Training

• Identify training needs and develop strategies to meet them; identify personal training needs and maintain a portfolio of practice.
• Tutor trainee pharmacists and mentor a junior pharmacist with formal appraisal and support.
• Provide teaching on the Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy Training Course and contribute to the Clinical Pharmacists teaching programme.
• Develop strategies for training staff on rotation in Medicine; provide education for medical and nursing staff.
• Provide Pharmacy induction for new junior doctors and act as ward tutor for junior pharmacists with regular visits.
• Act as a GPhC trainee pharmacist Practice Supervisor or Educational Supervisor as appropriate; provide teaching and support for undergraduate pharmacists and doctors on work experience or projects.

Financial Responsibilities

• Support the Chief Pharmacist with drug expenditure information for finance cost recovery of high-cost drugs; act as a resource to the Finance Department on complex issues.

Other Duties

• Participate in other areas of clinical pharmacy practice to maintain broad pharmaceutical knowledge.
• Participate in on-call, weekend/bank holiday and shift work, including 7-day working when required on a rotational basis.
• Liaise with other clinical pharmacists to ensure efficient transfer of drug-related care.
• Be aware of and apply legislation (HSAWA, COSHH, Medicines Act, GMP, etc.) and practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
• Follow legal, ethical, professional and employers’ codes of conduct.
• Any other duties as required by the Chief Pharmacist; provide dispensary cover on a rotational basis.

Closing date: This advert closes on Thursday 2 Oct 2025.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received.