Job summary
Join our large, established, and research-active Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) pharmacy team, led by a Consultant Pharmacist. We're pioneer users of Computer Decision Support Systems (CDSS)for AMS rounds, integrating cutting-edge technology daily.
This pivotal role involves leading and developing a robust framework for the safe, cost-effective, and rational use of antimicrobials across the Trust. You'll shape local prescribing policies, participate in drug review/audit programmes, and drive innovative stewardship strategies.
You'll lead key AMS activities, including leading on daily ward rounds and the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service. As deputy for the Lead Directorate Pharmacist for Antimicrobials, you'll collaborate with specialist pharmacists and consultants to spearhead Trust-wide AMS efforts.
The role requires close collaboration with pharmacy, microbiology/infection control, medical, and nursing staff. You'll coordinate crucial work programmes and provide a highly specialist clinical pharmacy service, upholding the highest standards in this critical specialty.
Main duties of the job
The Specialist Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist will drive the continuous improvement of antimicrobial stewardship across the Trust.
Key responsibilities include:
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Independent Ward Rounds: Autonomously lead specialist antimicrobial ward rounds, providing expert advice, optimising prescribing, and intervening for safe, effective antimicrobial use.
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OPAT Service Leadership: Lead the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service, covering patient assessment, prescribing oversight (if an independent prescriber), monitoring, and care coordination.
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Supervision & Training: Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and training to junior pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals in antimicrobial stewardship.
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Policy Development: Develop, review, and implement local antimicrobial prescribing policies, guidelines, and PGDs, aligned with national recommendations.
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Audit & Quality Improvement: Design and lead antimicrobial audits, analysing data to identify improvements and facilitate change for enhanced quality and cost-effectiveness.
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Strategic Collaboration: Work closely with the Lead Directorate Pharmacist, Consultant Microbiologists, and Infection Control teams to drive strategic AMS initiatives.
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Innovation & Technology: Utilise and develop Computer Decision Support Systems (CDSS) and other technologies to enhance AMS rounds and prescribing decisions.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe that diversity drives innovation and excellence. As part of our dedication to equity, we actively welcome applications from individuals from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diverse teams bring and are committed to creating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to succeed."
If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This Specialist Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist role offers a fantastic opportunity to lead and innovate within a large, established, and research-active team. You'll be instrumental in advancing safe, effective, and rational antimicrobial prescribing practices across our Trust.
Your main responsibilities will include:
-
Leading Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Initiatives: You'll be at the forefront of our AMS programme, developing and implementing strategies to optimise antimicrobial use. This includes leading daily ward rounds across our sites, making independent clinical decisions and interventions, and providing highly specialist advice to medical and nursing teams.
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Driving Innovation with Technology: Our team is a pioneer user of Computer Decision Support Systems (CDSS) for AMS rounds. You'll actively engage with and help evolve these innovative tools to enhance prescribing decisions and streamline our workflow.
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OPAT Service Leadership: You'll take the lead on our Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service, ensuring seamless care transitions and expert management for patients receiving intravenous antibiotics at home or in outpatient settings.
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Policy and Guideline Development: A core part of the role involves developing, reviewing, and implementing local antimicrobial prescribing policies and guidelines, ensuring they align with national best practice and evidence.
-
Audit and Quality Improvement: You'll conduct regular audits of antimicrobial prescribing, analyse data to identify areas for improvement, and drive change initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
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Mentoring and Supervision: You'll play a crucial role in supervising and mentoring junior pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, guiding their development in antimicrobial stewardship principles and practice.
-
Collaborative Working: This role requires strong collaboration with Consultant Microbiologists, Infection Control, and all levels of medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff across the Trust to achieve our shared goals.
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Medication Safety: You will actively contribute to reducing antimicrobial medication errors and promoting overall medication safety within the speciality.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This Specialist Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist role offers a fantastic opportunity to lead and innovate within a large, established, and research-active team. You'll be instrumental in advancing safe, effective, and rational antimicrobial prescribing practices across our Trust.
Your main responsibilities will include:
-
Leading Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Initiatives: You'll be at the forefront of our AMS programme, developing and implementing strategies to optimise antimicrobial use. This includes leading daily ward rounds across our sites, making independent clinical decisions and interventions, and providing highly specialist advice to medical and nursing teams.
-
Driving Innovation with Technology: Our team is a pioneer user of Computer Decision Support Systems (CDSS) for AMS rounds. You'll actively engage with and help evolve these innovative tools to enhance prescribing decisions and streamline our workflow.
-
OPAT Service Leadership: You'll take the lead on our Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service, ensuring seamless care transitions and expert management for patients receiving intravenous antibiotics at home or in outpatient settings.
-
Policy and Guideline Development: A core part of the role involves developing, reviewing, and implementing local antimicrobial prescribing policies and guidelines, ensuring they align with national best practice and evidence.
-
Audit and Quality Improvement: You'll conduct regular audits of antimicrobial prescribing, analyse data to identify areas for improvement, and drive change initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
-
Mentoring and Supervision: You'll play a crucial role in supervising and mentoring junior pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, guiding their development in antimicrobial stewardship principles and practice.
-
Collaborative Working: This role requires strong collaboration with Consultant Microbiologists, Infection Control, and all levels of medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff across the Trust to achieve our shared goals.
-
Medication Safety: You will actively contribute to reducing antimicrobial medication errors and promoting overall medication safety within the speciality.
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
- Vocational Master's Degree in Pharmacy (or equivalent) + completion of pre-registration training
- Registered as a practising pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Diploma in Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent qualification/experience)
- Multidisciplinary working / ward round experience
- Education and training experience
- Able to negotiate effectively with senior clinicians
- Advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgement and manages difficult and ambiguous problems
- Ability to plan, prioritise and organise own and others workload
- Influence senior pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management
- Demonstrate ability to work autonomously
- Writing policies/procedures/ guidelines (clinical and non-clinical)
Desirable
- MSc in General Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent qualification)
- Registered Pharmacist Independent Prescriber or willingness to qualify
- Specialist clinical pharmacy experience with antimicrobials / infectious diseases
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
- Vocational Master's Degree in Pharmacy (or equivalent) + completion of pre-registration training
- Registered as a practising pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Diploma in Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent qualification/experience)
- Multidisciplinary working / ward round experience
- Education and training experience
- Able to negotiate effectively with senior clinicians
- Advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgement and manages difficult and ambiguous problems
- Ability to plan, prioritise and organise own and others workload
- Influence senior pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management
- Demonstrate ability to work autonomously
- Writing policies/procedures/ guidelines (clinical and non-clinical)
Desirable
- MSc in General Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent qualification)
- Registered Pharmacist Independent Prescriber or willingness to qualify
- Specialist clinical pharmacy experience with antimicrobials / infectious diseases
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
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Cross Site - Primarily Based at Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
Employer's website
https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)