Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
188-SCL170726
Employer
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
University Hospital Southampton
Town
Southampton
Salary
£57,528 - £64,750 - Per Annum, Pro Rata
Closing
21/08/2026 23:59
Interview date
03/09/2026

Employer heading

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust logo

Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Medicines Advice

Band 8a

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

Job summary:

We have a great opportunity for an enthusiastic pharmacist to join the Southampton Medicines Advice Service (SMAS) team.  

If you’re a band 7 pharmacist who is looking for the next challenge or a band 8a pharmacist who would like to focus on quality assurance then this is the role for you. 

Working in SMAS offers you intellectually rewarding responsibilities and valuable career experience as part of the Medicines Advice team. You'll provide a clinically-focused service and advise other healthcare professionals on how to treat their patients safely. We also operate a busy patient helpline, so you will have the satisfaction of regularly advising our Trust's patients about their medicines. Feedback from our enquirers shows that our clinical advice is extremely valued and improves patient care.

Main duties of the job:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a lead pharmacist in Medicines Advice. You will be involved in answering queries from healthcare professionals and talking to patients about their medicine on the helpline. You will be assisting with quality assuring (QA) the outputs of SMAS and developing systems to minimise risk and ensure QA processes are adhered to and documented.  You will also be involved in promoting our services, both within the trust and to external hospitals we have an agreement with. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your quality assurance/management and training skills. 

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast. 

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients. 

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job responsibilities:

What you will do:

Within the SMAS team you’ll provide a very clinically-focused service, and advise other healthcare professionals on how to treat their patients safely. We also operate a busy patient helpline, so you will have the satisfaction of regularly advising our Trust’s patients about their medicines. This is a professionally satisfying role that gives you patient contact throughout the day.

One of the main responsibilities of this role will be to assist the Principal Pharmacist of Medicines Advice with quality assuring (QA) the outputs of SMAS and developing systems to minimise risk and ensure QA processes are adhered to and documented. This will involve representing SMAS in National UKMI workstreams such as the Quality and Risk Management Group. 

A large part of this role will be to manage the workload and ensure there is appropriate staffing levels and the right skill mix within the team. You will be involved in ensuring deadlines and quality is maintained of enquiries. 

The role will also involve the promotion of the service to hospitals with a service level agreement. The applicant will assist local hospitals with the appropriate delivery of training of foundation level pharmacists and departmental training.

Experience/skills required:

  • Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent

  • GPhC registration 

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent qualification/experience 

  • Post-registration experience of clinical pharmacy and medicines information relevant to this role

  • Can demonstrate Advanced Stage 1 competencies in the RPS Advanced Pharmacy

  •  Framework or equivalent

  • Planning and organising 

  • Effective time management

Person specification

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria
  • Master’s degree in pharmacy or equivalent
  • Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent experience
  • Can demonstrate Advanced Stage 1 competencies in the RPS Advanced Pharmacy Framework or equivalent
  • Post-registration experience of clinical pharmacy and medicines information relevant to this role
  • Experience of project management, planning, and implementing developments
  • Some teaching experience and assessment of others
Desirable criteria
  • Advanced Microsoft Office skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerInclusion UK

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rachel Jones
Job title
Principal Pharmacist Medicines Advice
Email address
[email protected]
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies