About this role
Job summary
This is an excellent opportunity for a pharmacist with a passion for antimicrobial stewardship to play a key role in improving patient outcomes, reducing antimicrobial resistance, and supporting the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care across our organisation. Working closely with microbiology, infection prevention and control, pharmacy, medical and nursing colleagues, you will contribute to the development and delivery of innovative antimicrobial strategies and services that make a real difference to patients.
As part of our ambitious and well-established team, you will have opportunities to influence clinical practice, support service development, lead quality improvement initiatives, and contribute to education, audit and research activities. We are committed to supporting professional growth and offer a supportive environment where independent prescribing, advanced clinical practice and leadership skills can flourish.
The role involves working across our hospital sites and engaging with multidisciplinary teams throughout the Trust to drive excellence in antimicrobial stewardship.
You will join a highly regarded, friendly and supportive pharmacy service that prioritises staff wellbeing, professional development and innovation, enabling colleagues to reach their full potential and deliver outstanding patient care.
We would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to discuss this opportunity further.
Main duties of the job
As a key member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Team, you will work closely with consultants, microbiologists, infection prevention and control teams, nurses and pharmacists to deliver the Trust's values of safe, compassionate and joined-up care, supporting our mission of right first time, every time.
You will provide expert advice on the safe, effective and evidence-based use of antimicrobials across the Trust, helping to optimise patient outcomes and reduce antimicrobial resistance. Working across acute and community services, you will support clinical decision-making, antimicrobial stewardship ward rounds, guideline development, audit, education and quality improvement initiatives.
A central component of the role will be active participation in specialist multidisciplinary teams, including the Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) MDT, HIV MDT and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) MDT, where you will provide advanced pharmaceutical input into the management of complex infection cases.
You will contribute to the delivery of the Trust's antimicrobial stewardship strategy through governance, service development, sustainability initiatives and performance monitoring. The post holder will support the development of pharmacy staff, deliver education and training to healthcare professionals and work collaboratively with clinical teams to embed best practice.
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.
This role offers excellent opportunities for professional development, and you will be expected to work autonomously, demonstrate initiative and influence change, while also being an enthusiastic team player committed to continuous improvement and high-quality patient care.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Job description Job responsibilities
As a senior member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Team, you will provide specialist clinical pharmacy support for patients with infection across County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. You will lead and participate in AMS ward rounds, working alongside microbiology, infection prevention and control, medical and nursing colleagues to optimise antimicrobial prescribing, improve patient outcomes and reduce antimicrobial resistance.
You will provide expert pharmaceutical input into specialist multidisciplinary team meetings, including the Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) MDT, HIV MDT and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) MDT, supporting the management of complex patients and contributing to clinical decision-making across acute and community care settings.
The post holder will support the development, implementation and review of antimicrobial guidelines, policies and prescribing standards, ensuring alignment with national guidance and local priorities. You will contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement, research and governance activities, helping to drive innovation and excellence in antimicrobial stewardship.
You will develop strong collaborative links with a wide range of specialties including microbiology, infection prevention and control, critical care, respiratory medicine, surgery, emergency medicine and community services. You will provide education and training to pharmacists, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, promoting safe and effective medicines use throughout the Trust.
The role includes leadership and supervision of pharmacy staff, supporting the development of trainee pharmacists, junior pharmacists and the wider multidisciplinary workforce. As part of the senior pharmacy team, you will contribute to strategic planning, operational delivery and service transformation.
To support the Trust's seven-day clinical pharmacy service, all pharmacists participate in weekend, late duty and on-call rotas. Flexible working conversations are welcomed, and the Trust is committed to supporting professional development, advanced clinical practice and independent prescribing.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration Essential
Registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
Desirable
Membership of a pharmacy professional body e.g. RCP, UKCPA, BOPA, NPPG.
Experience Essential
Extensive experience of providing pharmacy services in a clinical setting at an advanced level. Regular experience of day-to-day registered pharmacy staff supervision. Experience of using computer software to produce reports or presentations to healthcare professionals. Involvement in development of clinical guidelines or protocols. Participation in the delivery of education and training in a clinical setting. Experience of providing clinical supervision to pharmacists
Desirable
Relevant experience for this role. Experience of supporting staff through HR processes. Experience of providing directorate pharmacist services eg. drug reviews, specialist drug information. Experience of service development, research or quality improvement. Experience of presenting an audit or research at a conference. Experience of being a Prescribing or Educational supervisor to Foundation pharmacist trainees. Experience of teaching healthcare professionals in a classroom setting.
Qualifications Essential
Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent. Relevant post graduate clinical qualification (to at least diploma level) or portfolio evidence of attainment to the same standard. Evidence of CPD. Pharmacist Independent Prescriber or currently working towards.
Desirable
Supervision, leadership or management training. Evidence of an up to date portfolio of personal professional activity. Additional training or qualification relevant to the post eg. PGCert
Special Skills and Knowledge Essential
Able to manage, monitor, advise and review medicines reconciliation for patients. Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision as an individual. Recognises personal limitations and refers to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary. Able to motivate self to achieve goals. Able to improve quality within limitations of service. Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals where possible). Able to plan and prioritise a pharmacy teams day-to-day clinical service which is a complex and changing environment. Demonstrates a good understanding of pharmacys role in governance processes. Demonstrates a working knowledge of evidence-based medicines information resources and the ability to interpret the information. Demonstrates understanding of the implications of local and national priorities and pressures for the team and/or service
Desirable
Able to demonstrate an area of expertise within a field of pharmacy practice. Able to motivate individuals and/or the team. Able to successfully manage a project at team and/or service level.
Special Requirements Essential
Able to work with colleagues and to influence the practice and behaviours of others in a positive way. Motivated to develop personally and professionally through self-audit, reflection and learning. Good oral and written communication skills. Able to travel independently across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post.
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.
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
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)