Job summary County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of around 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a track record of success. As a pharmacy service we pride ourselves in working at the leading edge of clinical pharmacy practice and medicines management with our teams achieving national recognition for innovative, high-quality patient care. We are a friendly and inclusive department who place strong emphasis on staff wellbeing and personal development. We are looking for an enthusiastic and forward thinking Senior Clinical Pharmacist with experience and an interest in general surgery to join the team. The post will be based at University Hospital North Durham but the post holder will be expected to visit other main sites in order to deliver key objectives having responsibility for governance and service development trust wide. Main duties of the job The successful candidate will work closely with the general surgeons and wider MDT to deliver the trust values of safe, compassionate and joined up care. Our mission is 'right first time, every time'. The post holder will build on existing relationships within the MDT to play an essential role in governance, teaching and medicines safety trust wide. They will utilise their clinical knowledge to provide expert clinical input into the care of patients, optimising medicines, promoting the use of Trust and National guidance. They will lead and manage a team of pharmacy staff to be responsible for managing the delivery of safe, effective, efficient and sustainable pharmacy and medicines management services to a defined group of patients and service users. The post holder will provide leadership and expertise to other pharmacists and technicians within the trust and will support the lead pharmacist in moving the trust pharmacy strategy forward. The successful candidate will be encouraged to advance their clinical knowledge and will be fully supported in their professional development including working towards RPS credentialing. About us If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented From April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary, If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post. Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents Date posted 20 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum, pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working Reference number C9439-25-0155 Job locations University Hospital Of North Durham North Road Durham DH1 5TW Job description Job responsibilities Lead and manage a team of pharmacy staff and be responsible for managing the delivery of safe, effective and efficient pharmacy and medicines management services to a defined group of patients and service users. Provide and support the delivery and development of pharmacy and medicines management services within the trust, including involvement in research and audit. Work closely with the other Trust specialist pharmacists to develop the service across all trust sites. This will include representing the directorate at speciality meetings, providing training to pharmacy staff, providing specialist advice and expertise to all members of the directorate, the Trust and the wider health economy. Maintain and develop a portfolio of personal clinical activity within the trust at a level commensurate with a senior pharmacist. Employ models of practice that recognises the needs of patients and carers whilst maintaining practice that is embedded in the principles of risk minimisation and patient safety Supervise, support and develop other pharmacy staff, in particular junior pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, and other Trust personnel as required Monitor the practice of other healthcare professionals, including medical staff, to ensure that prescribing and medicines use is safe and effective for patients. This would include the resolution of local prescribing issues and contribution to the education and training of clinical and non-clinical staff to promote safe and effective medicines use within the trust. Work closely with patients and healthcare professionals including consultant staff and Care Group leads to ensure services are developed and delivered in a manner that is consistent with the priorities and needs of patients and other service providers. Liaise with other pharmacy teams, healthcare professionals and agencies both within and external to the Trust to consider medicine management issues across boundaries Influence local practice to ensure safe medication use, and to ensure that their own practice and the practice of others effectively acknowledge good prescribing practice, patient safety and risk minimisation. Act as a member of the site based senior pharmacy management team, contributing to strategy, policy development, operational delivery and financial planning. Job description Job responsibilities Lead and manage a team of pharmacy staff and be responsible for managing the delivery of safe, effective and efficient pharmacy and medicines management services to a defined group of patients and service users. Provide and support the delivery and development of pharmacy and medicines management services within the trust, including involvement in research and audit. Work closely with the other Trust specialist pharmacists to develop the service across all trust sites. This will include representing the directorate at speciality meetings, providing training to pharmacy staff, providing specialist advice and expertise to all members of the directorate, the Trust and the wider health economy. Maintain and develop a portfolio of personal clinical activity within the trust at a level commensurate with a senior pharmacist. Employ models of practice that recognises the needs of patients and carers whilst maintaining practice that is embedded in the principles of risk minimisation and patient safety Supervise, support and develop other pharmacy staff, in particular junior pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, and other Trust personnel as required Monitor the practice of other healthcare professionals, including medical staff, to ensure that prescribing and medicines use is safe and effective for patients. This would include the resolution of local prescribing issues and contribution to the education and training of clinical and non-clinical staff to promote safe and effective medicines use within the trust. Work closely with patients and healthcare professionals including consultant staff and Care Group leads to ensure services are developed and delivered in a manner that is consistent with the priorities and needs of patients and other service providers. Liaise with other pharmacy teams, healthcare professionals and agencies both within and external to the Trust to consider medicine management issues across boundaries Influence local practice to ensure safe medication use, and to ensure that their own practice and the practice of others effectively acknowledge good prescribing practice, patient safety and risk minimisation. Act as a member of the site based senior pharmacy management team, contributing to strategy, policy development, operational delivery and financial planning. Person Specification Statutory Registration Essential Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council Qualifications Essential Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent. Relevant post graduate clinical qualification (to at least diploma level). Evidence of CPD and education. Qualified Pharmacist Independent Prescriber or working towards the qualification. Desirable Post graduate Masters qualification in a relevant pharmacy subject. Post graduate management qualification. Working towards a development portfolio, i.e. credentialing at advanced practice defined by the RPS. Teaching experience in clinical and classroom settings Special Skills & Knowledge Essential Good understanding of medicines reconciliation and how it fits into the larger function of hospital pharmacy. Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to ward/clinic based situation. Provision of complex information on medicines use, clinical pharmacy and financial issues to senior consultants and managers. Membership of regional / national / international specialist interest groups relevant to field of practice. Demonstrable leadership, management and supervisory skills. Demonstrable teaching / tutoring skills with evidence of ability to deliver training to a wide-range of healthcare staff, e.g. pharmacy, nursing, medical. Involvement in development of evidence-based clinical guidelines and protocols. Sound knowledge of MI resources. Good understanding of current pharmacy issues. Demonstrable understanding of key drivers, financial pressures and constraints within the NHS. Desirable Ability to demonstrate an area of expertise within a field of pharmacy practice. Evidence of active contribution to relevant specialist interest groups. Record of research and/or audit and/or scholarly publications Experience Essential Experience in leading and developing highly developed near-patient clinical pharmacy services. Able to work as an autonomous practitioner in all areas of pharmacy practice. Experience of developing good relationships with other health care professionals. Experience of providing directorate pharmacist services e.g. budgetary reports, drug usage reviews, development of drug protocols, specialist drug information etc. Experience of both undertaking and supervising audit of clinical practice. Evidence of involvement in multidisciplinary service development. Desirable Experience of managing a team Experience of providing basic HR support. Practice Research experience. Contribution to publications / conference presentations Person Specification Statutory Registration Essential Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council Qualifications Essential Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent. Relevant post graduate clinical qualification (to at least diploma level). Evidence of CPD and education. Qualified Pharmacist Independent Prescriber or working towards the qualification. Desirable Post graduate Masters qualification in a relevant pharmacy subject. Post graduate management qualification. Working towards a development portfolio, i.e. credentialing at advanced practice defined by the RPS. Teaching experience in clinical and classroom settings Special Skills & Knowledge Essential Good understanding of medicines reconciliation and how it fits into the larger function of hospital pharmacy. Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to ward/clinic based situation. Provision of complex information on medicines use, clinical pharmacy and financial issues to senior consultants and managers. Membership of regional / national / international specialist interest groups relevant to field of practice. Demonstrable leadership, management and supervisory skills. Demonstrable teaching / tutoring skills with evidence of ability to deliver training to a wide-range of healthcare staff, e.g. pharmacy, nursing, medical. Involvement in development of evidence-based clinical guidelines and protocols. Sound knowledge of MI resources. Good understanding of current pharmacy issues. Demonstrable understanding of key drivers, financial pressures and constraints within the NHS. Desirable Ability to demonstrate an area of expertise within a field of pharmacy practice. Evidence of active contribution to relevant specialist interest groups. Record of research and/or audit and/or scholarly publications Experience Essential Experience in leading and developing highly developed near-patient clinical pharmacy services. Able to work as an autonomous practitioner in all areas of pharmacy practice. Experience of developing good relationships with other health care professionals. Experience of providing directorate pharmacist services e.g. budgetary reports, drug usage reviews, development of drug protocols, specialist drug information etc. Experience of both undertaking and supervising audit of clinical practice. Evidence of involvement in multidisciplinary service development. Desirable Experience of managing a team Experience of providing basic HR support. Practice Research experience. Contribution to publications / conference presentations 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 County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Address University Hospital Of North Durham North Road Durham DH1 5TW Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)