Employer East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site William Harvey Hospital City Ashford Salary £55,690‑£62,682 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2025 23:59
Advanced Pharmacist Critical Care
Band 8a
Job overview
We are looking for an advanced clinical pharmacist to join our critical care pharmacy team, delivering a 7‑day service to a 24‑bedded critical care unit.
We work closely with the multidisciplinary team, including attending the daily consultant‑led ward rounds. You would be working with other specialist critical care pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
Main duties of the job
Provide a specialist clinical pharmacy service to the Critical Care Unit at William Harvey Hospital in collaboration with the Trust‑wide Lead Critical Care and Surgery Pharmacist.
Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to optimise medicines for patients on critical care.
To support the development and review of pharmacy‑related policies, procedures and guidelines for critical care.
To look after the ePMA system (ICCA) used in critical care in conjunction with the lead ICCA nurse.
To support the safe and effective use of automated medicines dispensing cabinets within critical care.
To act as the link pharmacist for acute pain.
Participate in the weekend critical care roster (on a 1 weekend in 6 basis).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* Proactively promote safe and evidence‑based prescribing with all grades of doctors, prescribers and nursing staff in Critical Care by communicating and providing highly complex information on medicines and challenging poor practice.
* Implement high quality specialist prescribing and effective use of medicines in patients presenting to Critical Care, either as a defined cohort of patients or as part of the flow of management of patients with clinicians.
* Prescribe safely in the interests of the patients and in line with the formulary, policy, procedures or guidance.
* Provide general and specialist pharmaceutical advice and support to Critical Care, to enhance the quality of patient care which will include all patient aged groups and of many morbidities.
* Actively prescribe on Critical Care as required.
* Liaise closely with medical, pharmacy and nursing staff to develop and implement complex therapeutic guidelines, e.g., standard operating procedures and medicines‑related policies in Critical Care, so as to provide advice where information is lacking or medical opinions may differ.
* Manage and participate in the delivery and development of the Clinical Pharmacy Service (e.g., proactive participation in ward rounds, input into medicines management review, acting as a clinical pharmacy role model, being accountable for your own professional actions).
* Provide pharmaceutical expertise to any multidisciplinary working groups considering protocols, policies and guidelines as required.
* Deal with high level pharmaceutical queries and provide advice to medical and nursing staff.
* Contribute to the overall development of the clinical pharmacy service through active participation in clinical team meetings. Work closely with all members of the pharmacy department and other healthcare professionals.
* Maintain expert EPMA user status and acquire technical skills needed to program and validate the prescribing components of the EPMA solution.
* Ensure that the electronic prescribing solution has effective interoperability with other relevant clinical systems, including medicines reconciliation on admission, during transfer and on discharge from hospital.
* Be responsible for ensuring clinical decision support/alerts where applicable (e.g. in relation to dose ranges, interactions, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and allergies) are clinically appropriate, safe and cost‑effective.
* Adapt and modify the configuration and presentation of the EPMA system.
* Review feedback from clinical users about the electronic prescribing and medicines administration components to improve its functionality and usability.
* Assist and develop training of other staff in the Trust (such as nurses, junior doctors, pharmacists) in the use and application of the EPMA system.
* Represent pharmacy and, where appropriate, the Trust, in internal and external forums concerning the EPMA system as required.
* Work closely with the Pharmacy Medicines Value Team to contribute to the Trust Medicines Value agenda.
* Identify and manage medicine/pharmacy Quality / Innovation / Productivity / Prevention (QIPP) Schemes, including Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) Schemes within the specialities to ensure this is coordinated within the Pharmacy and Trust.
* Participate in the analysis, identification and management of medication risks.
* Line‑manage direct reports to include performance management, appraisals, SMART objective/target setting, personal development plans and attendance monitoring.
* Serve as an Educational Supervisor for the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Practice.
Person specification
Qualifications
* MPharm and GPhC registration
* Completion of Foundation Stage 1 of the Postgraduate Diploma in General Practice Pharmacy or equivalent demonstrable knowledge gained through a broad spectrum of clinical pharmacy training and experience
* Postgraduate Diploma in General Practice Pharmacy (completion of both Foundation Stage 1 and 2 or equivalent)
* Training and accreditation as a Practice Supervisor and/or Educational Supervisor
* Registered with GPhC as an Independent Prescriber
Knowledge
* Experience in hospital pharmacy (post registration) showing clinical experience
* Understanding of patient safety issues relevant to pharmacy services
* Experience of working in critical care
* Demonstrated experience in a full range of clinical specialities
* Demonstrated experience of working with electronic medicines management systems
* Experience of service development
Personal and professional attributes
* Ability to deal with stressful and highly complex situations
* Experience as senior pharmacy leader providing mentorship, support and positive role model
* Demonstrates collaborative working with multidisciplinary team
* Demonstrates collaborative working with wider pharmacy team within the Trust
* Teaching and presentation skills
* Experience of quality and cost‑effectiveness initiatives and/or projects
Filmed in William Harvey and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother hospitals, the ‘We are the NHS’ campaign highlights the extraordinary work that staff across EKHUFT do every single day. As one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a population of over one million people, EKHUFT was perfectly placed to demonstrate the care, cutting‑edge treatments, research, innovations and life‑saving operations that the campaign needed.
There are lots of great opportunities at East Kent Hospitals, where staff are caring and put patients first, innovation flourishes and you can develop your career. We’re on an exciting journey of transformation. With a new Medical School at the centre of our community, a focus on research, clinical leadership and making our trust a rewarding and friendly place to work, there’s never been a better time to join us.
We’ll close this job advert once we’ve received sufficient applications which may be before the closing date so please apply as soon as possible. We only accept online applications. If you have any difficulty with this please contact our Resourcing Team on 01227 866450 who are happy to help.
We have a relocation policy for eligible candidates, parking available at Trust sites but we encourage other options, like car sharing or public transport.
The Trust is committed to supporting flexible working to fulfil our pledge as part of The Trust’s People Strategy to help staff to achieve a healthy work/life balance. Please speak with your Recruiting Manager for further information on how this can be managed alongside department expectations and requirements.
The ability to converse easily and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for all customer facing roles.
Most positions require a Disclosure and Barring check and will be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Posts working regularly or unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults require an enhanced check.
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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.
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