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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacist
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-7581857NCG
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/12/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Antimicrobial Pharmacist

NHS AfC: Band 8a

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

Band 8A Specialist Antimicrobial Pharmacist

An exciting opportunity has arisen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust for a motivated and experienced Specialist Pharmacist to join our progressive Clinical Pharmacy Team as a Specialist Antimicrobial Pharmacist.

The post holder will be a key member of the multidisciplinary antimicrobial team, working closely with the consultant microbiologists to deliver the antimicrobial stewardship strategy across the Trust.

In addition to excellent communication and leadership skills you will be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and have previous experience of working within a clinical environment and will have completed a post-graduate diploma in clinical pharmacy (or have equivalent relevant clinical experience).

Evidence of multidisciplinary teamwork and project management is beneficial as is experience of financial analysis, commissioning and risk management. 

Training and support will be given and a commitment to continuing professional development is essential.

Main duties of the job

  • Responsible for providing expert pharmaceutical advice, including specialist antimicrobial advice across all clinical areas of the Trust to prescribers, clinicians, nursing staff and pharmacy staff and patients to deliver high quality pharmaceutical care and improve patient safety.
  • To provide specialist advice regarding antimicrobial usage/expenditure, high risk antimicrobials and management of penicillin allergy to ensure patient care is optimised.
  • To develop and authorise trust antimicrobial guidelines.
  • To develop, implement and audit Trust antimicrobial policies/ guidelines which deliver cost effective use of antimicrobials.
  • To work in conjunction with the Consultant Microbiologists and infection control team to develop training programmes and audit and feedback to educate prescribers, pharmacists and nursing staff on the safe and effective use of antimicrobials. 
  • To act as a role model and promote best antimicrobial practice to all RBH staff. 
  • To liaise with pharmacy staff and provides leadership delivering RBH antimicrobial priorities.
  • The post-holder(s) will be an independent prescriber and prescribe medicines for agreed patients.
  • To participate in the provision of a clinical pharmacy service and leadership and oversight to a defined clinical specialty. 
  •   Provide clinical support as a senior Pharmacist to the dispensary team.
  •  Development, maintain and facilitate antimicrobial related education and training to the trust.

Working for our organisation

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  This is a great opportunity to join our clinical services team to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust.  Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us? You will also have countless opportunities to further enhance your own development either through the independent prescribing course, advance practitioner course or leadership forums.

If you have a passion for clinical excellence, patient care and your own career development, you’ll feel at home at Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the role.

 

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent (from an accredited University registered with GPhC)
  • Current registered practising Member of GPhC
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, MSc or other Clinical Postgraduate qualification
  • Independent Prescriber qualification
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable criteria
  • Member of UKCPA
  • Member of RPharmS

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial Hospital Pharmacy experience of which a significant amount has been within an acute UK hospital environment
  • Experience of writing PGDs and guidelines
  • Extensive Multidisciplinary team work
  • Special interest in Antimicrobial Stewardship
Desirable criteria
  • Experience on system-level
  • Experience of being involved in research

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Task prioritisation and planning and implementation
  • Leadership qualities
  • Strong interpersonal skills
Desirable criteria
  • People management
  • Demonstrates initiative and self motivation

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

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
Usha Adhikari
Job title
Senior Lead Pharmacist - Clinical Services
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0118 322 8299
Additional information

Usha Adhikari, Senior Lead Pharmacist- Clinical Services (Medicines Safety) 0118 322 8299 / [email protected]

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