Lead Pharmacist

NHS; Chorley; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is looking for a Lead Pharmacist to oversee medicines optimisation for patients in mental health care. This full-time, fixed-term role involves up to two days of remote work weekly and the opportunity to lead several initiatives aimed at improving patient care within a supportive team. Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in Pharmacy and relevant clinical experience in mental health.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of providing pharmaceutical care to patients with acute and complex mental health needs.
• Experience of practice research or audit.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the medicines optimisation work for inpatients.
• Provide enhanced support to medical colleagues with clinical pharmacy expertise.
• Support the Patient First programme embedding evidence-based pathways.

Skills

Expert clinical knowledge relevant to mental health

Time management skills

Clinical reasoning and judgement

Education

Masters degree in Pharmacy

Pharmacist registration with General Pharmaceutical Council

Postgraduate diploma or equivalent including MA/MSc

Job description

Overview

This is a 6-month fixed term post until 31st March 2026. Hours per week: 37.5 hours. Lead Pharmacist Band 8b Patient Medicines Optimisation and Evidence Based Care.

This exciting role will entail leading and supporting the medicines optimisation work for inpatients with long length of stay within LSCFT Mental Health inpatient wards and contracted Out of Area Placements (OAPS), supporting the Patient First Pathway in developing and embedding evidence based pathways of care whilst delivering education, training and mentorship to the multidisciplinary team, including the Consultant Psychiatrists Forum. Hybrid Working: there will be an opportunity to work from home up to two days per week maximum, with travel to different sites in the Lancashire and South Cumbria footprint depending on workshop locations and patient whereabouts. The base for the initial part of the pathways work will be at Chorley Hospital.

Main duties of the job

The post has three key elements:

• Medicines Optimisation for Psychosis – support medicines optimisation reviews focusing on psychosis for long stay patients (60 days plus) within LSCFT and OAPS wards, up to one per day per week.
• OAPS Clinical pharmacy expertise – provide enhanced support to medical colleagues with clinical pharmacy expertise for long stay patients in contracted OAPS, up to two days a week.
• Patient First Programme – support the Patient First programme that embeds evidence-based pathways of care across teams, initially focusing on psychosis and emotional dysregulation. Co-design of the pathway to be conducted and tested with one ward initially using a modification of Rapid Process Improvement Workshop (RPIW) approach before expanding to other wards. This will involve periods of focused activity (1‑4 days) with in-person workshops, liaison with ward-based pharmacy staff and clinical work on identified wards.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care. Specialist provision includes inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care. The Trust also provides physical health and well-being services in the community with partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area. Flexible working is encouraged to support work/life balance, including patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks; applicants are welcome to request these at interview.

Details

Date posted: 10 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 per year

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 6 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 351-CS2762-EB

Job locations: Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, Chorley PR7 1PP

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Pharmacy
• Pharmacist registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
• Postgraduate diploma or equivalent including MA/MSc

Knowledge

• Expert clinical knowledge relevant to mental health
• Able to identify a vision for the delivery of an advanced clinical pharmacy service
• Able to apply advanced levels of clinical reasoning and judgement to influence how medicines are used

Experience

• Extensive experience of providing pharmaceutical care to patients with acute and complex mental health needs
• Experience of practice research or audit
• Able to demonstrate prioritisation and time management skills

Disclosure and UK Registration

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to the DBS may be required. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.