Advanced Specialist Pharmacist - NICU (Band 7 - 8a Progression Post)
The closing date is 06 July 2026.
An exciting opportunity within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to lead and develop the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) clinical pharmacy service. This role delivers a high‑quality, patient‑centred medicines optimisation service for a highly specialised and vulnerable patient group.
The successful candidate will provide advanced specialist pharmaceutical care to neonates, including prescribing and managing complex therapies such as parenteral nutrition, working closely with a multidisciplinary team to support clinical decision‑making and optimise patient outcomes.
Key responsibilities include strong leadership, influencing, service development, research support, governance, medication safety and continuous quality improvement. The pharmacist will act as an expert source of advice on neonatal medicines, support complex queries, and promote safe and cost‑effective prescribing.
Main duties of the job
- Lead and develop an advanced specialist clinical pharmacy service for the NICU, aligned with the priorities of the Women’s and Children’s Clinical Service Line and in accordance with local, regional and national policies.
- Deliver agreed service Key Performance Indicators, collaborating with other Lead and Specialist Pharmacists across the service line.
- Provide cross‑site specialist neonatal pharmacy input, supporting NICU services across Bedfordshire Hospitals, including participation in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team working.
- Provide expert clinical pharmacy services including prescribing where appropriate, and management of complex therapies such as parenteral nutrition in line with Trust guidelines and standards.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and review of policies, guidelines and protocols to support safe and effective medicines use within neonatal services.
- Lead and support clinical audit, research and quality improvement initiatives, promoting medication safety and optimising patient outcomes.
- Provide education, training and clinical supervision to pharmacy and wider healthcare staff, supporting workforce development and best practice.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people across Bedford and Luton. Both sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. The Trust is committed to ensuring staff health and wellbeing and offers high‑quality training and development for career growth.
Our values
We recruit individuals who demonstrate behaviours underpinning our core values, prioritising inclusivity, equality, diversity and a culture that values differences.
Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Pharmacy degree (Master’s Level)
- Registration with the GPhC
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
- Independent prescribing qualification (or planning to start)
- Relevant senior experience
- Member of the RPS
- Stage II Faculty Member of the RPS (MIIFRPS) or portfolio in preparation
- Independent pharmacist prescriber
- Management training
- Quality improvement training
- Member of NPPG
Experience
- Extensive recent post‑registration hospital experience as a clinical pharmacist at band 8a in the relevant specialist clinical area
- Experience of collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings as an influential member
- Experience of developing and reviewing drug policies and treatment guidelines
- Experience of practical application of antimicrobial stewardship initiatives
- Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development
- Demonstrable evidence of undertaking research and audit and using results to improve patient care
- Experience of policy and service development, driving performance and meeting KPIs
- Experience of managing and leading a team
- Presentation to Trust‑wide and external meetings
- Experience of writing a business case
- Teaching of undergraduates and postgraduates across various health professions
Knowledge
- Advanced clinical knowledge of drugs and therapeutic trends within the specialist area
- Knowledge of NICE, Health Education England (HEE), NHS Improvement and local implementations
- Knowledge of NHS commissioning processes
- Knowledge and awareness of implications of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies
- Principles of Quality Improvement
- Advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgement, applying logical and analytical skills to manage clinical risk during medicine use
Personal Skills
- Organised and able to plan, prioritise and manage work programmes
- Critical review, analysis and interpretation of clinical literature and medicines legislation
- Appropriate IT skills to utilise clinical information systems, pharmacy computer systems, databases and other software to improve patient care
- Ability to integrate research into practice
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to confirm no previous criminal convictions.
