About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a passionate and forward-thinking Advanced Clinical Pharmacist to play a key role in the development of our Rheumatology services within a supportive, multidisciplinary team. The team is formed of Consultants, Clinical Nurse Specialists and an Advanced Pharmacist, offering an excellent environment for collaboration and professional growth.
Previous Rheumatology experience is not essential. We welcome applications from pharmacists with a strong clinical background who have a genuine interest in Rheumatology and an eagerness to develop their skills and knowledge within this specialty. You will be supported to grow into the role and develop expertise within this area of practice.
This role offers significant scope to shape and develop the service, contribute new and innovative ideas, and genuinely make the role your own. We are seeking an individual who is motivated to help drive change and play an active role in the ongoing development of Rheumatology pharmacy services across the Health Board.
The post is full time, although part-time and job share applications are warmly welcomed. The base location will be at one of our acute hospital sites, with flexible and semi-remote working options available where service needs allow. Weekend working will be on a rota basis, and the post includes participation in the on-call rota.
Main duties of the job
This role requires you to prescribe and manage homecare prescriptions for rheumatology patients, receiving biologic treatment. You'll be required to work closely with the homecare department, to ensure that our rheumatology patients receive their biologic treatment in a timely manner. with appropriate monitoring.
This will also require management of any biologic drug shortages or biosimilar switches, to optimise cost effective prescribing within rheumatology. You'll be required to answer homecare queries relating to the management of our rheumatology patients and support the multi-disciplinary Rheumatology team, with medicine queries and prescribing.
The role will require you to write and review rheumatology specific treatment guidelines, to ensure the safe prescribing and administration of medicines within rheumatology and cost effective use of treatment.
Therole may also incorporate the management of patients prescribed disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs until stabilised and liaising with primary care providers, to ensure the safe and effective prescribing of DMARDs in the community, through shared care prescribing.
The post requires a highly motivated pharmacist with excellent communication, interpersonal and time management skills. You will demonstrate excellent decision making skills and problem solving skills.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.
We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.
We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.
Our services are provided in:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services
Job description Job responsibilities
Hywel Dda University Health Board covers West Wales, a region known for its outstanding natural beauty and quality of life, offering an attractive option for candidates seeking an improved worklife balance and a calmer pace of life outside work.
We strongly encourage informal conversations with the appointing manager to discuss the role, working arrangements and opportunities for service development. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious pharmacist who is ready to influence change and grow within a progressive and evolving Rheumatology service.
The innovative and friendly pharmacy team is well established within the health board. We are both ambitious and motivated, focusing our work around the best interests of our patients and continuously striving to improve the services we offer.
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents. The job description is for a generic Band 8a Pharmacist in Hywel Dda University Health Board.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 16/06/2026.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge Essential
Masters degree in Pharmacy Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council Postgraduate MSc or Diploma in area of practice or equivalent experience or qualifications
Desirable
Accredited supervisor for foundation or post foundation Pharmacists Independent prescriber Aseptic Preparation and Dispensing of Medicines (Leeds University) or equivalent if role includes aseptics Registered as QC if role includes aseptics Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Experience Essential
Specialist knowledge of medicines management systems and process in an integrated NHS Knowledge and experience of healthcare Specialist knowledge of own field of practice gained through diploma level training and experience
Desirable
Demonstrate specialist knowledge in more than one field Practice Research Experience Training and education of pharmacy staff and other HCPs Experience of managing change Experience of service improvement
Language requirements Desirable
Welsh speaker - level 1
Other Essential
Flexible approach to needs of the service to undertake on call work, weekend and evening opening Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Hywel Dda University Health Board
Address To be confirmed with candidate
To be confirmed with candidate
SA14 8QF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://hduhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)