About this role
Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for two Lead Critical Care Pharmacists to take on new, structured leadership roles within our Critical Care pharmacy teams. One post is based at the Royal Liverpool site and one at the Aintree site.
You will provide senior clinical expertise to your respective unit, supporting some of the most complex and high-acuity critically ill patients in the region, while offering clear direction, organisation, and strategic oversight to the wider team. The RLH site hosts a wide range of highly specialised surgical services, while AUH is a designated Major Trauma Centre for the region, together offering exposure to clinical scenarios and units rarely seen elsewhere.
You will lead a dedicated group of pharmacists and technical staff on your site, ensuring the delivery of a consistent, high-quality, evidence-based pharmacy service, while working collaboratively across both sites. Working closely with intensivists, anaesthetists, and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to safe, innovative, and forward-thinking medicines optimisation for critically ill patients.
These roles require substantial hospital pharmacy experience, with essential experience in Critical Care, and the ability to structure team workflows, support staff development, and contribute to ongoing service planning at both site and Trust level. You will bring advanced clinical knowledge, strong leadership capability, and a commitment to driving excellence.
Main duties of the job Clinical Leadership
Provide senior clinical pharmacy leadership for the Critical Care service. Deliver specialist pharmaceutical input during consultant-led ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings. Ensure safe, effective medicines optimisation for critically ill patients, including advanced clinical reviews and prescribing. Team Leadership & Service Management Coordinate and manage the Critical Care pharmacy team to ensure a responsive, high-quality service. Support, develop, and mentor pharmacists and MMTs within the specialty. Oversee pharmacy input into both elective and emergency critical care admissions. Quality, Safety & Governance Lead medicines-related risk reduction, incident investigation, and quality improvement initiatives. Maintain and support adherence to critical care guidelines, protocols, and best practice standards. Monitor medicines expenditure and contribute to financial efficiency plans. Education & Research Deliver specialist training for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and MDT colleagues. Support the development of trainees within the pharmacy workforce. Contribute to research, audit, and evidence generation within critical care pharmacy practice.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Job description Job responsibilities Strategic Leadership of Critical Care Pharmacy Services
Lead on the strategic direction, planning, and longterm development of pharmacy services within the Directorate of Critical Care. Shape the design, implementation, and evaluation of advanced, patientcentred pharmacy services aligned with Trust strategy and national critical care standards. Work collaboratively with intensivists, anaesthetists, senior nursing staff, and operational leaders to optimise medicinesrelated pathways and models of care. Service Development & Workforce Management Develop and implement robust systems and service structures that support highquality pharmaceutical care across critical care areas. Provide structured daily leadership, ensuring appropriate staffing, workflow planning, and service prioritisation for the Critical Care pharmacy team. Lead ongoing service evaluation, identifying and delivering improvements to support safe, effective patient care and enhanced team performance. Training, Education & Workforce Development Oversee the training, competency development, and advanced practice progression of pharmacists and MMTs within the Critical Care team. Provide specialist teaching to rotational pharmacists, postgraduate trainees, and pre registration cohorts. Lead Critical Care education for multidisciplinary colleagues and support broader Trustwide learning initiatives. Collaboration & Interface Working Work with primary, community, and secondary care colleagues to ensure safe and effective transitions for patients moving into and out of Critical Care settings. Contribute to the development of shared care protocols, discharge pathways, and communication processes that support continuity of care. Promote integrated working and best use of medicines across organisational and professional boundaries. Training, Education & Workforce Development Lead and supervise the training and competency development of pharmacists and MMTs within the Critical Care pharmacy team. Provide specialist teaching and support to wider pharmacy staff, including rotational pharmacists, preregistration trainees, and postgraduate learners. Contribute to Trustwide education by delivering Critical Carespecific training to medical, nursing, and multidisciplinary colleagues. Collaboration & Interface Working Liaise with appropriate health and care professionals across primary, community, and secondary care to ensure efficient, safe transfer of medicinesrelated information for Critical Care patients. Develop shared care protocols and interface guidance where required to support seamless transitions of care for patients discharged from Critical Care to inpatient wards or community settings. Ensure collaborative working supports effective use of medicines and resources across organisational boundaries.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Vocational masters degree in pharmacy Membership of The General Pharmaceutical Council Diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent documented clinical experience Full NMP (Non-Medical Prescribing) qualification
Desirable
MRPharmS UKCPA (UK Clinical Pharmacy Association) membership Must hold Advanced Pharmacist credentialing in Critical Care in line with the RPS Curriculum, or obtain this within 18 months of appointment.
Experience Essential
Significant experience in a relevant specialist pharmacist role Antimicrobial Stewardship experience Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development / education Experience as a NMP
Knowledge Essential
Excellent clinical knowledge and practical clinical skills for the relevant specialist role Good all-round clinical knowledge and practical clinical skills
Desirable
Publications demonstrating such knowledge in the speciality of Critical Care
Skills Essential
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team. Self-motivating and able to motivate/inspire others
Desirable
Ability to affect and manage change
Other Essential
Computer literate
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 Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Liverpool & Aintree Hospitals
Liverpool
L7 8XP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)