Lead Clinical Pharmacist Dartford, Kent

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacist to lead the clinical pharmacy service across the Dartford and Medway locality.

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a key clinical role within mental health services, working closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, effective and person-centred medicines optimisation.

You will provide expert clinical pharmacy input, contribute to multidisciplinary ward rounds, support and educate patients, undertake clinical audit, and provide specialist medicines advice.

We are looking for a qualified pharmacist with experience in mental health. A postgraduate qualification in psychiatric pharmacy or relevant mental health experience is essential. You will also participate in the on‑call clinical pharmacist rota. We are committed to your professional development, with ongoing training, clinical supervision and support from the wider Trust pharmacy team. Opportunities include support with postgraduate qualifications in mental health pharmacy and NHS leadership development programmes. The post is based at Littlebrook Hospital in Dartford, with travel to other sites across North Kent as required.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will lead the delivery and development of a comprehensive medicines optimisation service to the inpatient wards across the locality.

They will have a key role in implementing and monitoring clinical pharmacy standards and will work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Service Development, Chief Pharmacist and Deputy Chief Pharmacist to identify service gaps, drive improvements and ensure the delivery of a high‑quality clinical pharmacy service.

The post holder will have responsibility for designated areas of service management and will provide professional and line management to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians within the locality.

They will work collaboratively with other Lead Pharmacists to develop and undertake clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives and service development projects, evaluating outcomes and implementing improvements in line with pharmacy and Trust priorities and objectives.

About us

We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all‑age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.

Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.

Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.

Job responsibilities

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification.

What is High Cost Area Allowance?

The High‑Cost Area (HCA) allowance, also referred to as London Weighting is a payment made to employees who work in London and the surrounding areas.

As this post is based in Dartford, Gravesham or Swanley, the successful applicant will receive an additional payment each month. 5% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,121. (The agreed annual amount will be divided into 12 equal amounts and paid monthly).

We are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under‑representated communities for our more senior roles, like this one.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• Master's Degree in Pharmacy
• Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council, with at least 5 year's post graduate experience
• Postgraduate qualification in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent specialist knowledge, acquired through a broad spectrum of clinical pharmacy training and experience

Desirable

• Practice Supervisor Qualification
• Postgraduate qualification in Psychopharmacology
• Non‑Medical Prescribing qualification or working towards this qualification
• Leadership qualification

Experience

Essential

• 2 years' experience of working in Mental Health services
• An awareness of NHS Plan, National Service Framework (NSF), and clinical governance priorities
• Evidence of Education, training, performance management and development of staff
• Proven experience in managing change or developing and delivering pharmacy services
• Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary settings
• Experience of leading undertaking clinical audits

Desirable

• Experience of budget setting and management of drugs budgets
• Experience of Medicines Information / dealing with complex queries
• Experience of Quality improvement.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• High level of analytical skills and problem solving ability, to ensure that the post holder is able to provide advice on complex issues relating to medicine management and Trust policies.
• Knowledge and experience of Primary and Secondary Care working
• High level of Interpersonal skills, to ensure that the post holder is able to effectively exchange highly complex and sensitive information with patients and relatives, prescribers and senior managers
• IT skills - word-processing, PowerPoint, Excel, statistical package and internet use, so that the post holder can communicate effectively with other Health care professionals and for training purposes.
• Up to date knowledge of prescribing issues in Mental Health

Desirable

• Good project management skills

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).

We are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under‑represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one.