Lead Pharmacist - Antimicrobials

NHS; Leigh on Sea; On-site; GBP 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent health trust in Leigh on Sea seeks a dynamic Lead Pharmacist for the Antimicrobial Pharmacy Service at Southend hospital. The role involves leading clinical services, developing training programs, and conducting audits on antimicrobial prescribing. Applicants should possess excellent communication and management skills. A Clinical Pharmacy PG diploma is essential, and experience in service delivery is preferred. This is a full-time, permanent position with a salary of £55,690 per annum.

Qualifications

• Experience in service delivery and management.
• Proven track record of delivering change.
• Desirable: Independent prescribing qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead pharmacy clinical service within the AMS team.
• Provide specialist pharmaceutical information.
• Counsel patients on medicines use.
• Perform audits on antimicrobial prescribing.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Service delivery

Management experience

Education

Clinical Pharmacy PG diploma

Masters

Diploma L2

Diploma L1

Job description

Overview

Job summary

We are looking for a lead pharmacist for our Antimicrobial Pharmacy Service at Southend hospital. This is a great opportunity for a highly motivated, open minded and dynamic pharmacist who is an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal/relationship building skills. You will lead the pharmacy clinical service within the AMS team at the Southend Hospital site, supporting the Trust's Principal Pharmacist to support the development of a culture that reduces associated infection and supports excellence in antimicrobial prescribing. You will help develop and implement training programmes and policies related to AMS, liaising with Trust's consultants on all 3 sites. You will lead, plan and undertake audits on compliance with local policies and antimicrobial prescribing and identify potential cost savings associated with AMS within the Trust. You will work closely with the other lead antimicrobial pharmacists based at the other Trust sites at Basildon and Broomfield hospitals. You will need to be an experienced pharmacist that has worked across a variety of clinical areas and is now ready to specialise in antimicrobials. Have experience in service delivery and management and a proven track record of delivering change within dynamic environments. An independent prescribing qualification is desirable but not essential.

Main duties

• Providing a clinical service to the wards, discharge and outpatients service
• Attend clinical ward rounds, clinical and multidisciplinary meetings as appropriate
• Regularly record clinical interventions and activities.
• Provide specialist pharmaceutical information and advice to medical, nursing and other staff within the Trust where appropriate.
• Promote the safe, appropriate and economic use of drugs.
• Counsel and advise patients on the appropriate and effective use of medicines.
• Take part in the emergency On-call Pharmacist rota. Working alone as the On call Pharmacist, you will provide: medicines information, advice and supply out of hours, including sourcing of urgently required drugs from external suppliers and other hospitals.
• To support the Trust Medication Safety Officer and Pharmacy Risk andGovernance Team with the medicines optimisation and governance agenda.
• Monitor the safe and secure storage of medication both within the pharmacy department and on the wards.
• Implement local and national guidelines where appropriate e.g. NICE.
• Supervise trainee pharmacists, undergraduate students and ward-based technicians.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Details

Date posted: 23 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £55,690 a year Per annum (pro rata for part-time)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 390-CSS-SO-9626-D

Job locations: Southend, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0RY

Job responsibilities

Are you looking for an exciting Lead Pharmacist role using your unique qualities, then we want to hear from you?

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description. We look forward to your application.

Person Specification

Clinical Pharmacy PG diploma Essential

• Masters
• Diploma L2
• Diploma L1

Desirable

• Membership of RPS and active
• Membership of a clinical group e.g. UKCPA and active

Experience Essential

• Relevant management experience

Directorate activity Essential

• Extensive e.g. MMGs, PGDs, finance reports, teaching

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.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Southend, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 0RY

Employer's website: mse.nhs.uk