Job summary
The role is to deliver a safe and effective specialist clinical pharmacy service to wards and outpatient areas at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital.
You will be expected to Independently plan and manage workload, including audits and service development projects and have the flexibility to contribute across multiple clinical areas as needed.
You will also provide support to ward-based pharmacy services, the dispensary, pre-operative assessment clinics, and service improvement initiatives; supervise pharmacy technicians, support workers, trainees, and clerical staff to ensure high-quality pharmaceutical service delivery.
Offering expert advice to medical and nursing staff on all aspects of pharmaceutical care, with a focus on surgical and medical inpatients and pre-operative assessments, you will participate in dispensary duties as part of a scheduled rota, maintaining professional standards and safe dispensing practices.
Main duties of the job
- Deliver high-quality clinical pharmacy services across inpatient wards, outpatient departments, and pre-operative assessment clinics.
- Serve as a role model and mentor to pharmacists and technicians, promoting best practices and professional development.
- Assess and prioritise patients' pharmaceutical needs, tailoring interventions to individual clinical conditions.
- Analyse prescriptions for legality, accuracy, safety, and therapeutic appropriateness, including checking for drug interactions, contraindications, and dose suitability.
- Provide medicines advice during pre-operative assessments and hospital admissions to ensure continuity of care and safe transitions.
- Communicate effectively with patients, GPs, community pharmacists, and hospital staff to reconcile medications and support discharge planning.
- Prescribe regular medications and discontinue inappropriate therapies in line with trust protocols and surgical requirements.
- Collaborate with medical teams to initiate or adjust drug treatments, using clinical judgment and evidence-based guidelines--even when recommendations are challenged.
- Engage patients in shared decision-making to improve understanding, adherence, and outcomes, especially for high-risk or complex therapies
About us
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust (RJAH)is one of the leading orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with some of the highest levels of staff and patient satisfaction, as well as a strong reputation for research and innovation.
In the National Staff Survey, 74% of our staff would recommend the Trust as a place to work and 92% would recommend the hospital to a friend or relative for treatment.
Joining RJAH is more than just a job - we want our people to have the best opportunities to thrive in their role.We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you'll have access to outstanding professional development opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities - including our recently-opened £6 million Headley Court Veterans' Orthopaedic Centre (the first unit of its kind in the UK).RJAH has strong links with a range of universities including Staffordshire, Keele, Glyndwr, Chester and Birmingham.The hospital is located on a site outside Oswestry in Oswestry, just off the A5. The nearest train station is in Gobowen, approximately two miles from the hospital. The station is part of the Chester to Birmingham line.We are based in North Shropshire, close to the border with North and Mid Wales. It is one of the most attractive parts of the country, with a rich historic culture and excellent transport links. It offers outstanding opportunities for anyone who enjoys an outdoor lifestyle or is looking to raise a family.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Medicines Information & Prescription Review
- Respond to and document medicines information queries from clinical staff, proactively sharing guidance and updates.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local protocols, national guidelines (e.g., NICE), and specialist clinical practices.
- Review and verify prescriptions to identify and resolve anomalies, ambiguities, or unsafe practices.
- Access and interpret clinical notes, pathology results (e.g., haematology, chemistry, microbiology), and patient histories to support safe prescribing.
- Advise on therapeutic drug monitoring (e.g., vancomycin, gentamicin, anticoagulants) to ensure optimal dosing and efficacy.
- Facilitate timely supply of medications, including patient-specific dispensing and use of patients own drugs when appropriate.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation, including medication histories, pharmaceutical care plans, and clinical interventions, to support seamless handovers across the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Ward & Clinic Support
- Participate in ward rounds and regular ward visits, contributing to clinical decision-making and patient reviews.
- Collaborate with pharmacy technicians, support staff and ward staff to ensure timely and accurate medication supply.
- Promote adherence to the Trust Formulary and prescribing guidelines to support rational, evidence-based, and cost-effective use of medicines.
- Monitor inpatient and discharge prescriptions for formulary compliance and financial stewardship.
- Support antimicrobial stewardship by reviewing antibiotic prescribing, advising on appropriate use, and implementing best practice protocols.
Medicines Safety & Governance
- Ensure compliance with medicines legislation, including safe storage and handling of Controlled Drugs.
- Review and maintain ward stock lists to optimise inventory and reduce waste.
- Report adverse drug reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme and contribute to medication error reporting and analysis.
- Investigate incidents and complaints related to medicines use, identifying root causes and implementing safety improvements.
- Deliver services in accordance with clinical governance standards, SOPs, and risk management frameworks, escalating concerns as needed.
Service Development & Leadership
- Contribute to the development and review of medicines policies and clinical guidelines.
- Advise senior pharmacy leadership (e.g., Chief Pharmacist, Lead Pharmacist for EPMA) on service improvements driven by local needs or national initiatives.
- Escalate digital pharmacy and electronic prescribing issues to improve safety and quality.
- Provide cover for colleagues during absence and support continuity of pharmacy services across the Trust.
Clinical Trials
- Where needed Obtain Good Clinical Practice (GCP) accreditation to support involvement in Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPs), ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and ethical standards.
Professional Conduct & Operational Standards
- Participate in extended pharmacy service hoursincluding Saturdays and Bank Holidaysaccording to the formal rota.
- Consistently adhere to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Code of Professional Ethics.
- Ensure safe working practices by following all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Take personal responsibility for ongoing professional development, meeting or exceeding GPhC expectations.
- Maintain accurate records and uphold safe standards across all pharmacy operations.
- Report any suspected defects in medicines, products, or equipment to the appropriate authority, including completing incident reports when required.
- Protect patient confidentiality at all times, in line with legal and ethical standards.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Medicines Information & Prescription Review
- Respond to and document medicines information queries from clinical staff, proactively sharing guidance and updates.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local protocols, national guidelines (e.g., NICE), and specialist clinical practices.
- Review and verify prescriptions to identify and resolve anomalies, ambiguities, or unsafe practices.
- Access and interpret clinical notes, pathology results (e.g., haematology, chemistry, microbiology), and patient histories to support safe prescribing.
- Advise on therapeutic drug monitoring (e.g., vancomycin, gentamicin, anticoagulants) to ensure optimal dosing and efficacy.
- Facilitate timely supply of medications, including patient-specific dispensing and use of patients own drugs when appropriate.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation, including medication histories, pharmaceutical care plans, and clinical interventions, to support seamless handovers across the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Ward & Clinic Support
- Participate in ward rounds and regular ward visits, contributing to clinical decision-making and patient reviews.
- Collaborate with pharmacy technicians, support staff and ward staff to ensure timely and accurate medication supply.
- Promote adherence to the Trust Formulary and prescribing guidelines to support rational, evidence-based, and cost-effective use of medicines.
- Monitor inpatient and discharge prescriptions for formulary compliance and financial stewardship.
- Support antimicrobial stewardship by reviewing antibiotic prescribing, advising on appropriate use, and implementing best practice protocols.
Medicines Safety & Governance
- Ensure compliance with medicines legislation, including safe storage and handling of Controlled Drugs.
- Review and maintain ward stock lists to optimise inventory and reduce waste.
- Report adverse drug reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme and contribute to medication error reporting and analysis.
- Investigate incidents and complaints related to medicines use, identifying root causes and implementing safety improvements.
- Deliver services in accordance with clinical governance standards, SOPs, and risk management frameworks, escalating concerns as needed.
Service Development & Leadership
- Contribute to the development and review of medicines policies and clinical guidelines.
- Advise senior pharmacy leadership (e.g., Chief Pharmacist, Lead Pharmacist for EPMA) on service improvements driven by local needs or national initiatives.
- Escalate digital pharmacy and electronic prescribing issues to improve safety and quality.
- Provide cover for colleagues during absence and support continuity of pharmacy services across the Trust.
Clinical Trials
- Where needed Obtain Good Clinical Practice (GCP) accreditation to support involvement in Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPs), ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and ethical standards.
Professional Conduct & Operational Standards
- Participate in extended pharmacy service hoursincluding Saturdays and Bank Holidaysaccording to the formal rota.
- Consistently adhere to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Code of Professional Ethics.
- Ensure safe working practices by following all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Take personal responsibility for ongoing professional development, meeting or exceeding GPhC expectations.
- Maintain accurate records and uphold safe standards across all pharmacy operations.
- Report any suspected defects in medicines, products, or equipment to the appropriate authority, including completing incident reports when required.
- Protect patient confidentiality at all times, in line with legal and ethical standards.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent)
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Independent prescriber qualification or commitment to undertaking independent prescribing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience in medicines management services to individual patients (at the bedside)
- Demonstrate up to date knowledge and current awareness of pharmacovigilance
- Able to supervise, and provide clinical leadership, to Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Support Workers
Knowledge (including specialist or technical knowledge required)
Essential
- Excellent range of pharmaceutical knowledge
- Able to interpret complex data
- Good interpretation of current hospital pharmacy / NHS issues
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent)
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Independent prescriber qualification or commitment to undertaking independent prescribing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience in medicines management services to individual patients (at the bedside)
- Demonstrate up to date knowledge and current awareness of pharmacovigilance
- Able to supervise, and provide clinical leadership, to Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Support Workers
Knowledge (including specialist or technical knowledge required)
Essential
- Excellent range of pharmaceutical knowledge
- Able to interpret complex data
- Good interpretation of current hospital pharmacy / NHS 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).
Employer details
Employer name
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Oswestry
SY10 7AG
Employer's website
https://www.rjah.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
