Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic, motivated, and dynamic Clinical Pharmacist with a passion for Critical Care?We have an exciting opportunity for one of two Advanced Specialist Pharmacists to provide expert clinical pharmacy input to our Critical Care Services.
This role is perfect if you are:
- Looking to develop your clinical skills within a well-respected, proactive multidisciplinary team
- Eager to manage and deliver a specialist clinical pharmacy service to Critical Care
- Interested in working towards credentialing for a consultant post while using your expertise as a non-medical prescriber across the Critical Care service line
If you're looking for a position where you will be supported, challenged, and valued - with opportunities to contribute to research, service development, and patient outcomes at the highest level - we would love to hear from you.
Candidates who meet the qualifications for this post but may not yet demonstrate the full proven knowledge or demonstrable experience required at Band 8a will still be considered for this role as a Band 7 to Band 8a progression opportunity. The successful candidate will receive the necessary support to achieve the required progression milestones and demonstrate the expected level of practice before progressing to an advanced specialist Band 8a role.
Main duties of the job
This post holder will be responsible for the provision of a high-quality patient focused clinical pharmacy service for patients within the Critical Care Pharmacy Team.
Undertake teaching and clinical supervision of pharmacy staff and other healthcare employees.
Provide specialist clinical pharmacy services and advice to the clinical specialities, demonstrating a high level of clinical effectiveness.
Develop a clinical interest within a chosen area of clinical practice to support clinical service to specific group of patients within the service line
Work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Critical Care & Surgery and Associate Chief Pharmacist for Clinical Services on the strategic development of clinical pharmacy services and establish clearly defined roles for pharmacist non-medical prescribers within critical care areas.
Develop and manage the delivery of pharmacy services to ensure efficient use of resources and systems including monitoring drug expenditure, delivery of financial savings within the critical care areas primarily.
Develop and build increased pharmacist presence into outpatients clinical areas as part of the rehab team.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
About us
University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) NHS is the largest hospital on the Southwest Peninsula providing comprehensive secondary & tertiary care to a population of around 2,000,000 people who can access our specialist services including cardiothoracic surgery, kidney transplantation, neurosurgery, & the regional trauma Centre. Our specialist cancer treatments include bone marrow transplant, sarcoma surgery and hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer surgery (not exhaustive). We work closely with our community partners delivering health & social care.
Our purpose-built 28-bed combined general and neuro intensive care unit admits over 1,600 patients each year. As an integral member of our multidisciplinary team, our Critical Care Pharmacists regularly use their non-medical prescribing (NMP) skills to make a real difference in patient care.
Over half of our ICU admissions are non-surgical, covering a broad range of specialities - from acute medicine, neurology, hepatology, and endocrinology to cardiology, haematology, renal, and respiratory medicine. Our ICNARC standardised mortality ratio is consistently below 1, and our last CQC inspection rated us 'Good'.
We're not just about clinical excellence - we're innovators. As active members of the South West Critical Care Network Pharmacy Group, we lead research and quality improvement projects, including our recent work on post-ICU discharge follow-up, showcased at the EAHP Conference in Copenhagen (March 2025).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible to the Associate Chief Pharmacist Clinical Services for strategic planning and delivery of clinical pharmacy services to patients within Critical Care.
Support the Chief Pharmacist / Deputy Chief Pharmacist / Associate Chief Pharmacist and Care Group Lead Pharmacist in developing, monitoring and reporting on drug expenditure and medicines budget and the delivery of financial savings as part of the pharmacy cost improvement programme
Development, implementation and update of clinical pharmacy policy in conjunction with senior pharmacists within the clinical pharmacy team and Critical Care.
Work as a member of the Clinical Pharmacy Team, Critical Care Service Lines and wider UHP pharmacy team.
Monitor, review and report on medicines related incidents within Critical Care
Provide highly specialist clinical pharmacy care to patients in the Critical Care areas and related units.
To manage, lead and co-ordinate the clinical pharmacy team including junior pharmacists and technicians in the provision of a safe, effective and efficient clinical pharmacy service in accordance with local and national standards and strategy and to ensure all members of the pharmacy team are trained and competent for their roles.
To act as a role model as a clinical pharmacist and team leader, to pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy support assistants and all other members of the multidisciplinary team.
To be a lead and role model in the field of Critical Care locally, regionally, and nationally.
To practice as an independent prescriber.
To work towards advanced clinical practice.
To engage with Quality Improvement and practice research.
To write and review policies and procedures relevant to pharmacy practice in Critical Care.
Monitor and evaluate medicines related protocols and guidelines in Critical Care.
Ensure an appropriate level of clinical pharmacy service is provided to the Critical Care areas.
Propose policy or service changes which improve services and may have multidisciplinary and resource implications
Configure and implement inductions for pharmacists in Critical Care and the pharmacy department with support from the Associate Chief Pharmacist Clinical Services Care Group Lead Pharmacists.
Assist in the development and implementation of PGDs and non-medical prescribing initiatives, when appropriate.
Ensure that expertise within your area is seen as a resource within and outside the Trust and form working partnerships with other health and social care service providers.
Recommendation of appropriate therapy for individual patients where evidence is not available, controversial evidence exists or other professionals may challenge advice
Contribute to the organisations wider antimicrobial surveillance programme, implementing local programmes ensuring appropriate antimicrobial prescribing
Attendance at Consultant/GP white board/MDT meetings/ward rounds to actively facilitate and provide advice on treatment, including highly complex patients.
Promote compliance by prescribers and other healthcare staff with local/national policies and the South and West Devon Formulary.
Application of highly complex knowledge of the evidence base behind drug therapies used.
Manage day to day medicines queries, including face to face consultations with patients identified to have compliance or other problems in medicine administration.
Refer patients to other community services where appropriate.
Liaise with all levels of healthcare staff, patients and carers in all areas of work.
Analysis, interpretation and monitoring of clinical data including but not limited to: drug levels, U&Es, blood counts and microbiological sensitivities to guide diagnosis and drug therapy.
Assess clinical requirements of patients as a clinical pharmacist and an independent prescriber through interpretation of clinical data and examination. If required request appropriate tests and examinations for patients directly under your care.
Contribute to pharmaceutical initiatives that help with the seamless transfer of patients between different healthcare settings.
Provide education and training to all healthcare professionals including medical students.
Pharmacists are expected to work largely unsupervised and to act on their own professional judgement.
Clinical supervision from another health professional can be arranged and is to be encouraged.
Clinical roles are supported by policies and guidelines within which the pharmacist is allowed to exercise professional discretion / interpretation.
- Participate in any wider departmental rotas where needed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible to the Associate Chief Pharmacist Clinical Services for strategic planning and delivery of clinical pharmacy services to patients within Critical Care.
Support the Chief Pharmacist / Deputy Chief Pharmacist / Associate Chief Pharmacist and Care Group Lead Pharmacist in developing, monitoring and reporting on drug expenditure and medicines budget and the delivery of financial savings as part of the pharmacy cost improvement programme
Development, implementation and update of clinical pharmacy policy in conjunction with senior pharmacists within the clinical pharmacy team and Critical Care.
Work as a member of the Clinical Pharmacy Team, Critical Care Service Lines and wider UHP pharmacy team.
Monitor, review and report on medicines related incidents within Critical Care
Provide highly specialist clinical pharmacy care to patients in the Critical Care areas and related units.
To manage, lead and co-ordinate the clinical pharmacy team including junior pharmacists and technicians in the provision of a safe, effective and efficient clinical pharmacy service in accordance with local and national standards and strategy and to ensure all members of the pharmacy team are trained and competent for their roles.
To act as a role model as a clinical pharmacist and team leader, to pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy support assistants and all other members of the multidisciplinary team.
To be a lead and role model in the field of Critical Care locally, regionally, and nationally.
To practice as an independent prescriber.
To work towards advanced clinical practice.
To engage with Quality Improvement and practice research.
To write and review policies and procedures relevant to pharmacy practice in Critical Care.
Monitor and evaluate medicines related protocols and guidelines in Critical Care.
Ensure an appropriate level of clinical pharmacy service is provided to the Critical Care areas.
Propose policy or service changes which improve services and may have multidisciplinary and resource implications
Configure and implement inductions for pharmacists in Critical Care and the pharmacy department with support from the Associate Chief Pharmacist Clinical Services Care Group Lead Pharmacists.
Assist in the development and implementation of PGDs and non-medical prescribing initiatives, when appropriate.
Ensure that expertise within your area is seen as a resource within and outside the Trust and form working partnerships with other health and social care service providers.
Recommendation of appropriate therapy for individual patients where evidence is not available, controversial evidence exists or other professionals may challenge advice
Contribute to the organisations wider antimicrobial surveillance programme, implementing local programmes ensuring appropriate antimicrobial prescribing
Attendance at Consultant/GP white board/MDT meetings/ward rounds to actively facilitate and provide advice on treatment, including highly complex patients.
Promote compliance by prescribers and other healthcare staff with local/national policies and the South and West Devon Formulary.
Application of highly complex knowledge of the evidence base behind drug therapies used.
Manage day to day medicines queries, including face to face consultations with patients identified to have compliance or other problems in medicine administration.
Refer patients to other community services where appropriate.
Liaise with all levels of healthcare staff, patients and carers in all areas of work.
Analysis, interpretation and monitoring of clinical data including but not limited to: drug levels, U&Es, blood counts and microbiological sensitivities to guide diagnosis and drug therapy.
Assess clinical requirements of patients as a clinical pharmacist and an independent prescriber through interpretation of clinical data and examination. If required request appropriate tests and examinations for patients directly under your care.
Contribute to pharmaceutical initiatives that help with the seamless transfer of patients between different healthcare settings.
Provide education and training to all healthcare professionals including medical students.
Pharmacists are expected to work largely unsupervised and to act on their own professional judgement.
Clinical supervision from another health professional can be arranged and is to be encouraged.
Clinical roles are supported by policies and guidelines within which the pharmacist is allowed to exercise professional discretion / interpretation.
- Participate in any wider departmental rotas where needed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's Degree (or equivalent) in Pharmacy.
- Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Certificate.
- Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma
- Non-medical prescriber (or must be willing to undertake this when requested)
Desirable
- Current registration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Member of the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA)
- Active member of Critical Care Group within UKCPA or equivalent pharmacist specialist interest group e.g. Pharmacist Member of Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
- Postgraduate leadership qualification
- Postgraduate qualification in speciality
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Excellent proven knowledge of clinical pharmacy and drug use with the area of Critical Care
- Demonstrable experience in a range of clinical specialties
- Excellent proven knowledge of general clinical pharmacy and drug use
- Proven skills in effective leadership, successful communication, negotiating, persuasion and influencing
- Proven knowledge of strategic care agendas
- Proven understanding of NHS priorities and how to apply these locally
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to address highly complex issues
- Report writing skills.
- Proven evidence of CPD
- Demonstrable experience of teaching, training and people development
- Demonstrable multidisciplinary working / ward round experience
Desirable
- Proven knowledge of treatment pathways and commissioning of therapies for drug used with the area of Critical Care
- Previous demonstrable experience of providing support to the management of a hospital directorate or division
- Demonstrable senior pharmacy management experience within a recognised area of pharmacy practice
- Demonstrable experience of designing and developing pharmacy services
- Demonstrable experience in presenting research
- Demonstrable experience of providing diploma mentorship and/or pre-registration tutorship
- Demonstrable experience in budget management and staff management
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
- Time Management Skills
Desirable
- Demonstrate potential management ability
- Proven knowledge and understanding of financial issues
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's Degree (or equivalent) in Pharmacy.
- Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Certificate.
- Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma
- Non-medical prescriber (or must be willing to undertake this when requested)
Desirable
- Current registration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Member of the United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA)
- Active member of Critical Care Group within UKCPA or equivalent pharmacist specialist interest group e.g. Pharmacist Member of Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
- Postgraduate leadership qualification
- Postgraduate qualification in speciality
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Excellent proven knowledge of clinical pharmacy and drug use with the area of Critical Care
- Demonstrable experience in a range of clinical specialties
- Excellent proven knowledge of general clinical pharmacy and drug use
- Proven skills in effective leadership, successful communication, negotiating, persuasion and influencing
- Proven knowledge of strategic care agendas
- Proven understanding of NHS priorities and how to apply these locally
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to address highly complex issues
- Report writing skills.
- Proven evidence of CPD
- Demonstrable experience of teaching, training and people development
- Demonstrable multidisciplinary working / ward round experience
Desirable
- Proven knowledge of treatment pathways and commissioning of therapies for drug used with the area of Critical Care
- Previous demonstrable experience of providing support to the management of a hospital directorate or division
- Demonstrable senior pharmacy management experience within a recognised area of pharmacy practice
- Demonstrable experience of designing and developing pharmacy services
- Demonstrable experience in presenting research
- Demonstrable experience of providing diploma mentorship and/or pre-registration tutorship
- Demonstrable experience in budget management and staff management
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
- Time Management Skills
Desirable
- Demonstrate potential management ability
- Proven knowledge and understanding of financial issues
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
