Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 364-A-9932
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Basildon Mental Health Unit
- Town
- Basildon
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum, plus 5% high cost allowance
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Advanced Clinical Pharmacist - Workforce Development
Band 8a
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
We are seeking an inspiring and dynamic pharmacist to join our pharmacy team. The role will lead on supporting newly qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to support them as they make the transition into registered professionals. The role will deputise for the Pharmacist Team Manager for Education, Training and Governance, supporting the wider pharmacy and Trustwide medicines management training agenda. This post would suit an experienced pharmacist with uncompromising standards who will strive to make a deep footprint on quality of care we provide to our patients. The post is based in Basildon but will support staff across the Trust.
They will be highly visible actively modelling best practice to and coaching our pharmacy teams to ensure that our patients consistently receive the best pharmaceutical care. Working with our senior departmental team of specialists and within the wider Trust, you will set the professional standard and develop our pharmacy team members to achieve their best, and make the transition to the next level of their careers. The role is full time (37.5 hours per week), including participation in on-call, weekend, early, late and Bank Holiday rotas, as necessary.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will exemplify EPUT values of we care, we learn and we empower, and demonstrate the ability to create a high-performing team from the outset. You might not be conventional in your approach, but kindness and empathetic leadership are a must, as is the ability to see the bigger picture and help take our team in this direction. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is committed to driving improvements, and whose passion for patient care is infectious. You should have a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent, be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and be able to demonstrate evidence of postgraduate training and continuing professional development in clinical pharmacy practice. Whilst ideally this would be in mental health, this post is first and foremost about operational delivery of Great Care – your transferrable skills means you will have what it takes to do what it takes. Experience in mentoring and line managing teams with energy and enthusiasm are vital ingredients, and anyone with a track record of similar in a non-specialist trust is encouraged to apply.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post-holder will support the Director of Pharmacy, Deputy Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacist Team Manager (Education, Training and Governance) in the delivery of the vision and priorities for the pharmacy department and work alongside colleagues to ensure patient centred services are provided by a competent and flexible pharmacy workforce. They will have both a clinical role and participate in operational and corporate activities at a local and trust-wide level, including leading on specific issues across the Trust as required.
- To actively contribute to, and participate in, the provision and development of pharmaceutical services within the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, as part of the Trust’s pharmacy and medicines management team.
- To manage the education and training activities of pharmacy staff to support the development of a pipeline of suitably qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
- To take responsibility for the development of services provided to specified areas of the Trust.
- To provide clinical pharmacy advice on the management of patients with mental illness in order to maximise benefit and minimise risk in relation to medicines.
- To participate as an active member of specific ward / unit / clinical teams, and support the safe and effective use of medicines.
- To lead the development and delivery of trust-wide initiatives and projects relating to pharmacy education and training as requested by the Pharmacist Team Manager (Education, Training & Governance) or Deputy Chief Pharmacist.
- To work collaboratively with pharmacy colleagues within and out with the Trust to ensure that the pharmacy workforce needs of the organisation can be met.
- To support and participate in clinical audit as necessary.
Person specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Current and continued registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as practicing member
- Postgraduate Diploma in relevant area of pharmacy practice, or willingness to work towards
- Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and a member or willing to work towards Faculty membership
Desirable criteria
- Member of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy
- Qualification as an independent Non-Medical Prescriber, or willingness to work towards.
- Certificate in management studies and/or clinical teaching or equivalent experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Tutoring and training skills and experience of planning and delivering training.
- Broad technical, clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge relating to the promotion of high quality, effective and cost efficient use of medicines
- Good organisational skills e.g. prioritising and time management, managing others, and able to work as part of a team or alone
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills including effective written and verbal communication skills
Desirable criteria
- Experience as a pre-registration tutor
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant post-registration clinical pharmacy experience, involving a number of different specialities within acute and mental health services
- Experience of developing and leading clinical audit
- Experience of managing, developing and mentoring staff
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with people with mental health / learning disability problems
- Experience of working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Nicola Greenhalgh
- Job title
- Deputy Chief Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07581031905
- Additional information
Vanessa Gideon [email protected]
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