Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Foundation Pharmacist

The closing date is 31 March 2026

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and enthusiastic Foundation pharmacists to join our team.

We provide a patient focused clinical pharmacy service whilst ensuring the optimal use of medicines within the organisation. These posts represent a great opportunity for pharmacists to progress their career in a clinically focused, innovative and supportive environment.

The post holders will have the opportunity to gain experience, working on rotation through the pharmacy clinical services including emergency care, medicine, surgery, care of the elderly, aseptics and the dispensary.

This post is open to both qualified pharmacists and current foundation trainee pharmacists.

Main duties of the job

To provide clinical pharmacy input and prescribing support across all directorates

To support medicines management across the Trust

To facilitate timely discharge and patient counselling on their medications

To provide clinical advice and support to other members of the MDT

Work as part of the team to deliver and participate in training and education

Carry out the duties of the responsible pharmacist

Focus on patient safety and supporting service development.

Work to deliver the 7-day clinical Pharmacy service by supporting the late night, on call and weekend rota.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon Urgent Care Centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Details

Date posted

17 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

297-7844919

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To carry out medication histories and medicines reconciliation ensuring any discrepancies are actioned
  • Clinical screen of inpatient prescriptions following medicines reconciliationtoprovide advice on medicines,dosagesand medicines information queries
  • To clinically check discharge prescriptions, assess patients own drugs for discharge and ensure patients receive counselling and the opportunity for a discharge medicines service referral to improve transfer of care

To provide advice and support to patients and the MDT to ensure that they get the best from their medicines

Independently prescribe once qualified within own competence and scope of practice

  • To provide clinical pharmacy input and maintain high standards of medicines management across the Trust via completion of quarterly controlled drug checks, safe and secure medicines audit and supporting policy and guideline review
  • Support departmental audit and adherence to KPIs

As part of the team you will work closely alongside other pharmacy colleagues, taking part within clinical supervision sessions and teaching

You will provide rotational clinical support to the directorates of emergency care, medicine, care of the elderly, surgery, aseptics and dispensary

Be the responsible pharmacist in the dispensary and participate in clinically and accuracy checking

Work to deliver the 7 day clinical Pharmacy service by supporting the late night, on call and weekend rota

Participate in or lead audits or quality improvement projects

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To carry out medication histories and medicines reconciliation ensuring any discrepancies are actioned
  • Clinical screen of inpatient prescriptions following medicines reconciliationtoprovide advice on medicines,dosagesand medicines information queries
  • To clinically check discharge prescriptions, assess patients own drugs for discharge and ensure patients receive counselling and the opportunity for a discharge medicines service referral to improve transfer of care

To provide advice and support to patients and the MDT to ensure that they get the best from their medicines

Independently prescribe once qualified within own competence and scope of practice

  • To provide clinical pharmacy input and maintain high standards of medicines management across the Trust via completion of quarterly controlled drug checks, safe and secure medicines audit and supporting policy and guideline review
  • Support departmental audit and adherence to KPIs

As part of the team you will work closely alongside other pharmacy colleagues, taking part within clinical supervision sessions and teaching

You will provide rotational clinical support to the directorates of emergency care, medicine, care of the elderly, surgery, aseptics and dispensary

Be the responsible pharmacist in the dispensary and participate in clinically and accuracy checking

Work to deliver the 7 day clinical Pharmacy service by supporting the late night, on call and weekend rota

Participate in or lead audits or quality improvement projects

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters degree in Pharmacy
  • Registered as a pharmacist with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or currently undertaking pre-registration training year
  • Registered as an independent prescriber or working towards the qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Clinical pharmacy practice in a hospital, community pharmacy or general practice setting
  • Evidence of CPD and self-directed learning
  • Evidence of audit

Desirable

  • Specialist knowledge of pharmacy systems
  • Experience working within a hospital setting

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Ability to effectively communicate both written and verbally
  • Effective patient consultation skills
  • Evidence of self-reflection
  • IT literate
  • Ability to prioritise own workload

Desirable

  • Experience supervising or mentoring others
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters degree in Pharmacy
  • Registered as a pharmacist with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or currently undertaking pre-registration training year
  • Registered as an independent prescriber or working towards the qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Clinical pharmacy practice in a hospital, community pharmacy or general practice setting
  • Evidence of CPD and self-directed learning
  • Evidence of audit

Desirable

  • Specialist knowledge of pharmacy systems
  • Experience working within a hospital setting

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Ability to effectively communicate both written and verbally
  • Effective patient consultation skills
  • Evidence of self-reflection
  • IT literate
  • Ability to prioritise own workload

Desirable

  • Experience supervising or mentoring others

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Employer's website

https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Employer's website

https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Clinical Pharmacist -Medicine

Nicola Townsley

nicola.townsley@nhs.net

01914456742

Details

Date posted

17 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

297-7844919

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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