Bank Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Band 8A

Overview

Go back Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Bank Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Band 8A

The closing date is 20 February 2026

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest Trusts in the country, serving a population of 1.2 million people. Our newly formed Trust, comprising acute hospital sites at Broomfield in Chelmsford, Basildon, and Southend, is determined to provide the best health services for its local population. We are a well-led, high-performing, and innovative organisation working in the best interests of the people we serve.

With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff, we can now do more and go further in delivering health services to our local communities.

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

The post holder will be part of a team of pharmacy staff providing expert pharmaceutical care to patients within Mid and South Essex.

Responsibilities are undertaken in accordance with departmental SOPs and in line with current professional, clinical, and legal guidelines and best practice. The postholder will adhere to the principles of the NHS Constitution.

Under the direction of the Havens Hospices Medical Director the post-holder will:

• Ensure that therapy for patients is safe and cost-effective.
• Liaise with multidisciplinary colleagues to facilitate a co-ordinated approach to palliative and end of life drug monitoring and control throughout the organisation.
• Be a key member of the hospice Medicines Management Committee; contribute to the agenda and action any required activity accordingly.
• Lead on and manage initiatives to promote cost-effective prescribing of medicines, ensuring rational expenditure and formulary adherence accordingly.
• Lead on the management of drug shortages, ensuring information regarding licensed and/or unlicensed alternatives is communicated effectively and efficiently.
• Liaise with and support clinical pharmacy staff to raise awareness of medicines management in palliative and end of life care.
• Be the point of contact for all hospice staff to aid in medicines-related problem solving and ensure supplies of end-of-life medicines.

• To lead and develop a high quality, comprehensive pharmacy service to patients within Mid and South Essex.
• To ensure Medicines Management Standards are met within the Medicine Directorate.
• To regularly undertake audit projects and research and development with respect to national and local guidelines of practice.
• To be actively involved in the clinical governance aspects of the pharmaceutical service.

• Communication

To inform and educate patients, carers, and members of the public about the safe use of medicines.

To attend consultant led wards rounds and provide patient focused advice and information in order to ensure safe and effective use of medication.

To liaise with relevant external agencies e.g. General Practitioner, Social Services, as required for continuing care of patients after discharge.

• Analytical and Planning

To be proactively involved with the management of the medicines budget and expenditure within the Medicines directorate. This will involve liaising with the appropriate Managers and Clinical Director.

Undertake research and audit projects.

• Clinical Duties

Act as the Lead Pharmacist for a named clinical speciality(s), providing specialist information and advice for medical, nursing and junior pharmacy staff.

Assist the MDT in the management of patients in outpatient clinics, where appropriate.

Attend hospital committee and focus groups relevant to area of speciality.

Develop extended role of the clinical pharmacist e.g. independent prescribing.

Visit allocated wards and review inpatient prescription charts, checking for clinical correctness according to current practice.

Order non stock medicines for individual patients, ensuring continuity of supply.

Clinically screen and final check all dispensary prescriptions according to current practice.

Resolve any prescription queries with the prescriber and amend prescription accordingly.

Participate in dispensary duties e.g. prescription processing and dispensing, ensuring appropriate records e.g. controlled drug register are maintained, when required.

Exercise professional judgment to resolve queries, referring to a more senior pharmacist when necessary.

Monitor patient medication, ensuring safe and effective use of drugs.

Ensure continuity of supply of medicines to patients.

Always follow standard operating procedures and report to the line manager any occasions where SOPs cannot be followed.

To carry out any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this job description.

Be proactive in risk management, ensuring that all clinical incidents are reported and appropriate action taken in conjunction with the Principal Pharmacist and/or…