Lead Pharmacist - Antimicrobials | Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Southend University Hospital NHS Trust; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Southend-on-Sea is seeking a Lead Pharmacist for their Antimicrobial Pharmacy Service. This role involves leading pharmacy clinical services, developing training programs, and managing audits. The ideal candidate will have extensive clinical experience and a track record of effective change. This opportunity promises a rewarding career in a vibrant environment committed to patient wellbeing and staff development.

Qualifications

• Experience across various clinical areas.
• Proven track record of delivering change.
• Familiarity with antimicrobial prescribing.

Responsibilities

• Provide a clinical service to wards and outpatients.
• Attend clinical ward rounds and meetings.
• Record clinical interventions and activities.
• Advise on appropriate drug use.
• Supervise trainee pharmacists and technicians.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Clinical service delivery

Management experience

Education

Pharmacy degree

Independent prescribing qualification

Job description

Overview

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.

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.

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.

This advert closes on Monday 6 Oct 2025

Responsibilities

• 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 and 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.