Specialist Pharmacist, Critical Care & Theatres (7-8a Progression)

Bedfordshire Hospitals; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Pharmacist to lead clinical pharmacy services across Critical Care Unit, Recovery Unit and Operating Theatres at Bedford Hospital. The post is NHS AfC Band 7, full-time (37.5 hours) with a 7-day service rota, late duties, weekends, and on-call responsibilities.

You will provide expert pharmaceutical care, lead audits and service development, mentor junior staff, and drive safe, cost-efficient medicines use.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and mentor pharmacists to plan, develop, and deliver a specialist clinical pharmacy service.
• 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.

Education

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

Job description

Specialist Pharmacist, Critical Care & Theatres (7-8a Progression)

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 23:59

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