Senior Clinical Pharmacist - Medicines Optimisation for Care Homes

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Worthing; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS health service provider is seeking a Senior Clinical Pharmacist to join their Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes Team in Worthing, West Sussex. This role focuses on enhancing medicines use for care home residents through Structured Medication Reviews and collaboration with healthcare providers. Key responsibilities include reviewing prescriptions, conducting consultations, and contributing to service improvement projects. The ideal candidate will have expertise in clinical pharmacy, a passion for elderly care, and strong communication skills, ensuring exceptional patient outcomes.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Continuing professional development opportunities

Access to training and staff benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) for care home residents.
• Ability to review prescribing and make expert recommendations.
• Demonstrated expertise in building relationships with healthcare professionals.

Responsibilities

• Deliver person-centred Structured Medication Reviews for care home residents.
• Review prescribing and make expert recommendations to GPs.
• Contribute to quality improvement and research projects.

Skills

Passionate about working with frail elderly patients

Excellent communicator

Strong clinical and technical knowledge

Self-motivated and organised

Experience in medicines optimisation

Education

Robust CPD in chronic conditions in older people

Tools

EMIS

SystmOne

MS Teams

Outlook

Job description

Vacancy at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Senior Clinical Pharmacist to join our Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) Team in West Sussex. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a well‑established team dedicated to improving medicines use and patient outcomes for people living in care homes.

About the Trust

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is the largest provider of community NHS health services across Sussex. Our Medicines Management Team, led by our Chief Pharmacist, is passionate about delivering excellence and investing in our people. We offer a supportive environment where you can develop your skills, gain qualifications and progress your career.

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Our values—Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do. We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part‑time, flexi‑time, annualised hours, and flexi‑retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
• Cost‑effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver person‑centred Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) for care home residents through holistic consultations with patients and their support networks (carers, nurses, family members)
• Review prescribing and make expert recommendations to GPs and advanced clinical practitioners, focusing on quality, safety, and improved outcomes
• Build strong relationships with GPs, PCN teams, community pharmacies, care home managers, social services, and other stakeholders
• Use clinical systems such as EMIS and SystmOne to document reviews and utilise digital technology for remote meetings and supervision
• Contribute to quality improvement and research projects to enhance service delivery
• Potentially line‑manage a senior pharmacy technician
• Collaborate on projects and share expertise across a range of medicines optimisation services, including Rheumatology, Children and Young People, Proactive Care, Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes, and Virtual Wards, offering variety and scope for career progression

About You

• Passionate about working with frail elderly patients and individuals with learning disabilities
• Warm, empathetic, and an excellent communicator
• Skilled in medicines optimisation with strong clinical and technical knowledge
• Self‑motivated, organised, and committed to continuous learning
• Proficient in digital technology systems such as Outlook for diary management and MS Teams for video conferencing, team meetings and clinical supervision

Essential Skills

• Robust CPD in areas such as chronic conditions in older people

Desirable Skills

• Post‑qualification experience and a proven track record in medicines optimisation

Benefits

• Access to continuing professional development opportunities, including Independent Prescribing and management qualifications
• Depending on experience, the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (18 months will be offered, which includes independent prescribing)
• Embedded within a large NHS Trust with access to organisational development, training, and staff benefits

Working Arrangements

• Base: Durrington Health Centre, Worthing
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 08:30–16:30 (no weekends, bank holidays, or on‑call)
• Flexible and hybrid working supported – laptop and mobile provided
• Travel across West Sussex required, including to locations that may be served poorly by public transport

Interviews

Interviews will be held two weeks after advert closing date.

Application

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Apply today and help us deliver exceptional care for care home residents across West Sussex.

This advert closes on Thursday 18 Dec 2025.