A Vacancy at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiasticSenior Clinical Pharmacistto join ourMedicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) TeaminEast Sussex. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a well-established team dedicated to improving medicines use and patient outcomes for people living in care homes.
Sussex Community Foundation NHS Trust (SCFT) is the largest provider of community NHS health services across Sussex. Our Medicines Management Team, led by our Chief Pharmacist, is passionate about delivering excellence and investing in our people. We offer a supportive environment where you can develop your skills, gain qualifications and progress your career.
Our established MOCH Sussex-wide team (subdivided into East, West and Brighton & Hove regions) consist of specialist pharmacy staff who support care homes and their residents to achieve best outcomes from medications. They do this by reviewing medicines with people living in care home and those that support them and providing guidance on medicines use and medicines management in care homes.
Our MOCH Team are core members of the Enhanced Health in Care Home Multi-Disciplinary Teams, working at Primary Care Network (PCN) level with care homes, care home matrons, GP practice teams, community pharmacies, social services, acute hospitals, CQC, and many others involved with care home residents and their medicines.
Based at Hampden Park working with MOCH East Sussex, you will be delivering structured medication reviews (SMR) with care home residents, review prescribing and make changes or recommendations to GPs to improve patient outcomes focusing on quality and safety. You will establish and maintain effective working relationships and networks across a defined PCN locality.
• Deliver person-centred Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) for care home residents through holistic consultations with patients and their support networks (carers, nurses, family members).
• Review prescribing and make expert recommendations to GPs and advanced clinical practitioners, focusing on quality, safety, and improved outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with GPs, PCN teams, community pharmacies, care home managers, social services, and other stakeholders.
• Use clinical systems such as EMIS to document reviews and utilise digital technology for remote meetings and supervision.
• Contribute to quality improvement and research projects to enhance service delivery.
• Potentially line manage a senior pharmacy technician.
• Collaborate on projects and share your expertise across a range of medicines optimisation services, including Rheumatology, Children and Young People, Proactive Care, Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes, and Virtual Wards, offering variety and scope for career progression.
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?
• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values—Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full description of the role and essential criteria.
Main Duties
• Deliver person-centred Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) for care home residents through holistic consultations with patients and their support networks (carers, nurses, family members).
• Review prescribing and make expert recommendations to GPs and advanced clinical practitioners, focusing on quality, safety, and improved outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with GPs, PCN teams, community pharmacies, care home managers, social services, and other stakeholders.
• Use clinical systems such as EMIS to document reviews and utilise digital technology for remote meetings and supervision.
• Contribute to quality improvement and research projects to enhance service delivery.
• Potentially line manage a senior pharmacy technician.
• Collaborate on projects and share your expertise across a range of medicines optimisation services, including Rheumatology, Children and Young People, Proactive Care, Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes, and Virtual Wards, offering variety and scope for career progression.
About You
We are looking for someone who is:
• Passionate about working with frail elderly patients and individuals with learning disabilities.
• Warm, empathetic, and an excellent communicator.
• Skilled in medicines optimisation with strong clinical and technical knowledge.
• Self-motivated, organised, and committed to continuous learning.
• Proficient in digital technology systems such as Outlook for diary management and MS Teams for video conferencing, team meetings and clinical supervision
Essential skills:Robust CPD in areas such as chronic conditions in older people.
Desirable skills:Post qualification experience and a proven track record in medicines optimisation.
Applicants from all branches of pharmacy practice are welcome.
Benefits
• Access to continuing professional development opportunities, including Independent Prescribing and management qualifications.
• Depending on experience, the CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (18 months will be offered, which includes independent prescribing).
• Embedded within a large NHS Trust with access to organisational development, training, and staff benefits
Working Arrangements
• Base:Hampden Park, Eastbourne
• Hours:Monday–Friday, business hours (no weekends, bank holidays, or on-call).
• Flexible and hybrid working supported –laptop and mobile provided.
• Travel across West Sussex required, including to locations that may be served poorly by public transport.
Interviews will be held: two weeks after advert closing date.
Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Apply today and help us deliver exceptional care for care home residents across East Sussex.
This advert closes on Monday 29 Dec 2025