Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Pharmacist - Dermatology

The closing date is 17 October 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a new role within the department to lead on our dermatology services. Post holder will also work closely with the adult team to ensure dermatology services across the ICB are efficient and have correct access to medicines.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible as advanced specialist for providing clinical pharmacy services to paediatric patients under the care of the dermatology team and for developing pharmaceutical services for this patient group both in the hospital and in the wider ICB

To supervise and support Clinical Pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care to paediatric patients and provide training for pre-registration students and other staff.

To provide training to medical and nursing staff on medicine related issues

Take part in the specialist ward rounds

Provide advice to clinical teams on the management of patients admitted to Alder Hey

About us

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist health care to over 275,000 children and young people each year. In addition to the hospital site located in the West Derby area of Liverpool, Alder Hey has a presence in community outreach sites and, in collaboration with other providers, our clinicians help deliver care closer to patients' homes by holding local clinics at locations from Cumbria to Shropshire, in Wales and the Isle of Man. The Trust also provides inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs at our Alder Park building in the nearby borough of Sefton.

We currently have more than 4,000 staff working across our community and hospital sites. We're also a teaching and training hospital providing education and training to around 540 medical and over 500 nursing and allied health professional students each year.

As black and minority ethnic (BME) employees are currently under-represented in this area, we particularly welcome applications from members of our BME communities. All appointments will be made on merit.

You can expect a warm welcome at Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At Alder Hey we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

411-MED-25-7383787

Job locations

Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Liverpool

L122AP


Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To provide a specialized paediatric clinical pharmacy service to patients referred to the dermatology service in accordance with professional, departmental & Trust policies. This will include:-

Taking drug histories on admission

Reviewing medication to ensure safe & effective use

Formulating individual pharmaceutical care plans & reviewing & updating these plans based on response, results of investigations and adverse effects.

Providing advice on therapeutic drug level monitoring of specific drugs and interpreting drug levels based on clinical condition and response

Educating patients & carers on aspects of drug therapy

Participating & providing advice at multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds

Facilitating implementation of local & national drug therapy guidelines

Providing advice on drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, drug administration and formulation

Documenting clinical information in patient notes when appropriate

Providing clinical advice on multidisciplinary ward rounds or team meetings

Identifying & reporting adverse reactions to the prescriber and where necessary via the Yellow Card Scheme

To provide advice on drug administration and formulation

  1. To provide expert paediatric pharmaceutical information and advice to medical, nursing and other staff within the Trust. This may be in areas where there is little information and experienced clinical judgement needs to be exercised.
  2. To work in accordance with the Code of Ethics, Medicines Act and local policies & procedures, applying specialist professional judgement where required.
  3. To be responsible for the development of relevant drug related policies or guidelines.
  4. To provide expert advice when submitting new drug requests to the Medicines Management and Optimisation Committee (MMOC) or Clinical Development and Evaluation Committee (CDEG).
  5. To review prescribing trends and give advise on the cost effective use of drugs within medical specialities teams
  6. To develop pharmacist prescribing within the service
  7. Provide support around commissioning processes and implementation of Blueteq for relevant specialist medicines
  8. To write relevant clinical guidelines for the dermatology team

ADVANCED PHARMACIST PRACTITIONER duties included within role (following successful training and accreditation)

  1. Run clinics in dermatology service under supervision of consultant
    1. Assessment, examination and formulation of management plan
    2. Follow-up and ongoing care of inpatients/outpatients referred to medical specialities team
    3. Independent prescribing
    4. Referral to other colleagues/departments
    5. Administration of medicines (excluding IV medicines) within competency

R & D RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. To participate in relevant research projects and clinical trials.
  2. To undertake clinical audit or practice research projects
  3. To supervise undergraduate, pre-registration or diploma student projects if required

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

  1. To perform regular ward based training and assessment of clinical pharmacists using local or nationally recognized competency frameworks
  2. To provide training in safe and effective use of medicines for nursing and medical staff
  3. To tutor junior pharmacists undertaking a post-graduate diploma or pre-registration students.
  4. To participate in Continuing Professional Development as per national guidance from the General Pharmaceutical Council.
  5. To provide education for parents and patients on safe use of medicines when required.
  6. To provide support and guidance to pharmacy technicians working on inpatient wards

COMMUNICATION

  1. To contribute specialized clinical advice at multidisciplinary team meetings or consultant ward rounds
  2. To communicate complex drug related information to patients and carers on the safe and effective use of their medicines.
  3. To ensure effective liaison with GPs and community pharmacists to promote seamless patient discharge in relation to their pharmaceutical care needs.
  4. To attend and contribute to relevant meetings within the service.
  5. To develop effective communication about medicine related issues with the Divisional lead nurses and ward managers regarding medicines in use by specialty teams

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

  1. To work in accordance with procedures to ensure that medicine supply is safe, efficient and in accordance with current legislation and local guidelines.
  2. To ensure that any medicine related risks are identified and propose methods of minimizing error within the service

GENERAL

  1. To participate in the on call rota if required. This will include provision of paediatric medicines advice to all areas of the Trust if required and dispensing of medicines. It could also include providing clinical advice to other hospitals if required and responding to drug alerts.
  2. To participate in flexible working hours between the hours of 8am & 6pm.
  3. To provide clinical pharmacy services to critical care or the dispensary at weekends

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To provide a specialized paediatric clinical pharmacy service to patients referred to the dermatology service in accordance with professional, departmental & Trust policies. This will include:-

Taking drug histories on admission

Reviewing medication to ensure safe & effective use

Formulating individual pharmaceutical care plans & reviewing & updating these plans based on response, results of investigations and adverse effects.

Providing advice on therapeutic drug level monitoring of specific drugs and interpreting drug levels based on clinical condition and response

Educating patients & carers on aspects of drug therapy

Participating & providing advice at multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds

Facilitating implementation of local & national drug therapy guidelines

Providing advice on drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, drug administration and formulation

Documenting clinical information in patient notes when appropriate

Providing clinical advice on multidisciplinary ward rounds or team meetings

Identifying & reporting adverse reactions to the prescriber and where necessary via the Yellow Card Scheme

To provide advice on drug administration and formulation

  1. To provide expert paediatric pharmaceutical information and advice to medical, nursing and other staff within the Trust. This may be in areas where there is little information and experienced clinical judgement needs to be exercised.
  2. To work in accordance with the Code of Ethics, Medicines Act and local policies & procedures, applying specialist professional judgement where required.
  3. To be responsible for the development of relevant drug related policies or guidelines.
  4. To provide expert advice when submitting new drug requests to the Medicines Management and Optimisation Committee (MMOC) or Clinical Development and Evaluation Committee (CDEG).
  5. To review prescribing trends and give advise on the cost effective use of drugs within medical specialities teams
  6. To develop pharmacist prescribing within the service
  7. Provide support around commissioning processes and implementation of Blueteq for relevant specialist medicines
  8. To write relevant clinical guidelines for the dermatology team

ADVANCED PHARMACIST PRACTITIONER duties included within role (following successful training and accreditation)

  1. Run clinics in dermatology service under supervision of consultant
    1. Assessment, examination and formulation of management plan
    2. Follow-up and ongoing care of inpatients/outpatients referred to medical specialities team
    3. Independent prescribing
    4. Referral to other colleagues/departments
    5. Administration of medicines (excluding IV medicines) within competency

R & D RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. To participate in relevant research projects and clinical trials.
  2. To undertake clinical audit or practice research projects
  3. To supervise undergraduate, pre-registration or diploma student projects if required

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

  1. To perform regular ward based training and assessment of clinical pharmacists using local or nationally recognized competency frameworks
  2. To provide training in safe and effective use of medicines for nursing and medical staff
  3. To tutor junior pharmacists undertaking a post-graduate diploma or pre-registration students.
  4. To participate in Continuing Professional Development as per national guidance from the General Pharmaceutical Council.
  5. To provide education for parents and patients on safe use of medicines when required.
  6. To provide support and guidance to pharmacy technicians working on inpatient wards

COMMUNICATION

  1. To contribute specialized clinical advice at multidisciplinary team meetings or consultant ward rounds
  2. To communicate complex drug related information to patients and carers on the safe and effective use of their medicines.
  3. To ensure effective liaison with GPs and community pharmacists to promote seamless patient discharge in relation to their pharmaceutical care needs.
  4. To attend and contribute to relevant meetings within the service.
  5. To develop effective communication about medicine related issues with the Divisional lead nurses and ward managers regarding medicines in use by specialty teams

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

  1. To work in accordance with procedures to ensure that medicine supply is safe, efficient and in accordance with current legislation and local guidelines.
  2. To ensure that any medicine related risks are identified and propose methods of minimizing error within the service

GENERAL

  1. To participate in the on call rota if required. This will include provision of paediatric medicines advice to all areas of the Trust if required and dispensing of medicines. It could also include providing clinical advice to other hospitals if required and responding to drug alerts.
  2. To participate in flexible working hours between the hours of 8am & 6pm.
  3. To provide clinical pharmacy services to critical care or the dispensary at weekends

Person Specification

Education and training

Essential

  • MPharm
  • GPhC Registration
  • NMP qualification
  • RPS membership

Desirable

  • ACP qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial post graduate clinical experience

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to communicate complex written and verbal information
  • Demonstrated ability to asses risk
  • Ability to negotiate positive outcomes
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise and manage own work and that of others
  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Financial awareness of drug charges
  • Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to work flexible hours
  • Full driving license
Person Specification

Education and training

Essential

  • MPharm
  • GPhC Registration
  • NMP qualification
  • RPS membership

Desirable

  • ACP qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial post graduate clinical experience

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to communicate complex written and verbal information
  • Demonstrated ability to asses risk
  • Ability to negotiate positive outcomes
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise and manage own work and that of others
  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Financial awareness of drug charges
  • Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to work flexible hours
  • Full driving license

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

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Liverpool

L122AP


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Liverpool

L122AP


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Associate Chief Pharmacist - Clinical Services

Andrew Lilley

andrew.lilley@alderhey.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

411-MED-25-7383787

Job locations

Alder Hey Children's Hospital

Liverpool

L122AP


Supporting documents

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