At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our clinical pharmacy team to enhance mental health services and improve patient outcomes.
- Company: Be part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, a leader in mental health care.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Regular supervision and opportunities for teaching, research, and quality improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in community mental health while working with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: MPharm degree and relevant mental health experience required.
The predicted salary is between 58133 - 65261 £ per year.
An opportunity has arisen to join the clinical pharmacy team at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, working primarily with the Lewisham Community Mental Health Teams. Pharmacy is an integral part of Lewisham's developing community mental health services, and this Band 7 role offers the opportunity to work directly with service users and multidisciplinary teams to improve medicines use, continuity of care and outcomes closer to home.
You will be a key clinical pharmacy contact for allocated community mental health teams, providing patient-facing consultations, specialist advice on psychotropic medicines and practical support to improve monitoring, adherence and shared decision-making. You will work across organisational boundaries with primary care, community pharmacies, acute hospitals, inpatient wards and crisis services.
We are looking for a pharmacist with relevant mental health experience, sound clinical judgement and the confidence to manage an autonomous workload while contributing to a multidisciplinary team. Experience of primary care or community mental health services is desirable, but a clear commitment to developing in this area is essential.
You will join a supportive Lewisham pharmacy team, receive regular professional supervision and have access to development opportunities in mental health pharmacy, independent prescribing, quality improvement, teaching and research.
Main duties of the job:
- Provide a specialist clinical pharmacy service to allocated Lewisham Community Mental Health Teams, working closely with prescribers, care coordinators, nurses and other multidisciplinary colleagues.
- Review complex medication regimens; advise on the initiation, adjustment and discontinuation of medicines; undertake consultations with service users and carers; support the monitoring of high-risk psychotropic medicines and physical health; and address practical problems that may prevent people from gaining the best outcomes from treatment.
- Support safe transfers of care between community teams, primary care, community pharmacies, acute hospitals, inpatient wards and crisis services.
- Contribute to medicines safety, staff training, audit, quality improvement and the collection of meaningful patient and service outcome data.
- If qualified as an independent prescriber, prescribe within your competence and agreed management plans.
- Regular travel between the Ladywell Unit and community team bases across Lewisham.
- Contribute to inpatient or dispensary services and participate in the pharmacy on-call, late-duty, weekend or bank-holiday services where applicable.
Person Specification:
Qualifications:
- Essential: MPharm or equivalent; Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), with mandatory CPD.
- Desirable: Postgraduate certificate/diploma in mental health or pharmacy practice or equivalent; Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or Member/associate member of the CMHP; Independent prescriber.
Experience:
- Essential: Relevant experience in patient-facing pharmacist roles; Relevant experience in NHS hospital pharmacy; Previous experience in providing clinical mental health services.
- Desirable: Previous experience in working in primary care networks or GP practices.
Skills:
- Essential: Good written and verbal communication; Empathy and understanding of medication issues facing people with mental health problems and their carers; Ability to work without close supervision, making decisions and acting upon them within the limitations and understanding of the job responsibilities, or to refer appropriately; Good time management with ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
- Desirable: Good computer skills, in particular for completing spreadsheets, graphs and reports; Ability to direct own learning and adapt quickly to new and challenging situations.
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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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.
Senior Clinical Pharmacist - Community Mental Health Teams in London employer: National health service
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work environment for Senior Clinical Pharmacists within the vibrant community of Lewisham. With a strong focus on professional development, regular supervision, and opportunities to engage in teaching and research, employees are empowered to grow their skills while making a meaningful impact on mental health services. The trust's commitment to innovation and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams ensures that staff can contribute to improving patient outcomes in a diverse and dynamic setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Clinical Pharmacist - Community Mental Health Teams in London
✨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 Senior Clinical Pharmacist - Community Mental Health Teams in London
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.