Specialist Pharmacist-Critical Care and Theatres

Bedfordshire-Hospitals-Nhs-Foundation-Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Specialist Pharmacist-Critical Care and Theatres at Bedford Hospital. You will lead clinical pharmacy services across the Critical Care Unit, Recovery Unit and Operating Theatres, delivering expert care and developing staff.

The post offers progression toward Advanced Specialist Pharmacist level with ongoing training and opportunities to shape service development within a 7‑day rota, including late duties and on‑calls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree or equivalent.
• Post graduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Relevant clinical experience.
• Stage II RPS Faculty Member (MIIFRPS) or portfolio in preparation.
• Quality Improvement Training.
• MSc in relevant subjects (or equivalent).
• Train the trainer qualification.
• Independent pharmacist prescriber.
• Member of the RPS.
• Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a specialist clinical pharmacy service within Critical Care and Anaesthesia.
• Ensure safe, effective, and cost‑efficient use of medicines and staff resources.
• Provide specialist pharmaceutical care including non‑medical prescribing within scope.
• Support governance, risk management, and financial stewardship across the service.
• Lead clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives, and practice‑based research.
• Provide leadership, supervision, training, and mentorship to the wider pharmacy workforce.
• Act as a professional role model promoting excellence in clinical practice.

Education

Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree or equivalent

Post graduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

MSc in relevant subjects (or equivalent)

Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Independent pharmacist prescriber

Train the trainer qualification

Member of the RPS

Stage II RPS Faculty Member (MIIFRPS) or portfolio in preparation

Job description

Specialist Pharmacist-Critical Care and Theatres

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent: Part of 7 day service including late duties, weekends and on-call duties Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (lates, oncalls and weekends as part of the Pharmacy 7 day service rota) Job ref 418-AHP17990-CW

Site Bedford Hospital Town Bedford Salary £49,387 - £64,750 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 20/11/2026 08:00

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a motivated pharmacist to lead clinical pharmacy services across the Critical Care Unit, Recovery Unit, and Operating Theatres at Bedford Hospital. Caring for a diverse range of medical and surgical patients with complex needs, this role offers a rewarding and challenging clinical environment.

Combining specialist clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, you will provide expert support, contribute to staff development, and help shape and improve pharmacy services. We are looking for a pharmacist with strong clinical experience, particularly in critical care, who is passionate about delivering high-quality patient care and advancing their professional expertise. Support will be provided to help you progress towards Advanced Specialist Pharmacist level.

Working closely with multidisciplinary teams across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and management, you will play a key role in service development and innovation. As a Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) Trust, electronic prescribing is well established across our wards and critical care areas, and you will contribute to further digital developments to enhance patient care.

We are committed to supporting your professional growth through ongoing training, development opportunities, and support for relevant postgraduate qualifications, helping you build a rewarding and successful career with us.

Main duties of the job

Lead, supervise, and act as a role model for pharmacists to plan, develop, and deliver a specialist clinical pharmacy service aligned with the priorities of the Clinical Service Line (CSL). Ensure compliance with local and national policies, legislation, and best practice to guarantee the safe, effective, and cost‑efficient use of medicines and staff resources.

Take responsibility for achieving defined service KPIs, working closely with other Lead Pharmacists to ensure consistency and quality.

Provide specialist pharmaceutical care, including non‑medical prescribing within the agreed scope of practice, while managing risk and ensuring adherence to clinical guidance.

Support the CSL and Pharmacy Department in fulfilling risk management, financial management, and clinical governance responsibilities related to medicines use.

Lead and contribute to clinical pharmacy audits and research within critical care, actively participating in projects that enhance patient safety.

Deliver clinical supervision for junior pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and pre‑registration pharmacists.

Serve as a professional role model to all clinical pharmacy staff, demonstrating integrity, accountability, and leadership in every aspect of the role

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role.

In this role, you will lead and develop a specialist clinical pharmacy service within Critical Care and Anaesthesia, ensuring the safe, effective, and cost‑efficient use of medicines in line with local and national policies. You will provide expert pharmaceutical care, work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to the delivery of key service objectives and performance targets.

The post holder will support clinical governance, risk management, medicines optimisation, and financial stewardship across the service. You will also lead clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives, and practice-based research to enhance patient safety and service delivery.

A key aspect of the role is providing leadership, supervision, training, and mentorship to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and trainee pharmacists, helping to develop the wider pharmacy workforce.

You will act as a professional role model, promoting excellence in clinical practice while developing advanced specialist knowledge in critical care and anaesthesia. The role offers the opportunity to influence service development, support innovation, and provide expert advice to pharmacy colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree or equivalent
• Post graduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• Relevant clinical experience
• Stage II RPS Faculty Member (MIIFRPS) or portfolio in preparation
• Quality Improvement Training
• MSc in relevant subjects (or equivalent)
• Train the trainer qualification
• Independent pharmacist prescriber
• Member of the RPS
• Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Experience

• Experience of specialist clinical practice
• Experience of collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings as an influential member
• Experience of clinically supervising and training staff
• Presentation to trust wide meetings
• Research and audit experience to improve patient care
• E&T experience to undergraduates and postgraduates of various health professionals
• Policy and service development
• Evidence of managing and delivering a project

Knowledge

• Expert knowledge and understanding of relevant standards and guidelines
• Knowledge and awareness of implications of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies
• Knowledge and understanding of medicines legislation
• Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times
• Awareness of the current commissioning arrangements in the NHS
• Recognised as a specialist within the defined speciality

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Alastair Hill Job title Principal Pharmacist-Critical Care, Surgery & GI Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07823 690218