Specialist Pharmacist - Frailty and Care of the Elderly

Job summarySpecialist Pharmacist- Frailty and Care of the ElderlyDepartment: PharmacyBand 7, 49,387 - 56,515 Per annum pro rataHours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week plus on-call, weekends & bank holiday rota. Note: all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible workingAre you a pharmacist with a passion for Elderly Care and Frailty. As the specialist pharmacist you will work as part of a pharmacy team and develop specialist clinical pharmacy services to elderly patients working across the interface. The post holder will develop the role in the transfer of care across the interface to ensure optimisation and safe discharges for the elderly population.Now is an excellent time to become part of the pharmacy team at MKUH; we are a friendly, forward-thinking department who continue to grow in both size and influence.Our services are evolving to provide our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with more time to work alongside patients while supporting their medical and nursing colleagues. Our commitment is to ensure that every patient receives safe, high-quality care, placing our patients at the heart of our mission. This role is a compelling career opportunity for a skilled and dedicated pharmacist to join our hardworking, forward-looking, and innovative pharmacy team.We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.Interview date: Week commencing 16/11/2026Main duties of the job'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'As the Specialist Pharmacist - Frailty and Care of the Elderly, you will work closely with the Principal Pharmacist to provide expert clinical pharmacy services to older adult inpatients. You will undertake comprehensive medication reviews, supporting the safe and effective use of medicines to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. The role focuses on optimising medicines, reducing inappropriate polypharmacy, improving adherence, and enhancing patients' understanding of their medicines to support safe, person-centred care.You will have the opportunity to work in our newly built specialist inpatient wards, purpose-designed to provide high-quality care for older adults, including those living with dementia. You will also work closely with our experienced Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and Virtual Ward multidisciplinary frailty teams, delivering comprehensive, patient-centred geriatric care to older people across Milton Keynes. In addition, there is also an opportunity to support the pharmaceutical care of older patients within a rehabilitation unit associated with the Trust, providing a diverse and rewarding clinical experience across the frailty pathway.About usMilton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. We have just opened the Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards.Further investment is underway, including the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton KeynesDetailsDate posted28 October 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary
49,387 to 56,515 a year

Per annum pro rata

ContractPermanentWorking pattern

Full-time

Reference number430-CC26-1014A-BJob locationsPharmacy (Dept)Milton KeynesMK6 5LDUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesNHS Staff Survey:OurCompassionate CultureandLeadershipscores reflect a workplace where kindness, respect, and empathy are the normnot the exception.Alongside delivering ward-based clinical pharmacy services within Frailty and Care of the Elderly and providing clinical support to the dispensary, you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership and service improvement skills. This includes supporting and supervising junior pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, undertaking quality improvement and audit projects, championing medicines optimisation and medication safety initiatives, and working with the Principal Pharmacist to identify and address medicines-related issues across the elderly care division.Our standard working pattern consists of four long days per week (8:00 am to 6:00 pm), with participation in a weekend and Bank Holiday rota. Following a comprehensive induction and training programme, you will also contribute to the pharmacy out-of-hours service.If successful, you will join a friendly, supportive, and forward-thinking pharmacy team that is committed to delivering outstanding patient care while fostering professional and personal development. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your specialist clinical skills, contribute to service development, and make a meaningful difference to the care of older people across Milton Keynes.Please refer to attached Job description for further information.We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouragingdiversity,and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date onceenoughapplications have been received.MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This isin accordance withthe streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.Please refer to the job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesNHS Staff Survey:OurCompassionate CultureandLeadershipscores reflect a workplace where kindness, respect, and empathy are the normnot the exception.Alongside delivering ward-based clinical pharmacy services within Frailty and Care of the Elderly and providing clinical support to the dispensary, you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership and service improvement skills. This includes supporting and supervising junior pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, undertaking quality improvement and audit projects, championing medicines optimisation and medication safety initiatives, and working with the Principal Pharmacist to identify and address medicines-related issues across the elderly care division.Our standard working pattern consists of four long days per week (8:00 am to 6:00 pm), with participation in a weekend and Bank Holiday rota. Following a comprehensive induction and training programme, you will also contribute to the pharmacy out-of-hours service.If successful, you will join a friendly, supportive, and forward-thinking pharmacy team that is committed to delivering outstanding patient care while fostering professional and personal development. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your specialist clinical skills, contribute to service development, and make a meaningful difference to the care of older people across Milton Keynes.Please refer to attached Job description for further information.We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouragingdiversity,and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date onceenoughapplications have been received.MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This isin accordance withthe streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.Please refer to the job description for further details.Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

EssentialB.Sc. / B.Pharm. / M.PharmRegistered with GPhCPostgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (or equivalent)Evidence of on-going CPD (in line with GPhC requirements)DesirablePostgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or evidence of equivalent experience e.g. GLFMember of RPSEvidence of a good understanding of medicines management issues at the interfaces between primary, secondary and tertiary care

Experience

EssentialPost registration experience in a hospital-based clinical postExperience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide patient careExperience of clinical audit work.An awareness of current national standards, guidelines and service delivery issuesExperience of Medicines InformationKnowledge of the medical management of disease in a range of the specialtiesDesirableAt least 2 years post registration experience in a hospital-based clinical postEvidence of influencing medicines use to optimise care and help clinicians manage expenditureEvidence of experience managing prioritisation in relation to the use of new drugs and new uses for drugsEvidence of significant contribution to innovative or developmental roles and activities within pharmacy

Skills

EssentialEffective and safe pharmaceutical skillsAbility to manage time effectively and work to deadlinesAbility to plan, prioritise and organise self and others and deal effectively with unexpected demandsI.T. skills such as computer literacy, word processing and spreadsheet skills.Ability to communicate effectively with other staff, patients and members of the publicGood presentation skillsGood written communication skillsProblem solvingGood team work and ability to work aloneEvidence of leadership skillsAbility to motivate and act as a role model

Personal and people development

EssentialExperience of supervising and developing colleaguesEvidence of Continuous Professional Development to meet GPhC standardsEvidence of leadership

Communication

EssentialExcellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence othersExcellent communication skills, both verbal and writtenEvidence of team workingEvidence of effective and timely project delivery
Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

EssentialB.Sc. / B.Pharm. / M.PharmRegistered with GPhCPostgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (or equivalent)Evidence of on-going CPD (in line with GPhC requirements)DesirablePostgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or evidence of equivalent experience e.g. GLFMember of RPSEvidence of a good understanding of medicines management issues at the interfaces between primary, secondary and tertiary care

Experience

EssentialPost registration experience in a hospital-based clinical postExperience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide patient careExperience of clinical audit work.An awareness of current national standards, guidelines and service delivery issuesExperience of Medicines InformationKnowledge of the medical management of disease in a range of the specialtiesDesirableAt least 2 years post registration experience in a hospital-based clinical postEvidence of influencing medicines use to optimise care and help clinicians manage expenditureEvidence of experience managing prioritisation in relation to the use of new drugs and new uses for drugsEvidence of significant contribution to innovative or developmental roles and activities within pharmacy

Skills

EssentialEffective and safe pharmaceutical skillsAbility to manage time effectively and work to deadlinesAbility to plan, prioritise and organise self and others and deal effectively with unexpected demandsI.T. skills such as computer literacy, word processing and spreadsheet skills.Ability to communicate effectively with other staff, patients and members of the publicGood presentation skillsGood written communication skillsProblem solvingGood team work and ability to work aloneEvidence of leadership skillsAbility to motivate and act as a role model

Personal and people development

EssentialExperience of supervising and developing colleaguesEvidence of Continuous Professional Development to meet GPhC standardsEvidence of leadership

Communication

EssentialExcellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence othersExcellent communication skills, both verbal and writtenEvidence of team workingEvidence of effective and timely project deliveryDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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).Employer detailsEmployer nameMilton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustAddressPharmacy (Dept)Milton KeynesMK6 5LDUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameMilton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustAddressPharmacy (Dept)Milton KeynesMK6 5LDUnited KingdomEmployer's website