About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced mental health pharmacist looking to broaden your expertise & influence patient care at a strategic level?
We are seeking a motivated and clinically skilled pharmacist to join our Medicines Information team. This is an excellent opportunity to use your mental health pharmacy experience to support complex clinical decision-making across the Trust.
Working alongside the Lead Medicines Information Pharmacist, you will provide high-quality, evidence-based advice on medicines-related enquiries, supporting psychiatrists & multidisciplinary teams in making informed treatment decisions. Previous Medicines Information experience is desirable but not essential.
You will also contribute to clinical pharmacy services, formulary management, medicines optimisation & service development projects, with opportunities to broaden your skills through rotational work where available.
The role requires a strong foundation in hospital pharmacy practice, excellent clinical reasoning, problem-solving ability & effective written and verbal communication. Accurate documentation is essential, as responses will support future practice & less experienced colleagues.
This fixed-term post is ideal for a pharmacist with mental health experience who is keen to develop specialist Medicines Information expertise & make a wider impact on patient care and medicines governance. There is potential for the role to become permanent after 12 months.
Main duties of the job
The role involves taking in enquiries, ensuring all relevant information has been gathered to answer the question(s) posed, then adding them onto our database to ensure good governance.
Initial induction & training will be provided & supervised by the Lead MI Pharmacist with completion of logs to demonstrate competency & sign off before working independently.
You'll support the development & update work of our Trust Formulary to ensure the rational use of medicines & protect against excessive expenditure on drugs
Other Medicines Information duties including unlicensed medicine risk assessments preparation of informative Bulletins (including guidelines &medicines shortages memos) & attending meetings if needed to deputise for the Lead MI Pharmacist.
Medicines information & wider work will involve use of specialist computer systems, including MiData bank, ePMA, RiO, Datix & ePACT analysis.
You will support trainees & qualified pharmacy staff with their training needs & rotations through MI.
You will report adverse drug reactions through Yellow Card Scheme.
You will support the Lead MI Pharmacist in collating MI key performance indicators.
You will ensure MI resources are maintained & up to date in line with UKMI recommendations.
You will be required to cover inpatient wards by contributing to providing pharmacy support &participating in pharmacy departmental Emergency Duty Commitment and Late Duty rota.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
Caring for and about you is our top priority Committed to providing good quality, safe services Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
Flexible working options to support work-life balance 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell Generous NHS pension scheme Excellent learning and career development opportunities 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave Free parking across Trust sites
Job description Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacist
Postgraduate clinical qualification and hospital experience to be considered for band 7
Have a flexible approach to work in order to meet the developing needs of the pharmacy service
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, its important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process.AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.
In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact Ozma Tahir, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, on [email protected] or on 07580737965 who'll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education, qualifications or training Essential
Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Good Pharmacy Honours degree (BPharm or MPharm) Clinical or psychiatric post-graduate certificate
Desirable
Clinical or psychiatric post-graduate diploma MSc in clinical or psychiatric pharmacy or relevant research subject Post-graduate qualification advanced communication skills, leadership or management Member of Professional organisation e.g. Royal Pharmaceutical Society, College of Mental Health Pharmacists
Continuous Professional Development Essential
Evidence of ongoing CPD
Previous Experience Essential
Substantial experience as a practising pharmacist Substantial experience of mental health hospital pharmacy Demonstrates and commitment to clinical governance and quality improvement One or more years working in Medicines Information department to UKMI standards
Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential
Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to communicate highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information Advanced keyboard skills and computer literate, with ability to use software packages Demonstrate and promote GPhC standards for pharmacy professionals Ability to work under pressure and respond to urgent requests interruptions
Desirable
Advanced analysis, critical appraisal, and problem-solving skills ePACT analysis techniques Working knowledge of PGDs
Additional Requirements Essential
Ability to travel efficiently between Trust sites Flexible approach to work patterns in line with needs of service e.g. EDC
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 Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address Pharmacy Dept - Prospect Park Hospital, Honey End Ln, Reading RG30 4EJ
Reading
RG30 4EJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)