Job summary Join a dynamic, innovative team driving excellence in patient careAre you a Clinical Pharmacist passionate about antimicrobial stewardship, ready for a role that challenges, inspires, and rewards you? This could be your perfect opportunity We're seeking a talented Lead Pharmacist (Antimicrobials) to join our high-performing pharmacy team at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital. In this vibrant, forward-thinking environment, you'll shape the antimicrobial agenda, improve patient outcomes, and thrive in a collaborative team. Why join us? Supportive leadership: Collaborate with the antimicrobial lead at Bedford and cross-site specialist pharmacist to enhance your service and development. Influential role: Drive our Antimicrobial Stewardship agenda, shape policy, and deliver exceptional care. Exciting opportunities: Lead antimicrobial ward rounds and provide expert advice to the multidisciplinary team, directly impacting patient care. Innovative culture: Be part of a team that values ambition, innovation, and dedication while putting patients first. What we're looking for: A strong commitment to antimicrobial stewardship. Energy, enthusiasm, and the ability to influence across disciplines. Previous antimicrobial experience and a non-medical prescribing qualification (preferred). If you're ambitious, dedicated, and ready to advance your career, we'd love to hear from you. Join us to lead antimicrobial pharmacy services and make a lasting impact on patient care. Apply now Main duties of the job Lead, manage, and monitor high-quality Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) across the Trust, ensuring compliance with pharmacy service standards and national benchmarks. Collaborate with the multidisciplinary AMS team to implement the AMS strategy, promoting stewardship to reduce antimicrobial resistance and inappropriate use. Support the Consultant Microbiologist and infection control team in fostering a culture of prudent antimicrobial use and reducing hospital-acquired infections. Plan and conduct clinical audits, including national CQUIN projects related to antimicrobial use, or support others in doing so. Provide expert advice on Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) governance, risk management, financial, safety, and operational matters to ensure service obligations are met. Represent the Trust in BLMK STP collaborative AMS initiatives and contribute to planning and delivering joint projects. About us Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available. Our values We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences. Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job Date posted 10 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year Per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 418-DTO8468-KA Job locations Luton and Dunstable Hospital Luton LU4 0DZ Job description Job responsibilities Provide advanced-level pharmaceutical advice and support in antimicrobial therapy and stewardship, driving service enhancements, best practice adoption, and national guidance implementation. Collaborate with the Infection Control team to develop clinical pharmacy services aligned with departmental objectives. Participate in antimicrobial stewardship rounds, reviewing prescriptions and treatment plans for patients. Utilise non-medical prescribing (where qualified) to optimise antimicrobial therapy and expand scope of practice in response to service needs. Analyse antimicrobial prescribing and financial data, monitoring trends, and promoting infection control risk minimisation strategies. Lead clinical risk management activities related to antimicrobial use, including reporting pharmacist interventions within infection control. Support Consultant Microbiologists by contributing to: Antimicrobial therapy protocols and policy development Formulary reviews, evaluations, and patient group directions Multidisciplinary team initiatives Present policies for ratification at directorate and Trust committees. Drive rational antimicrobial use through policy implementation, service improvement projects, and participation in clinical and non-clinical audits. Ensure safe patient care by collaborating with HospitalHome and Community Nursing Teams to oversee governance and safety of home IV antimicrobial therapy. Job description Job responsibilities Provide advanced-level pharmaceutical advice and support in antimicrobial therapy and stewardship, driving service enhancements, best practice adoption, and national guidance implementation. Collaborate with the Infection Control team to develop clinical pharmacy services aligned with departmental objectives. Participate in antimicrobial stewardship rounds, reviewing prescriptions and treatment plans for patients. Utilise non-medical prescribing (where qualified) to optimise antimicrobial therapy and expand scope of practice in response to service needs. Analyse antimicrobial prescribing and financial data, monitoring trends, and promoting infection control risk minimisation strategies. Lead clinical risk management activities related to antimicrobial use, including reporting pharmacist interventions within infection control. Support Consultant Microbiologists by contributing to: Antimicrobial therapy protocols and policy development Formulary reviews, evaluations, and patient group directions Multidisciplinary team initiatives Present policies for ratification at directorate and Trust committees. Drive rational antimicrobial use through policy implementation, service improvement projects, and participation in clinical and non-clinical audits. Ensure safe patient care by collaborating with HospitalHome and Community Nursing Teams to oversee governance and safety of home IV antimicrobial therapy. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree GPhC pharmacist registration Relevant senior experience Willing to undertake Independent prescriber course GPhC pharmacist registration Desirable Accredited Diploma Tutor Post graduate Masters in Pharmacy Management courses Quality Improvement Training Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Train the trainer qualification Experience Essential Evidence of specialist practitioner practice Experience of influencing members of the multidisciplinary team in delivering patient care. Evidence of managing and delivering a project Experience of clinically supervising and training staff Policy and service development Desirable Risk Management Presentation to trust wide meetings Experience of delivering education and training to undergraduates and postgraduates of various healthcare professions Experience of staff line management Demonstrable evidence of undertaking research and audit and using the results to improve patient care. Knowledge Essential Expert knowledge and understanding of relevant standards and guidelines. Knowledge of legislation/guidance relating to medicines usage and prescribing Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times Knowledge and awareness of implications of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies Desirable Recognised as a specialist within the defined speciality Person Specification Qualifications Essential Bachelor/Master of Pharmacy degree GPhC pharmacist registration Relevant senior experience Willing to undertake Independent prescriber course GPhC pharmacist registration Desirable Accredited Diploma Tutor Post graduate Masters in Pharmacy Management courses Quality Improvement Training Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Train the trainer qualification Experience Essential Evidence of specialist practitioner practice Experience of influencing members of the multidisciplinary team in delivering patient care. Evidence of managing and delivering a project Experience of clinically supervising and training staff Policy and service development Desirable Risk Management Presentation to trust wide meetings Experience of delivering education and training to undergraduates and postgraduates of various healthcare professions Experience of staff line management Demonstrable evidence of undertaking research and audit and using the results to improve patient care. Knowledge Essential Expert knowledge and understanding of relevant standards and guidelines. Knowledge of legislation/guidance relating to medicines usage and prescribing Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times Knowledge and awareness of implications of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies Desirable Recognised as a specialist within the defined speciality Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Luton and Dunstable Hospital Luton LU4 0DZ Employer's website https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)