Specialist Rotational Clinical Pharmacist, Band 7 (including oncall)
The closing date is 19 May 2026
We are looking for enthusiastic, patient-orientated clinical pharmacists to join our supportive clinical pharmacy team at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
You will become an integral member of our clinical pharmacy team, ensuring safe and effective prescribing and management of medication. Working across both our hospitals, Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General, you will be able to rotate through a wide variety of clinical specialities.
Contact information
Please contact the Clinical Pharmacist Leads: carys.hoskins@nhs.net, david.richards@nhs.net or elizabeth.beechey@nhs.net. Telephone 0300 422 4787 or 0300 422 6841.
Interview schedule
Interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 1st June.
Main duties of the job
* Provide clinical pharmacy service as part of a rotation to one or more specific clinical areas in order to promote safe, rational, effective and economic use of medicines.
* Act as deputy to the Clinical Pharmacist Leads for Medicine/Surgery.
* Provide expert pharmaceutical advice to a clinical area(s) and provide clinical pharmacy cover to other areas as required.
* Participate in the oncall, weekend and bank holiday pharmacy service rota as we move towards 7‑day working.
* Undertake teaching and clinical supervision of pharmacists, foundation pharmacists, Medicines Optimisation Technicians and undergraduate pharmacy students.
* Undertake audits and service improvement projects within clinical pharmacy.
* Impact upon pay and non-pay budgets: exert a downward influence upon drug expenditure within the trust and demonstrate cost savings on individual wards by improving the efficiency of prescribing and dispensing.
* Supervise band 6 Pharmacists and Medicines Optimisation Technicians (1‑2 staff each).
About us
With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals.
The pharmacy department has approximately 240 staff. The two sites provide dispensary services to inpatients & outpatients, medicines information, procurement services and full clinical service to wards.
Pharmacy is at the forefront of many exciting projects, including an award‑winning service provided by pharmacist prescribers in orthopaedic pre‑admission clinic.
Within the department are specialist clinical teams; the Specialist Mental Health Pharmacy facilitates delivery of Specialist services for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities. The cancer services team provides a pharmacy service at both sites for oncology & haematology and satellite pharmacy.
We are a friendly, inclusive department who nurture and develop our staff at all grades, from a mentoring programme for band 6 pharmacists to the development of pharmacist prescribers.
Job responsibilities
Provision of Clinical Services/Clinical Responsibilities
* Collect, interpret and document details of medication taken at home (medication history).
* Confirm medication history with patient, carer(s), GP Receptionist, GP and by reviewing patient’s own drugs from home if available.
* Document factors affecting patient’s ability to manage medicines at home (sight, hearing, manual dexterity, compliance aid).
* Resolve discrepancies and problems identified as a prescriber, completing medicines reconciliation.
* Review prescriptions to ensure they are legal, safe, cost‑effective, clinically necessary, accurate and complete.
* Undertake Medicines Optimisation.
* Arrange for drugs to be supplied to patients, ward(s) or department(s).
* Provide information and advice to nursing staff on drugs, doses, administration and potential side‑effects.
* Provide information and advice to junior medical staff and consultants as needed.
* Educate patients on medication changes and usage (e.g. warfarin, inhaler devices).
* Access and interpret clinical information (e‑PMA, Patient Administration, Pharmacy computer system, case notes, SCR) to individualise and monitor treatment.
* Document clinical information during in‑patient stay for discharge prescription or communication to patient, carer(s) or GP.
* Review discharge prescriptions written by medical staff, making final decisions about content when prescriber cannot be contacted.
* Participate in Consultant ward rounds as appropriate, providing pharmaceutical advice to medical staff, nursing staff, and patients.
* Undertake risk management and ensure compliance with legislation, national policies, and the Trust Formulary.
* Work in an effective team with Medicines Management technicians on designated wards.
* Generally work unsupervised, seeking advice from colleagues when required.
* Act as link between pharmacy and designated clinical speciality or directorate.
Responsibilities include
* Monitor drug expenditure and prepare reports for Clinical Pharmacy leads.
* Collect data for monitoring and developing the clinical pharmacy service, including clinical intervention monitoring, pharmacy performance indicators (missed doses, cost savings), and multidisciplinary audit.
* Monitor prescribing to suggest rational and cost‑effective prescribing.
* Develop, implement, monitor and revise policies and procedures relating to drug use within designated area.
* Represent the service, and occasionally the department, in multi‑professional teams and meetings, acting as deputy for the Clinical Pharmacist Leads.
General Duties
* Maintain safe systems of work and ensure quality and accuracy of all work.
* Act as escalation point for dispensary queries.
* Promote positive and effective communication within the Pharmacy Department.
* Maintain sensitivity to patient, staff and user needs.
* Contribute to operational provision of the pharmacy service as per department rotas.
* Carry out any other reasonable duty at the request of the Associate Pharmacy Director(s).
* Check dispensing performed by other pharmacists, technicians and assistants.
* Contribute to 7‑day working.
* Work at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital or Cheltenham General Hospital sites as required.
Other duties within Pharmacy Department
* Work in the dispensary as sole Pharmacist on some occasions.
* Clinical validation of in‑patient prescription charts, out‑patient and discharge prescriptions for legality, safety and suitability.
* Maintain departmental workflow and problem‑solve when required.
* Participate in the department’s development programme through teaching sessions.
* Support clinical placements for undergraduate pharmacy students.
* Participate in Emergency Duty Service and 7‑day working.
* Provide emergency out‑of‑hours cover (On Call).
On‑call Service
Provide emergency out‑of‑hours cover for the pharmacy department. The on‑call service entails being the first point of contact for major incidents, evaluating appropriate requests, providing medication or advice urgently, and referring to specialist pharmacy colleagues when needed. Includes participation in the 7‑day working system and late‑night rota, including locking up the department at the end of the day.
Prescribing
* If holding a Certificate in Professional Studies/Postgraduate Certificate in Non‑Medical Prescribing, practise within boundaries of local strategy, professional guidance and law.
* Prescribe medicines as a dependent (supplementary) prescriber in line with legislation and local policies.
* Prescribe medicines as an independent prescriber in line with legislation and local policies.
Professional Development, Education and Training
* Participate in department clinical pharmacy induction and development programme.
* Involved in developing training and development programmes.
* Teach Foundation pharmacy graduates and band 6 pharmacists.
* Clinical supervisor for junior pharmacists rotating through area of responsibility, including monthly assessed ward visits.
* Act as clinical diploma tutor for junior pharmacists.
* Conduct formal and informal teaching sessions for medical students, pre‑registration nurses, registered nurses and medical staff on therapeutics and prescribing.
* Support clinical placements for undergraduate pharmacy students, supervise ward‑based activities, assess participation and provide formal feedback to the university.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
* Active registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
* United Kingdom recognised Degree in Pharmacy.
* Completed and passed 1st year of Post Graduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma.
* Self‑motivated, able to use initiative & prioritise workload and work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
* Proficient in IT applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, Sunrise EPR and EMIS.
* Supervise, educate, mentor, support and assess others (MOTs, junior pharmacists, foundation pharmacists, medical students).
* Identify and implement measures to improve cost‑effective prescribing.
* Undertake audit of drug use and expenditure and/or quality improvement for clinical pharmacy service development.
* Previous experience providing a clinical pharmacy service in a hospital setting or significant clinical pharmacy experience as a qualified pharmacist.
* Completed or willingness to complete Post Graduate certificate in Non‑Medical Prescribing.
* Work within a multi‑disciplinary team and participate in Consultant Ward Rounds.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and 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.
Address
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Salary
£49,387 to £56,515 a year (pro rata if part‑time).
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full‑time
Reference number
318‑26‑T0281
Job locations
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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