Specialist Medicines Information Pharmacist

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options to support Wf

27 days’ annual leave + NHS leave

NHS pension scheme

Learning and career development

Cycle to Work scheme

Free parking across Trust sites

Job summary

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced mental health pharmacist to join the Medicines Information team on a fixed-term basis, with potential to become permanent after 12 months. You will provide high-quality, evidence-based medicines information support to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary teams to inform treatment decisions.

You will contribute to formulary management, medicines optimisation and service development, with rotation opportunities and a focus on

Qualifications

• Qualified pharmacist with UK registration (GPhC).
• Medicines information experience desirable.
• Strong clinical reasoning and communication skills.
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and maintain accurate documentation.

Responsibilities

• Take in enquiries, gather information, and log into the MI database for governance.
• Induction and supervision with the Lead MI Pharmacist, demonstrating competency.
• Support formulary development to promote rational medicine use and cost control.
• Contribute to MI bulletins, guidelines, and shortage memos; deputise for Lead MI Pharmacist as needed.
• Use MiData bank, ePMA, RiO, Datix and ePACT for MI activities.
• Support trainees and staff with MI training and rotations.
• Report adverse drug reactions via Yellow Card Scheme.
• Collate MI KPIs and keep MI resources up to date with UKMI guidance.
• Cover inpatient wards and participate in Emergency Duty and Late Duty rosters.

Skills

Mental health experience

Clinical decision-making

Medicines information

Documentation

Education

Bachelor of Pharmacy / Pharmacy degree

Tools

MiData bank

ePMA

RiO

Datix

ePACT

Job description

Are you an experienced mental health pharmacist looking to broaden your expertise & influence patient care at a strategic level?

We are seeking a motivated and clinically skilled pharmacist to join our Medicines Information team. This is an excellent opportunity to use your mental health pharmacy experience to support complex clinical decision-making across the Trust.

Working alongside the Lead Medicines Information Pharmacist, you will provide high-quality, evidence-based advice on medicines-related enquiries, supporting psychiatrists & multidisciplinary teams in making informed treatment decisions. Previous Medicines Information experience is desirable but not essential.

You will also contribute to clinical pharmacy services, formulary management, medicines optimisation & service development projects, with opportunities to broaden your skills through rotational work where available.

The role requires a strong foundation in hospital pharmacy practice, excellent clinical reasoning, problem-solving ability & effective written and verbal communication. Accurate documentation is essential, as responses will support future practice & less experienced colleagues.

This fixed-term post is ideal for a pharmacist with mental health experience who is keen to develop specialist Medicines Information expertise & make a wider impact on patient care and medicines governance. There is potential for the role to become permanent after 12 months.

• The role involves taking in enquiries, ensuring all relevant information has been gathered to answer the question(s) posed, then adding them onto our database to ensure good governance.
• Initial induction & training will be provided & supervised by the Lead MI Pharmacist with completion of logs to demonstrate competency & sign off before working independently.
• You’ll support the development & update work of our Trust Formulary to ensure the rational use of medicines & protect against excessive expenditure on drugs
• Other Medicines Information duties including unlicensed medicine risk assessments preparation of informative Bulletins (including guidelines & medicines shortages memos) & attending meetings if needed to deputise for the Lead MI Pharmacist.
• Medicines information & wider work will involve use of specialist computer systems, including MiData bank, ePMA, RiO, Datix & ePACT analysis.
• You will support trainees & qualified pharmacy staff with their training needs & rotations through MI.
• You will report adverse drug reactions through Yellow Card Scheme.
• You will support the Lead MI Pharmacist in collating MI key performance indicators.
• You will ensure MI resources are maintained & up to date in line with UKMI recommendations.
• You will be required to cover inpatient wards by contributing to providing pharmacy support & participating in pharmacy departmental Emergency Duty Commitment and Late Duty rota.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our Values At Berkshire Healthcare Are

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Ozma Tahir Job title: Deputy Chief Pharmacist Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 07580737965