Lead Pharmacist for Cardiology and Acute Medicine

NHS; Warrington; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Warrington is seeking a Band 8a Lead Pharmacist in Cardiology and Acute Medicine. The role involves pioneering inpatient and outpatient services, training staff, and contributing to clinical governance. Ideal candidates should possess a Pharmacy Masters, relevant experience, and skills in team management and communication. Join us in providing exceptional patient care and develop your professional journey within our supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with a Masters qualification.
• Experience in hospital pharmacy and medicines management.
• Validated post-registration experience in a clinical setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead pharmacist for cardiology and acute medicine.
• Provide specialist advice on medication use.
• Deliver training to staff and oversee clinical governance.

Skills

Team working

Problem solving

Communication skills

IT skills

Clinical therapeutics knowledge

Education

Masters qualification in Pharmacy

Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated Band 8a Lead Pharmacist for Cardiology and Acute Medicine to join our team. This role involves leading and enhancing inpatient and outpatient cardiology services alongside inpatient acute medicine.

The position offers a unique opportunity to work across both specialities, supporting service delivery and engaging in bedside training with rotational foundation pharmacists.

Key responsibilities include:

• Participating in multidisciplinary ward rounds, outpatient clinics, and team meetings.
• Providing specialist advice to healthcare teams, ensuring safe and effective medicines use tailored to individual patient needs.
• Delivering education and training to staff, fostering the development of pharmacy teams.
• Involvement in clinical governance activities and service evaluations to drive quality improvements.

This exciting role offers the chance to further develop your clinical expertise and leadership skills in a supportive, collaborative environment. Our department is committed to staff development, offering opportunities for personal growth and professional achievement.

The successful candidate will also contribute to the on-call, weekend/bank holiday, and late service rotas as part of the wider pharmacy team.

Join us to help deliver exceptional care to patients while advancing your professional journey.

Main duties of the job

• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings during acute medicine and cardiology ward rounds to provide a comprehensive pharmaceutical service, support bespoke patient management protocols, and contribute to improved patient outcomes.
• Conduct thorough medication reviews, assess treatment plans, and provide evidence-based recommendations to optimise patient care.
• Educate patients and clinicians on the safe and effective use of medications, ensuring adherence and understanding.
• Develop and deliver educational materials and training programmes for healthcare professionals and patients, enhancing knowledge and confidence in medication management.
• Participate in research activities and quality improvement initiatives related to acute medicine and cardiology, driving advancements in patient outcomes and service delivery.

About us

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a caring and compassionate organisation that is both ambitious and innovative. We are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our patients and providing a positive experience of our staff. We aspire to be outstanding for our patients, our communities and our staff and are committed to being a great place to receive healthcare, work and learn.

Straddling the neighbouring boroughs of Warrington and Halton we are part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care system. Our hospitals are ideally situated to meet the growing healthcare needs of the 330,000 population of these boroughs.

Warrington Hospital is home to our emergency, critical care and maternity services, Halton Hospital is focused on elective procedures and the Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre, although many services are offered at both sites and in community hubs.

A CQC-rated 'good' organisation with 'outstanding' features, we are working towards university hospital status, having achieved teaching hospital status in 2019.

Our workforce of nearly 5,000 across both sites comprises more than 50 nationalities. We strive to be an equal, diverse and inclusive employer, which is recognised as a pioneer in its equality, diversity and inclusion work. The Trust is proud to have achieved numerous external accreditations and is working towards achieving the Anti-Racist Organisation Framework, recognising the importance of anti-racism in all that we do.

Details Date posted

25 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

370-ACS8APHA-87

Job locations

Warrington & Halton Hospitals

Lovely Lane

Warrington

WA5 1QG

Job description Job responsibilities

Undertake Lead Pharmacist duties for area of designated specialism Cardiology and Acute medicine

Be responsible for delivering on the Trust medicines optimisation strategy in respect to Cardiology and Acute medicine therapeuticsPerform risk assessments, clinical governance and provide assurance measures in areas ofresponsibility

Undertake relevant training to maintain competencies and further develop clinical or technical specialist knowledge in specialist area

Apply highly specialist knowledge to provide and develop clinical services, produce protocols or guidelines, undertake audits / research, act as a source of pharmaceutical expertise and promote cost effective use of medicines to other healthcare professionals

Be responsible for providing formal training / education for Pharmacy staff, other healthcare professionals (e.g. nurses, doctors, medical students) and patients, on medication use and expenditure in designated specialism and other areas at the request of the education lead

When registered as a non-medical prescriber, undertake the clinical management and drug treatment of designated patients

Take on responsibility for managing and developing staff

In the absence of the Clinical Pharmacist Team Manager/responsible pharmacist construct and/or amend the weekly service cover rota as required

Deal with issues that need senior input when acting as the most senior pharmacist available on site

Participate in the provision and development of pharmaceutical services to Warrington Hospital, Halton Hospital and for other units provided with services by the Pharmacy Department under servicelevel agreements.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED

Job description Job responsibilities

Undertake Lead Pharmacist duties for area of designated specialism Cardiology and Acute medicine

Be responsible for delivering on the Trust medicines optimisation strategy in respect to Cardiology and Acute medicine therapeuticsPerform risk assessments, clinical governance and provide assurance measures in areas ofresponsibility

Undertake relevant training to maintain competencies and further develop clinical or technical specialist knowledge in specialist area

Apply highly specialist knowledge to provide and develop clinical services, produce protocols or guidelines, undertake audits / research, act as a source of pharmaceutical expertise and promote cost effective use of medicines to other healthcare professionals

Be responsible for providing formal training / education for Pharmacy staff, other healthcare professionals (e.g. nurses, doctors, medical students) and patients, on medication use and expenditure in designated specialism and other areas at the request of the education lead

When registered as a non-medical prescriber, undertake the clinical management and drug treatment of designated patients

Take on responsibility for managing and developing staff

In the absence of the Clinical Pharmacist Team Manager/responsible pharmacist construct and/or amend the weekly service cover rota as required

Deal with issues that need senior input when acting as the most senior pharmacist available on site

Participate in the provision and development of pharmaceutical services to Warrington Hospital, Halton Hospital and for other units provided with services by the Pharmacy Department under servicelevel agreements.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters qualification in Pharmacy (4 years), or equivalent qualification, plus 1-year pre-registration training and experience.
• Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent documented clinical experience
• Evidence of Continuing Professional development

Desirable

• Independent prescribing qualification (V300 or equivalent)
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Experience Essential

• Validated post registration hospital experience or equivalent documented clinical experience
• Ward based, medicines management experience
• Experience in delivering training and supervising others
• Audit and / or practice research experience
• Collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings
• Management and leadership experience

Desirable

• Medicines information experience
• Project management experience
• Experience of policy, guideline and service development
• Risk management
• Staff management

Skills, knowledge and competencies Essential

• Demonstrate team working and team management skills
• Demonstrate ability to use initiative and solve problems
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Good IT skills
• Can assimilate complex information for decision making and prioritisation
• Excellent knowledge of clinical therapeutics and pharmacology
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of medicines regulation and guidance
• Reponds positively and pragmatically to constructive feedback
• Empathetic and sensitive nature to service users and colleagues
• Deals with patients & staff with honesty & integrity
• Ability to work flexibly and reliably, including on-call
• Ability to travel to study days/other work locations using own or public transport 24hrs a day
• Ability to undertake moderate physical exercise/effort

Desirable

• Ability to develop services in designated area.
• Ability to affect and manage change with an ability to motivate others.
• Ability to manage time, people and resources to deliver outcomes
• Identifies and manages risk
• Expert knowledge of drug related admissions and adverse drug reactions

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters qualification in Pharmacy (4 years), or equivalent qualification, plus 1-year pre-registration training and experience.
• Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent documented clinical experience
• Evidence of Continuing Professional development

Desirable

• Independent prescribing qualification (V300 or equivalent)
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Experience Essential

• Validated post registration hospital experience or equivalent documented clinical experience
• Ward based, medicines management experience
• Experience in delivering training and supervising others
• Audit and / or practice research experience
• Collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings
• Management and leadership experience

Desirable

• Medicines information experience
• Project management experience
• Experience of policy, guideline and service development
• Risk management
• Staff management

Skills, knowledge and competencies Essential

• Demonstrate team working and team management skills
• Demonstrate ability to use initiative and solve problems
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Good IT skills
• Can assimilate complex information for decision making and prioritisation
• Excellent knowledge of clinical therapeutics and pharmacology
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of medicines regulation and guidance
• Reponds positively and pragmatically to constructive feedback
• Empathetic and sensitive nature to service users and colleagues
• Deals with patients & staff with honesty & integrity
• Ability to work flexibly and reliably, including on-call
• Ability to travel to study days/other work locations using own or public transport 24hrs a day
• Ability to undertake moderate physical exercise/effort

Desirable

• Ability to develop services in designated area.
• Ability to affect and manage change with an ability to motivate others.
• Ability to manage time, people and resources to deliver outcomes
• Identifies and manages risk
• Expert knowledge of drug related admissions and adverse drug reactions

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT

Address

Warrington & Halton Hospitals

Lovely Lane

Warrington

WA5 1QG

Employer's website

https://whh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT

Address

Warrington & Halton Hospitals

Lovely Lane

Warrington

WA5 1QG

Employer's website

https://whh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)