Lead Pharmacist - Antimicrobials

NHS; Leigh on Sea; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Lead Pharmacist for the Antimicrobial Pharmacy Service at Southend Hospital. The candidate will lead clinical services, drive excellence in antimicrobial prescribing, and manage audits. Applicants should have a strong background in clinical pharmacy with a focus on antimicrobial services. This position offers a salary range of £55,690 to £62,682 per year, with opportunities for professional development in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• You need to be an experienced pharmacist that has worked across a variety of clinical areas.
• An independent prescribing qualification is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Providing a clinical service to the wards and outpatients.
• Attend clinical ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings.
• Monitor safe storage of medication and implement guidelines.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Clinical knowledge

Education

Clinical Pharmacy PG Diploma

Masters

Membership of RPS

Membership of clinical group e.g. UKCPA

Job description

Lead Pharmacist - Antimicrobials

The closing date is 11 December 2025

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 develop 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 the 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 of the job

• 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.
• Support the Trust Medication Safety Officer and Pharmacy Risk & Governance 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.

Person Specification

Clinical Pharmacy PG Diploma, Masters, Membership of RPS and active, Membership of a clinical group e.g. UKCPA and active.

Experience

Directorate activity: 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.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a year (pro rata for part‑time)