Job overview
Are you an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacist eager to be part of the future of pharmacy service development? Do you believe that patient safety and experience should always come first? If so, we have exciting opportunities for you at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (BHFT).
We are recruiting pharmacists at the Band 6 entry level, as well as those ready to take the next step in their career, with opportunities to join at Band 6 or Band 7, depending on experience.
Our Pharmacy Department is a vibrant, forward‑thinking team with a strong emphasis on collaboration and professional growth. Through our structured rotation programme in Clinical Pharmacy Services (see job description for details), you will gain valuable experience across a range of specialties.
We are fully committed to your training and development, supporting you to maximise your contribution to patient care. Permanent post‑holders may also have the opportunity to study for a post‑graduate certificate, diploma, or independent prescribing qualification, alongside the general level competency framework (subject to funding).
Don’t forget to watch our recruitment videos in the supporting documents to learn more about our team and the exciting journey ahead!
Main duties of the job
Deliver a high‑quality ward‑based clinical pharmacy service through structured rotations, including drug chart reviews, drug history taking, medicines reconciliation, supply, patient consultations, medicines optimisation, and the Discharge Medication Service (DMS). Participate in departmental and regional education programmes, undertaking study towards the Certificate/Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice. Provide pharmaceutical advice on supply and clinical issues to healthcare professionals, and medication‑related guidance to patients, focusing on medicines started, stopped, or changed during admission, as well as side‑effect profiles to maximise benefit. Support the education and training of pre‑registration pharmacists and staff in training grades, while supervising junior pharmacy technicians and assistants. Contribute to dispensary services such as dispensing, clinical verification, prescription review, accuracy checking, and patient consultations. Ensure service continuity by participating in late‑night, weekend, and bank holiday shifts.
Working for our organisation
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.
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For pharmacists recruited at the band 6 entry point a pathway identifies criteria for progression and highlights the gradual introduction of key responsibilities as experience is gained working as a Band 6 Pharmacist. After typically being in post 19-24 months and being able to demonstrate they have met the key responsibilities the pharmacist will be eligible for progression to a band 7 post.
Please see full job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Person specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
1. Pharmacy degree (Masters level)
2. GPhC Registration as a Pharmacist or Provisionally Registered Pharmacist.
3. Willing to undertake clinical training to post grad diploma level
Desirable criteria
4. Train the Trainer qualification
5. Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
6. RPS Faculty Member portfolio in preparation
Experience
Essential criteria
7. •Experience of audit
8. •Experience of accurate dispensary work
9. •Experience of patient medication consultation
10. •Experience of clinical pharmacy services
11. •Experience of hospital pharmacy
Desirable criteria
12. Experience of collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings
13. Experience of training staff
Knowledge
Essential criteria
14. Demonstration of up to date clinical awareness in medicine
15. Knowledge and understanding of medication interactions and common prescribing problems
16. Awareness of current developments in Pharmacy practice
17. Understanding the need of confidentiality awareness at all times
Desirable criteria
18. Computer literacy
19. Knowledge and awareness of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies
Personal skills
Essential criteria
20. Good written and verbal communication skills.
21. Ability to influence other professionals
22. Presentation skills
23. Medication counselling skills
24. Organised and able to plan and manage work programmes
25. Ability to analyse problems and devise solutions
26. Appropriate IT skills are required to utilise clinical information systems, pharmacy computer systems, databases and other software to improve patient care.
27. Good presentation skills
Desirable criteria
28. Supervisory skills
29. Negotiation skills
Other
Essential criteria
30. Enthusiastic about delivering high quality pharmacy service focussed on the patient experience
31. Able to thrive on development/change
32. Flexible
33. Good interpersonal skills
34. Self motivated
35. Accurate and precise
36. Honest and trustworthy
37. Confidence to interact at consultant /general manager level
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.