Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Neonatal Pharmacist

Job summary
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University of Bristol and Weston Hospital Trust (UHBW) are working towards merging as one organisation from summer 2026.

Are you an enthusiastic, motivated, and dynamic clinical pharmacist with an interest in Neonatology?

We are looking for a forward-thinking pharmacist to take up this cross-site post, hosted by NBT at Southmead Hospital, involving work across both of our level 3 tertiary NICU units. Southmead Hospital specialises in care of extremely premature infants and St Michael's Hospital (currently UHBW) is a specialist referral centre for neonatal surgery and cardiology. The successful candidate will lead the clinical pharmacy service for Southmead NICU, and work closely with the medical team on both sites to provide excellent patient care.

The postholder will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team within Southmead and St Michael's Hospitals and have opportunities to collaborate on projects with other regional neonatal pharmacists. You will need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, an adaptable approach to working and good problem-solving skills. This position also requires good time management and prioritisation skills, and an ability to work under your own initiative as well as part of a team.

Main duties of the job
Working within the neonatal teams to be responsible for the efficient and effective provision, management, and development of the Neonatal pharmacy service at Southmead Hospital and St Michael's Hospital in accordance with Medicines legislation, the Code of Ethics of the General Pharmaceutical Council, United Kingdom Medicines Information (UKMI) standards and Trust policies and procedures.

Work closely with the neonatal teams to improve patient safety relating to medication which includes reviewing processes, policies and protocols and providing the associated teaching to ward staff and counselling of parents.

Provide specialist clinical pharmacy services at a high level to neonatal services. Teach and supervise less experienced pharmacists, technicians, and students.

Develop and manage the delivery of pharmacy services to ensure efficient use of resources including developing guidelines, protocols and PGDs within the neonatal intensive care units and pharmacy.

About us
NBT and UHBW are working towards merging as one organisation from summer 2026.

NBT is a major teaching Trust with services provided from our state-of-the-art department at Southmead Hospital. Specialties include Renal Medicine and Transplantation, HIV, Haematology, Urology, Neonatology, Respiratory, Neurology and Neurosurgery plus a busy maternity unit.

NBT values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

UHBW is a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact.

Bristol is consistently voted the best place to live in the UK, with vibrant local music, arts and gastronomic scenes, a wide range of modern and state of the art shopping, recreation and leisure facilities, a wealth of great local family days out, fantastic transport links for local, national and internal holidays, and it has a rich history. If you prefer country, village or smaller town living, NBT and UHBW are also easily commutable from a range of attractive locations in North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and South Wales (e.g. Portishead, Chepstow)

Details
Date posted: 03 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 339-CCS5104-BAL
Job locations: Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• 01. Responsible for the management and development of the neonatal pharmacy service to achieve a high standard of efficiency and effectiveness.
• 02. Responsible for the provision of highly specialist pharmaceutical service to neonatal services
• 03. Attend consultant ward rounds to provide pharmaceutical expertise.
• 04. Attend meetings on the neonatal unit to maintain competency and meet development needs.
• 05. Be a qualified independent prescriber for the neonatal service or be willing to undertake appropriate course to become a qualified independent prescriber.
• 06. Advise on strategies to ensure cost-effective use of resources
• 07. Provide a daily clinical pharmacy service to designated area(s) in order to provide pharmaceutical care to patients and ensure the safe, appropriate & cost-effective use of medicines at all stages of the drug use process, monitor patients for adverse drug events and minimise medication-associated risk.
• 08. Attend and contribute to speciality governance meetings, support patient safety initiatives and help to investigate and resolve medication incidents within the neonatal unit.
• 09. Develop and manage the delivery of pharmacy services to ensure efficient use of resources including developing guidelines, protocols and PGDs within the neonatal intensive care unit and pharmacy.
• 10. Working closely with neonatal pharmacists at St Michael's Hospital (UHBW) and regionally where appropriate to share and collaborate on projects.
• 11. Co-ordinate supply of medicines to the SONAR transport team.
• 12. Provide pharmaceutical expertise to any multidisciplinary working groups considering protocols, policies, and guidelines in the specialist area.
• 13. Produce protocols, policies and guidelines on designated pharmaceutical practice relating to the Critical Care Service.
• 14. Deal with high level pharmaceutical queries and provides advice to medical and nursing staff from the critical care areas including senior medical staff.
• 15. Clinically screen prescriptions to ensure the safe, efficient, evidence-based and rational use of medicines in line with the Trust Formulary and departmental policies so that risks to patients are minimised.
• 16. Keep a current working knowledge of all relevant digital systems, including EPMA, and ensure that all governance processes are followed.
• 17. Provide advice and information to patients/carers to ensure compliance with treatment.
• 18. Audit and record all errors and where needed identify and implement the required additional training in agreement with the NICU senior team.
• 19. Record all major interventions in line with departmental policy. Investigate and support the recording of Adverse Drug Reactions.
• 20. Provide regular reports for the Women and Children's Health Division on drug expenditure and other agreed performance indicators relating to neonatal services.
• 21. Audit and risk manage selected areas of practice to promote continuous quality improvement.
• 22. Develop and maintain medicines management systems in conjunction with patients/carers, ward staff and pharmacy staff.
• 23. Contribute to the training of pharmacy undergraduates, medical students, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and medical and nursing staff as appropriate. Train and mentor clinical pharmacy diploma students on aspects of specialist area. Supervises dedicated pharmacy staff.
• 24. Ensure that all procedures are adhered to, reviewed regularly and that all necessary records are completed.
• 25. Keep up to date with developments in Pharmacy in order to maintain a high level of professional knowledge and competence. Attend study days and courses as necessary for the development of the service and the individual. Maintain a record of CPD.
• 26. Provide professional supervision to Patients Services on a sessional basis and be the responsible pharmacist when needed. Act as responsible pharmacist when required.
• 27. To ensure safe and appropriate storage of medicinal products in pharmacy and clinical areas
• 28. To participate in the weekend, bank holiday and late duty pharmacy service.
• 29. To undertake such duties as may be required by the Director of Pharmacy in the interest of the service, appropriate for grade and agreed with the post holder.

Person Specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential

• UK registered Pharmacist
• Clinical diploma or other recognised postgraduate qualification
• Evidence of CPD and revalidation
• Qualified Independent Prescriber/willing to undertake

Desirable

• Member of neonatal and paediatric pharmacist group (NPPG)

Work Experience
Essential

• UK hospital pharmacy experience at agenda for change band 7
• Postgraduate neonatal or paediatric pharmacy experience - working at minimum advance stage I / working towards advanced stage II, of the RPS and NPPG expert professional practice curriculum
• Experience of teaching or supporting learning
• Experience of audit or quality improvement projects

Desirable

• Experience of management or leadership

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to manage time and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines
• Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge to enhance patient care
• Ability to successfully develop knowledge in specialist area
• Relevant IT skills to ECDL level or equivalent
• Critical appraisal skills

Desirable

• Evidence of ability to publish

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances
Essential

• Adaptable and flexible approach to work
• Teaching / tutorial and clinical supervisory skills
• Able to work under own initiative and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to work within a multidisciplinary team

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: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Principal Pharmacist, NMSK, Jessica Lloyd, Jessica.Lloyd@nbt.nhs.uk, 01174142267