Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Bank
- Hours
- Full time - 29.27 hours per week (Bank)
- Job ref
- 343-7201992-AHP-DNM
- Employer
- Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Epsom & St Helier Hospitals - Trustwide
- Town
- Epsom & Carshalton
- Salary
- £34.10 Bank Rates
- Salary period
- Hourly
- Closing
- 01/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Bank Principal Pharmacist - Medicine Band 8a
Band 8a
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19.
At Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, above all we value respect. We put respect at the heart of all we do, by living up to our shared behaviours of kindness, professionalism, positivity and teamwork. This enables us to provide great patient care and make ESTH a great place to work. When you sign up to work with us, you sign up to this and we welcome applicants who share our values
Job overview
Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust are looking for a Band 8a Principal Pharmacist for the Medicine division. This is a full-time bank role, if you are interested and available please see attached JD and apply today.
Key Duties Include
To provide a specialist clinical pharmacy service to designated wards in conjunction with otherclinical and junior pharmacists. To provide advice and day to day clinical supervision for the pharmacy team working in the
Medicines division promoting evidence-based, cost-effective use of medicines
To promote safe, responsible, cost effective prescribing and usage of medicines, in line with the
formulary, to optimise clinical outcomes and minimise adverse reactions and errors.
To lead and manage other pharmacy staff working in the Medicines team to ensure service delivery
to agreed standards in line with business planning requirements.
To liaise with appropriate MDT colleagues to ensure the implementation of National/Local guidelines
related to medicines to optimise patient care and promote best practice.
To work with senior pharmacy management team to monitor and evaluate medicines expenditure
across the Trust, identifying and putting plans in place to address cost pressures and Cost
Improvement Plans
Main duties of the job
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The post holder is required to:-
Work within agreed Trust and departmental policies and procedures and to accepted standards of practice.
Work on other sites in the Trust as required. -
Undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time, as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade.
Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity. -
Treat patients and customers with dignity and courtesy.
Ensure that medicines do not fall into unauthorised hands.
Have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare for self and others and to comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety regulations, including COSHH. -
Promote Equal Opportunities and to comply with the requirements of the legislation and the Trust’s policies.
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Attend such training courses and meetings as are necessary for the efficient performance of the post holder’s duties.
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Participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), maintaining own CPD portfolio.
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Participate in the Trust’s appraisal system.
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Comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
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Comply with the Trust’s No Smoking Policy.
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Comply with Duty of Candour principles
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This job description is a reflection of the current position and may change in emphasis or detail in the light of subsequent service development.
Working for our organisation
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The Trust’s mission is ‘to put the patient first and deliver great care to every patient, every day’. Our priorities are to create a “one team, one trust” culture and focus on the delivery of the following five objectives to ensure we provide high quality, compassionate care to all of our patients:
· Delivering safe and effective care across our sites
· Creating a positive experience that meets the expectations of our patients, their families and carers
· Providing responsive care that delivers the right treatment, in the right place at the right time
· Being financially sustainable
Working in partnership with our patients, commissioners, other health and care providers, local authorities, the voluntary sector, the NHS TDA, NHS England and Monitor in the interests of our patients and a sustainable local health and social care economy
This job description is a reflection of the current position and may change in emphasis or detail in the light of subsequent service development.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To manage, provide, co-ordinate and evaluate clinical pharmacy services to the medicines division, in liaison with the Lead Pharmacist for Medicine as appropriate
2. To develop, implement, evaluate and monitor medicines management guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines, in liaison with the pharmacy senior
management team.
3. To co-ordinate the introduction of new medicines into hospital practice, in liaison with appropriate senior pharmacists and MDT colleagues, advising on and producing protocols and guidelines where
necessary, ensuring these are in line with NICE, Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee (RMOC), ICS and local Medicines Management Committee decisions.
4. To highlight when clinicians are not following agreed guidelines or formulary choices and address similar issues raised by ICS colleagues, putting in place appropriate action plans to improve
prescribing practices and to address interface issues where clinicians are not following agreed guidelines or formulary choices.
5. To work in liaison with the Principal Pharmacist Medicines Information, and Chief Technician, Medicines Procurement to suggest alternatives when medicines shortages occur, liaising with
clinicians as appropriate and disseminating this information in a timely manner.
6. To liaise with the Principal Pharmacist, Anti-infectives with regard to antimicrobial stewardship and implication of changes to formulary or prescribing guidelines.
7. To ensure Trust Medicine Matters Bulletins reflect current practice and new developments highlighting good practice in patient care.
8. To assist in the development of the clinical pharmacy services in liaison with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist Clinical Services.
9. To nurture key relationships with prescribers and other stakeholders in order to influence changes in prescribing practice and safer use of medicines.
10. To attend, with the agreement of the line manager, relevant local and national meetings to represent the Trust.
11. To identify and address prescribing issues across the interface and to ensure seamless transfer of pharmaceutical care for patients liaising with other acute Trusts, GPs, Community and ICS pharmacists as appropriate.
12. To ensure appropriate and effective use of the local formulary and prescribing policies as necessary.
13. To participate in departmental meetings and assist in the development of procedures to maintain and develop the pharmaceutical service in line with the national guidance and any future developments for medicines optimisation.
14. To assist in the provision of a comprehensive and effective pharmaceutical service in accordance with required standards of quality and professional practice.
15. To undertake training to become a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber (unless already qualified) and use this qualification as deemed appropriate within the Trust.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Masters in Pharmacy Degree – MPharm 1 year pre-registration training Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council* Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- Membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Member of the faculty of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (or working towards) at Faculty Advanced Stage II or Advanced level practice against the Core Advanced Cirriculum Independent Prescriber Leadership/management qualifaction
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive post registration hospital experience at least 8a level Significant and relevant clinical experience working in areas linked to Medicine. Demonstrates evidence of excellent clinical knowledge and skills Understanding of current national standards, guidelines and service developments linked to areas covered by Medicine. Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development Staff training and appraisal, including providing feedback on performance Previous management experience with responsibility for pharmacy staff Principles of Clinical Governance
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of CMM (formerly JAC) pharmacy computer system Risk management and assessment Procedure and business plan writing An understanding of how digital tools / EPR functionality can improve clinical practice in the hospital setting Demonstrates a whole system patient focused approach to work
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent organisational skillsself and others. Computer literate including familiarity with electronic prescribing systems Demonstrates initiative Excellent time management Excellent communication skillsverbal and written Excellent numeracy skills Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work Ability to motivate self and others Problem solving skills Able to influence and negotiate with all grades of staff Excellent interpersonal skills Team player with leadership skills Demonstrates ability to plan develop and implement Knowledge and experience of clinical audit methodology
Desirable criteria
- Up to date on changes to pharmacy and hospital standards Ability to implement and manage change. In-depth understanding of the principles of Quality Improvement
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Sets high standards Reliable work record Professional appearance and demeanour Approachable Adaptable Enthusiastic Able to remain calm and work effectively under pressure to deadlines to achieve results Commitment to Continuing professional Development Equality and Diversity – knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity issues and how personally can make a positive difference to this agenda
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential criteria
- Participate in seven day, late duty, Bank Holiday and senior on-call rota work Live within a reasonable distance from hospital for oncall Able to provide own means of transport and be prepared to travel to venues off site when required
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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
- Virginia Kelly
- Job title
- Recruitment
- Email address
- [email protected]
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