Job summary

HMP Chelmsford Hours: 20 per week Working pattern: Monday and Tuesday

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and dynamic Clinical Pharmacist to join our progressive healthcare service within HMP Chelmsford. We are seeking a dedicated individual to play a key role in providing safe, high-quality medicines management, with a particular focus on supporting patients with mental health needs and ensuring robust monitoring of antipsychotic medications.

This role combines both dispensary-based duties and clinical patient-facing services, offering variety and professional development in a complex and rewarding environment.

Main Responsibilities

Dispensary and Medicines Management

• Ensure the safe, timely, and secure supply of medications to prison wings.
• Oversee the safe transport and handling of medicines, adhering to Controlled Drug regulations.
• Provide clinical supervision to pharmacy technicians and support staff.
• Maintain the day-to-day operation of the prison dispensary.

Clinical Duties

• Conduct medication reviews and develop pharmaceutical care plans.
• Conduct comprehensive yearly audits focusing on compliance and best practices for Controlled Drugs, antibiotic usage, and the application of Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
• Provide structured medication reviews (SMRs) for eligible patients.
• Participate in clinics, offering advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medications.
• Manage minor ailments and common conditions within your clinical competency.
• Support patients in making the best use of their medicines through optimisation initiatives.
• Administer medications on the wing, depending on the business needs.

Prescribing and Monitoring

• Clinically screen prescriptions to ensure accuracy, legality, safety, and effectiveness.
• Review medication histories of new admissions, recommending adjustments as needed.
• Monitor antimicrobial prescribing in line with AMR guidelines.
• Evaluate prescribing trends and advise prescribers in line with formulary standards.

Please see the job description attached for a full list of responsibilities.

Ideal Candidate

Essential

• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a Pharmacist
• Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
• An independent prescriber
• Previous experience in UK-based prison, hospital, or community pharmacy settings

Desirable

• Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy
• Experience delivering services to patients with mental health conditions or substance misuse issues
• Ideally an Independent Prescriber

Package Description
As a Clinical Pharmacist, you will be part of our valued team in our Pharmacy Service, HMP Chelmsford. You will be receiving access to exclusive rewards and benefits including:

• Salary of £50,133.33 to £57,600.00 (Pro rata) depending on experience, and Group Pension.
• Receive a competitive salary enhancement
• Membership of My Reward Hub, giving you access to discounts on every day purchases like grocery shopping as well as cashback and voucher offers for treats for you and those special to you
• Access to your wages as you earn them to help cover life's emergencies and avoid overdraft fees or high interest rates
• Online and face to face help with your mental and physical wellbeing from healthy recipes and activity challenges through to post trauma support, legal, debt and life management help, as well career coaching and counselling
• Access to eLearning, bespoke career pathways and opportunities for continuing professional development through our Outstanding learning and development team, The Learning Enterprise
• An open, just culture where you're encouraged to have and implement ideas which can help us deliver our purpose: changing lives through transforming health and care backed up by at least £100,000 of ringfenced innovation funding each year
• The pride of working for an organisation committed to the highest clinical and quality standards: with the majority of our rated services holding good or outstanding ratings from the Care Quality Commission

Qualifications
Essential
Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a Pharmacist, a Masters degree in Pharmacy or equivalent, and being an independent prescriber are essential. Previous experience in UK-based prison, hospital, or community pharmacy settings is required. A Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy and experience delivering services to patients with mental health conditions or substance misuse issues are desirable.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: HCRG Care Group
Employer's website: https://www.hcrgcaregroup.com/

For questions about the job, contact:
Recruitment Team, HCRG Care Group, ask.hr@hcrgcaregroup.com