At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to improve outcomes for neonates and women through specialist pharmacy services.
- Company: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, a leading NHS teaching trust.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values diversity and supports career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vulnerable patients while developing your clinical expertise.
- Qualifications: Masters in pharmacy and relevant clinical experience required.
The predicted salary is between 57528 - 64750 £ per year.
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for babies, women and families? University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an ambitious and compassionate pharmacist to join our Women's and Children's Pharmacy Team as a Specialist Pharmacist for Neonates and Women's Services. This is an exciting opportunity to develop specialist practice within one of the UK's largest maternity and neonatal services within a leading NHS teaching trust. With a primary focus on neonatal care, you will support a diverse and complex service, including our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), caring for premature and critically unwell babies requiring highly specialised medicines optimisation and multidisciplinary care.
Working alongside expert neonatologists, neonatal nurses, advanced practitioners and pharmacy colleagues, you will play a key role in ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines for some of the most vulnerable patients in the NHS. From supporting extremely premature infants requiring intensive care to optimising medicines use across the neonatal pathway, you will help improve outcomes from the very start of life.
You will influence neonatal medicines optimisation, lead quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, contribute to education and workforce development, and support research and innovation. This is an exceptional opportunity to develop specialist clinical expertise while making a lasting impact on babies, women and families.
This is a cross-site role based at Heartlands Hospital, delivering specialist clinical pharmacy services across neonatal and women's services within University Hospitals Birmingham. You will deliver specialist pharmaceutical care for neonatal patients while contributing to the wider women's health agenda. Working across a range of clinical settings, you will contribute to multidisciplinary decision-making (ward rounds), manage complex medicines-related issues and provide specialist advice on the use of high-risk medicines and advanced therapies.
You will lead medicines optimisation, antimicrobial stewardship, medicines safety and clinical governance activities, ensuring practice aligns with national standards, emerging evidence and organisational priorities. The postholder will critically appraise evidence, implement service improvements and evaluate their impact on patient care and outcomes.
A key aspect of the role is service development. You will identify opportunities to improve clinical pathways, lead quality improvement initiatives and contribute to innovative pharmacy services. You will also undertake audit, service evaluation and research activities, helping translate evidence into practice.
As a specialist pharmacist within Women's and Children's Services, you will contribute to the education, supervision and development of pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals, helping to build capability across the wider workforce.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Essential qualifications include a Vocational Masters degree in pharmacy (or equivalent), Membership of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), and completion of a postgraduate clinical pharmacy qualification or equivalent advanced practice. You should be willing to work towards a non-medical prescribing qualification.
Essential experience includes relevant clinical knowledge in complex clinical pharmacy settings, previous participation in a multi-disciplinary team, and a commitment to providing high quality pharmaceutical care. You should also have experience of teaching and presenting to other healthcare professionals or patients, along with a commitment to your own Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Additional essential criteria include being a team worker with good interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. You should be able to work under pressure, prioritise work, and meet deadlines, as well as manage budgets and deliver on cost improvement programmes.
Band 8a Specialist Pharmacist - Neonates and Women's in Birmingham employer: National health service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises patient safety and service improvement. With a strong commitment to employee development, including leadership training and apprenticeship programmes, staff are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to the health of London. The Trust's inclusive culture and focus on quality management ensure that employees feel valued and supported in their vital roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Band 8a Specialist Pharmacist - Neonates and Women's in Birmingham
✨Unlock Networking Opportunities
Dive into industry-specific events like pharmaceutical conferences and seminars, where you can meet hiring managers from companies like National health service. These are goldmines for making connections and learning about job openings before they hit the mainstream job boards.
✨Join Relevant Professional Bodies
Get involved with organisations such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or your local pharmaceutical professionals' network. Being an active member can boost your credibility and may even lead to job referrals in top organisations like National health service.
✨Leverage Internships for Full-time Roles
If you can, consider pursuing internships in the pharmaceutical industry, especially with companies like National health service. These opportunities often pave the way for full-time positions and allow you to demonstrate your capabilities firsthand.
✨Tailor Your Approach
When you're applying for roles, don't rush it! Take the time to customise your applications for specific positions, showcasing relevant skills and experiences that align with what National health service is looking for. A tailored application can really make you stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Band 8a Specialist Pharmacist - Neonates and Women's in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Whether that's internships, lab work, or even related coursework, make sure to weave this into your CV and cover letter. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're applying for at National health service!
Emphasise Your Understanding of Regulations:The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, so it's important to indicate your familiarity with industry standards and regulations. In your cover letter, mention any training or certifications you've received that are relevant, or discuss projects where you’ve navigated compliance. This will show National health service that you're not just a fit for the job but also a safety-conscious candidate!
Tailor Your CV to Be Result-Driven:Craft your CV to highlight quantifiable achievements, especially if you have previous roles in pharmaceuticals or related fields. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, such as improved processing times or successful project completions while working on trials. This analytical approach will resonate well with hiring managers at National health service!
Convey Your Passion for the Industry:In your cover letter, express why you are passionate about working in the pharmaceutical sector. Whether it’s your desire to contribute to groundbreaking drug research or improve patient outcomes, let it shine through! At National health service, we value candidates who are truly enthusiastic about their work—you might just stand out from the crowd.
How to prepare for a job interview at National health service
✨Understand the Science
Make sure you brush up on key pharmaceutical concepts and recent developments in the industry. You might get asked some technical questions during the interview at National health service that show your grasp of drug development processes or regulatory requirements, so be ready to discuss them clearly.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
If you have any hands-on experience or internships in a laboratory setting, be sure to highlight these in your responses. Think about the projects you worked on, the methodologies you used, and the impact you made. It's all about telling a story that connects your background to the role you're applying for.
✨Know Their Products
Take some time to familiarise yourself with National health service’s product range and recent breakthroughs. Understanding their portfolio not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but also allows you to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in actively contributing to their projects.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Scenarios
In a full-time pharmaceutical role, understanding the regulatory landscape is crucial. Prepare for situational questions that may test your problem-solving skills concerning compliance and safety standards. You could be asked how you'd handle a hypothetical issue regarding a drug’s market release, so think through your approach.
