Specialist Medicines Information Pharmacist

Berkshire Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

NHS pension

Learning and career development

Cycle to Work and car leasing

Wellbeing tools

Discounts

Staff networks

Generous leave

Free parking

Job summary

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced pharmacist to join its Medicines Information team and influence patient care at a strategic level. You will provide evidence-based advice on medicines-related enquiries and support clinical decision-making across the Trust.

The post offers opportunities to develop specialist MI expertise, contribute to formulary management and service development, with potential for permanency after 12 months. Rotational work may be available.

Qualifications

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist
• Postgraduate clinical qualification and hospital experience may be required for senior level
• Flexible approach to work to meet evolving pharmacy service needs

Responsibilities

• Handle medicines information enquiries and contribute to clinical decision-making
• Support formulary management and medicines optimisation
• Participate in training, rotations and MI projects
• Cover inpatient wards and contribute to Duty commitments

Skills

Clinical pharmacy

Medicines information

Communication

Teamwork

Education

GPhC registration

Postgraduate clinical qualification

Tools

MiData bank

ePMA

RiO

Datix

ePACT

Job description

Job summary

Are you an experienced mental health pharmacist looking to broaden your expertise and 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 and 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 and 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 and effective written and verbal communication. Accurate documentation is essential, as responses will support future practice and 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 and make a wider impact on patient care and medicines governance. There is potential for the role to become permanent after 12 months.

Main duties of the job

• 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 and training will be provided and supervised by the Lead MI Pharmacist with completion of logs to demonstrate competency and sign off before working independently.
• You will support the development and update work of our Trust Formulary to ensure the rational use of medicines and protect against excessive expenditure on drugs.
• Other Medicines Information duties including unlicensed medicine risk assessments, preparation of informative Bulletins (including guidelines and medicines shortages memos) and attending meetings if needed to deputise for the Lead MI Pharmacist.
• Medicines information and wider work will involve use of specialist computer systems, including MiData bank, ePMA, RiO, Datix and ePACT analysis.
• You will support trainees and qualified pharmacy staff with their training needs and 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 and up to date in line with UKMI recommendations.
• You will be required to cover inpatient wards by contributing to providing pharmacy support and participating in pharmacy departmental Emergency Duty Commitment and Late Duty rota.

About us

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

Benefits

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service plus 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

Details

Band: Band 7

Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum

Contract: Fixed term, 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 371-CS418-B

Closing date: 25 October 2026

Essential requirements

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist
• Postgraduate clinical qualification and hospital experience to be considered for band 7
• Have a flexible approach to work in order to meet the developing needs of the pharmacy service

Contact

For questions about the job, contact Ozma Tahir, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, at [e-mail] or on 07580737965.

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.