Job summary
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a motivated pharmacist to lead clinical pharmacy services across the Critical Care Unit, Recovery Unit, and Operating Theatres at Bedford Hospital. Caring for a diverse range of medical and surgical patients with complex needs, this role offers a rewarding and challenging clinical environment.

Combining specialist clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, you will provide expert support, contribute to staff development, and help shape and improve pharmacy services. We are looking for a pharmacist with strong clinical experience, particularly in critical care, who is passionate about delivering high-quality patient care and advancing their professional expertise. Support will be provided to help you progress towards Advanced Specialist Pharmacist level.

Working closely with multidisciplinary teams across medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and management, you will play a key role in service development and innovation. As a Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) Trust, electronic prescribing is well established across our wards and critical care areas, and you will contribute to further digital developments to enhance patient care.

We are committed to supporting your professional growth through ongoing training, development opportunities, and support for relevant postgraduate qualifications, helping you build a rewarding and successful career with us.

Main duties of the job

• Lead, supervise, and act as a role model for pharmacists to plan, develop, and deliver a specialist clinical pharmacy service aligned with the priorities of the Clinical Service Line (CSL). Ensure compliance with local and national policies, legislation, and best practice to guarantee the safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines and staff resources.
• Take responsibility for achieving defined service KPIs, working closely with other Lead Pharmacists to ensure consistency and quality.
• Provide specialist pharmaceutical care, including non-medical prescribing within the agreed scope of practice, while managing risk and ensuring adherence to clinical guidance.
• Support the CSL and Pharmacy Department in fulfilling risk management, financial management, and clinical governance responsibilities related to medicines use.
• Lead and contribute to clinical pharmacy audits and research within critical care, actively participating in projects that enhance patient safety.
• Deliver clinical supervision for junior pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and pre-registration pharmacists.
• Serve as a professional role model to all clinical pharmacy staff, demonstrating integrity, accountability, and leadership in every aspect of the role.

About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700000 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
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £64,750 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 418-AHP17990-CW
Job locations: Bedford Hospital, Kempston Road, Bedford, MK42 9DJ, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role.

In this role, you will lead and develop a specialist clinical pharmacy service within Critical Care and Anaesthesia, ensuring the safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines in line with local and national policies. You will provide expert pharmaceutical care, work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to the delivery of key service objectives and performance targets.

The post holder will support clinical governance, risk management, medicines optimisation, and financial stewardship across the service. You will also lead clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives, and practice-based research to enhance patient safety and service delivery.

A key aspect of the role is providing leadership, supervision, training, and mentorship to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and trainee pharmacists, helping to develop the wider pharmacy workforce.

You will act as a professional role model, promoting excellence in clinical practice while developing advanced specialist knowledge in critical care and anaesthesia. The role offers the opportunity to influence service development, support innovation, and provide expert advice to pharmacy colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree or equivalent
• GPhC Pharmacist Registration
• Post graduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• Relevant clinical experience

Desirable

• Accredited Diploma Tutor
• Stage II RPS Faculty Member (MIIFRPS) or portfolio in preparation
• Quality Improvement Training
• MSc in relevant subjects (or equivalent)
• Train the trainer qualification
• Independent pharmacist prescriber
• Member of the RPS
• Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Experience
Essential

• Experience of specialist clinical practice
• Experience of collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings as an influential member
• Relevant continued professional development
• Experience of clinically supervising and training staff

Desirable

• Risk Management
• Presentation to trust wide meetings
• Research and audit experience to improve patient care
• Line management experience
• E&T experience to undergraduates and postgraduates of various health professionals
• Policy and service development
• Evidence of managing and delivering a project

Knowledge
Essential

• Expert knowledge and understanding of relevant standards and guidelines
• Knowledge and awareness of implications of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies
• Knowledge and understanding of medicines legislation
• Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times

Desirable

• Awareness of the current commissioning arrangements in the NHS
• Recognised as a specialist within the defined speciality

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.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bedford Hospital, Kempston Road, Bedford, MK42 9DJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Principal Pharmacist-Critical Care, Surgery & GI, Alastair Hill, alastair.hill@bedsft.nhs.uk, 07823690218

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