Lead Pharmacist: Surgical Services

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Employer: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type: NHS

Site: St Richards Hospital

Town: Chichester

Salary: £53,755 – £60,504 per annum pro rata

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 11/03/2025 23:59

About our Trust

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, ambition, and values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented, and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto, and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

Are you an enthusiastic, self-motivated pharmacist interested in a new challenge?

We have an exciting opportunity to join the pharmacy team at St Richard\’s and Worthing Hospitals as the lead pharmacist for surgical services. This is a fantastic opportunity for a forward-thinking clinical pharmacist with the desire to work in a fast-paced and innovative environment, to develop their practice and skills to the highest level within a specialist multidisciplinary team. This post also offers opportunities to develop leadership, management, governance, and service development skills.

We would welcome applications from candidates working at a foundation to advanced level who wish to use this as a progression opportunity from band 7 to 8a. The successful candidate can expect a supported induction period, training and development opportunities as well as clear leadership and management as they progress through to the 8a level.

This post is also available as a 1 year fixed term or 1 year secondment opportunity.

Main duties of the job

You will be an experienced pharmacist, highly motivated with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You must be able to demonstrate leadership and work well with coordinating conflicting demands on your time. You will have a key role in providing medicines optimisation, leadership, managing clinical pharmacy services, and liaising with other surgical teams. UHSussex is committed to the development of pharmacist prescribers and will facilitate the postholder to achieve this qualification as soon as possible if required.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful applicant will:

• Have delegated responsibility for the provision of the clinical pharmacy service to the Surgical wards and Day Surgery Units at St Richard\’s, Southlands and Worthing Hospitals.
• Work in partnership with the Lead Pharmacist – Critical Care at Worthing Hospital to ensure equity of service across the west side of the Trust. To also work in partnership with counterpart at RSCH to achieve the same.
• Provide specialist clinical pharmacy services to the surgical teams through multi-disciplinary engagement utilising Non-Medical Prescribing where appropriate. To contribute to the development of the clinical pharmacy service in partnership with the Clinical Pharmacy Leads in accordance with national priorities and the University Hospitals Sussex Clinical Strategy.

Person specification

General

• Degree in Pharmacy from a UK School of Pharmacy (or equivalent)
• Further Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy at diploma level (or equivalent)
• Registered member of GPhC
• Previous experience as a pharmacist in surgical services
• Significant experience in clinical hospital pharmacy
• Non Medical Prescribing Qualification
• Evidence of: Teaching/Training experience, evaluating complex information, undertaking policy or service development
• Previous experience working in the field of Ophthalmology

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

Important information for applicants:

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name: Lewis Thompson

Job title: Pharmacist Team Leader – Clinical (Surgery/W+C)

Email address:

Telephone number: 01243 788122

Additional information: Ext 35169

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