Primary Care Mental Health Pharmacist

NHS Borders; Melrose; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Borders is seeking a skilled pharmacist to join our Pharmacy team as a Primary Care Pharmacist with a focus on mental health prescribing. You will develop and deliver person-centred medicines optimisation for people with mental health needs across primary care, working with GP practices and wider teams.

You will lead prescribing safety and quality improvement aligned to national indicators, review high-risk regimens, and support safe, effective use of psychotropic medicines.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with post-registration experience.
• Strong clinical judgement and communication skills.
• Commitment to collaborative working and service improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead medicines optimisation for mental health in primary care.
• Review high-risk prescribing including benzodiazepines and z-drugs.
• Collaborate with GPs, primary care mental health services, and community pharmacy to improve prescribing quality.

Skills

Pharmacist

Mental health prescribing

Clinical governance

Education

MPharm degree

Job description

OUR VALUES IN ACTION

Compassion Kindness Integrity Teamwork Excellence

NHS Borders is seeking a skilled, motivated and forward-thinking pharmacist to join our Pharmacy team as a Primary Care Pharmacist with a focus on mental health prescribing.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in developing and delivering high-quality, person-centred medicines optimisation for people with mental health needs across primary care. Working closely with GP practices, primary care mental health services, community pharmacy and wider multidisciplinary teams, you will help improve prescribing quality, reduce medicines-related harm, and support the safe and effective use of psychotropic medicines.

A central part of this role will be leading and supporting prescribing safety and quality improvement aligned to Scottish National Therapeutic Indicators. This includes reviewing high-risk prescribing, such as the mental health triple whammy, long-term benzodiazepine and z-drug use, and other complex psychotropic regimens. The post directly supports NHS Borders priorities to improve access, deliver care closer to home, strengthen prevention and early intervention, and provide safe, sustainable, high-quality care. We are looking for a registered pharmacist with relevant post-registration experience, strong clinical judgement, excellent communication skills, and a clear commitment to collaborative working and service improvement.

Why join NHS Borders?

NHS Borders offers the opportunity to build a rewarding career in a supportive, forward-looking organisation committed to high-quality patient care and continuous improvement. You will join a collaborative Pharmacy team with strong professional links across primary care and mental health services, giving you the chance to influence service development, strengthen prescribing quality, and make a meaningful difference to patient outcomes.

For informal enquiries, please contact Cathryn Park: [e-mail]

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to take the next step into a more senior role, NHS Borders offers a supportive environment where you can grow, influence change, and make a real impact.

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