Highly Specialist (Advanced) Pharmacist, Older People

Band 8A - Highly Specialist (Advanced) Pharmacist, Older People

Main area Pharmacist Grade Band 8a Contract 12 months (Fixed Term/ Secondment from 1st August 2026 to 31st July 2027). Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Job ref 360‑IC‑11388‑A.

Department: West Herts – General Staffing Site Watford General Hospital, Town Watford. Salary £59,798 – £67,020 per year (incl. HCA). Closing 20/07/2026 23:59.

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated pharmacist to join our Pharmacy team on a full‑time, fixed‑term basis. Working within Older People’s Services, you will provide specialist clinical pharmacy support, expert medicines optimisation advice, and leadership to multidisciplinary teams across the Trust.

This role offers the opportunity to influence patient care, support service development, supervise and mentor pharmacy staff, and contribute to audit, research and quality improvement initiatives.

Main duties of the job

• Assist the lead pharmacist in the delivery, development and evaluation of a high‑quality clinical pharmacy service for Older People.
• Provide expert advice on pharmaceutical matters, undertake risk management and ensure compliance with medicines legislation.
• Participate in clinical audit and practice research.
• Undertake training of pharmacy staff and other members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Actively deprescribe as a fully independent pharmacist prescriber and provide training in the use of deprescribing tools to support reduction of polypharmacy in frail patients as per the Trust and departmental policies and procedures.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Certificate or equivalent in Pharmacy Practice
• MSc or Diploma in Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent)
• Registered Independent Non‑Medical Prescriber
• Management training or qualification

Knowledge

• Prescription monitoring
• Computer and IT literacy
• Confidentiality
• Well‑developed therapeutic and clinical pharmacy knowledge in the appropriate area
• Up‑to‑date knowledge of national pharmacy issues
• Critical appraisal skills
• Preparation of written reports and procedures
• Understanding of NHS organisational structure
• Health and safety

Experience

• Post‑qualification experience in hospital pharmacy, including experience in the specialty in an acute setting
• Recent experience providing clinical pharmacy services to Older People
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Training pre‑reg pharmacists and junior staff
• Audit, research and development
• Project management
• Managing staff
• Clinical tutoring of postgraduate trainee pharmacists

Employer information

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

Legal and regulatory requirements

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 will require a Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.