Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Pharmacist – Band 6 to Band 7 Progression

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacist eager to be part of the future of pharmacy service development? Do you believe that patient safety and experience should always come first? If so, we have exciting opportunities for you at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (BHFT).

We are recruiting pharmacists at the Band 6 entry level, as well as those ready to take the next step in their career, with opportunities to join at Band 6 or Band 7, depending on experience.

Our Pharmacy Department is a vibrant, forward-thinking team with a strong emphasis on collaboration and professional growth. Through our structured rotation programme in Clinical Pharmacy Services (see job description for details), you will gain valuable experience across a range of specialties.

We are fully committed to your training and development, supporting you to maximise your contribution to patient care. Permanent post-holders may also have the opportunity to study for a post-graduate certificate, diploma, or independent prescribing qualification, alongside the general level competency framework (subject to funding).

Don't forget to watch our recruitment videos in the supporting documents to learn more about our team and the exciting journey ahead!

Main duties of the job

Deliver a high-quality ward-based clinical pharmacy service through structured rotations, including drug chart reviews, drug history taking, medicines reconciliation, supply, patient consultations, medicines optimisation, and the Discharge Medication Service (DMS). Participate in departmental and regional education programmes, undertaking study towards the Certificate/Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice. Provide pharmaceutical advice on supply and clinical issues to healthcare professionals, and medication-related guidance to patients, focusing on medicines started, stopped, or changed during admission, as well as side-effect profiles to maximise benefit. Support the education and training of pre-registration pharmacists and staff in training grades, while supervising junior pharmacy technicians and assistants. Contribute to dispensary services such as dispensing, clinical verification, prescription review, accuracy checking, and patient consultations. Ensure service continuity by participating in late-night, weekend, and bank holiday shifts.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

09 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

418-AHP7728-SJ

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

For pharmacists recruited at the band 6 entry point a pathway identifies criteria for progression and highlights the gradual introduction of key responsibilities as experience is gained working as a Band 6 Pharmacist. After typically being in post 19-24 months and being able to demonstrate they have met the key responsibilities the pharmacist will be eligible for progression to a band 7 post.

Please see full job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For pharmacists recruited at the band 6 entry point a pathway identifies criteria for progression and highlights the gradual introduction of key responsibilities as experience is gained working as a Band 6 Pharmacist. After typically being in post 19-24 months and being able to demonstrate they have met the key responsibilities the pharmacist will be eligible for progression to a band 7 post.

Please see full job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Pharmacy degree (Masters level)
  • GPhC Registration as a Pharmacist or Provisionally Registered Pharmacist.
  • Willing to undertake clinical training to post grad diploma level

Desirable

  • Train the Trainer qualification
  • Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
  • RPS Faculty Member portfolio in preparation

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of audit
  • oExperience of accurate dispensary work
  • oExperience of patient medication consultation
  • oExperience of clinical pharmacy services
  • oExperience of hospital pharmacy

Desirable

  • Experience of collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings
  • Experience of training staff

Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstration of up to date clinical awareness in medicine
  • Knowledge and understanding of medication interactions and common prescribing problems
  • Awareness of current developments in Pharmacy practice
  • Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times

Desirable

  • Computer literacy
  • Knowledge and awareness of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies

Personal skills

Essential

  • Good written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to influence other professionals
  • Presentation skills
  • Medication counselling skills
  • Organised and able to plan and manage work programmes
  • Ability to analyse problems and devise solutions
  • Appropriate IT skills are required to utilise clinical information systems, pharmacy computer systems, databases and other software to improve patient care.
  • Good presentation skills

Desirable

  • Supervisory skills
  • Negotiation skills

Other

Essential

  • Enthusiastic about delivering high quality pharmacy service focussed on the patient experience
  • Able to thrive on development/change
  • Flexible
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Self motivated
  • Accurate and precise
  • Honest and trustworthy
  • Confidence to interact at consultant /general manager level
Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Pharmacy degree (Masters level)
  • GPhC Registration as a Pharmacist or Provisionally Registered Pharmacist.
  • Willing to undertake clinical training to post grad diploma level

Desirable

  • Train the Trainer qualification
  • Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
  • RPS Faculty Member portfolio in preparation

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of audit
  • oExperience of accurate dispensary work
  • oExperience of patient medication consultation
  • oExperience of clinical pharmacy services
  • oExperience of hospital pharmacy

Desirable

  • Experience of collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings
  • Experience of training staff

Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstration of up to date clinical awareness in medicine
  • Knowledge and understanding of medication interactions and common prescribing problems
  • Awareness of current developments in Pharmacy practice
  • Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times

Desirable

  • Computer literacy
  • Knowledge and awareness of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies

Personal skills

Essential

  • Good written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to influence other professionals
  • Presentation skills
  • Medication counselling skills
  • Organised and able to plan and manage work programmes
  • Ability to analyse problems and devise solutions
  • Appropriate IT skills are required to utilise clinical information systems, pharmacy computer systems, databases and other software to improve patient care.
  • Good presentation skills

Desirable

  • Supervisory skills
  • Negotiation skills

Other

Essential

  • Enthusiastic about delivering high quality pharmacy service focussed on the patient experience
  • Able to thrive on development/change
  • Flexible
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Self motivated
  • Accurate and precise
  • Honest and trustworthy
  • Confidence to interact at consultant /general manager level

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Pharmacist - Medicine

Matthew Lock

matthew.lock@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

07551288883

Details

Date posted

09 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

418-AHP7728-SJ

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

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