Lead Advanced Pharmacist – Women’s Services SRH/WOR(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

Role Overview

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking pharmacist to take on the role of Lead Advanced Pharmacist for Women’s Services. This newly created leadership position has been designed to strengthen specialist pharmacy support across maternity, gynaecology, maternal medicine, and neonatal services.

The post holder will provide expert clinical leadership, ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines during pregnancy, the post-partum period, breastfeeding, and neonatal care. Working across hospital sites within the Trust, you will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to improve medicines governance, clinical standards, and service development.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape and establish specialist pharmacy services within a large and innovative NHS Trust.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Specialist Practice

The successful candidate will provide advanced pharmaceutical expertise across Women’s Services by:

• Leading the development of specialist pharmacy support for maternity, gynaecology, and neonatal services
• Delivering advanced clinical input to ensure optimal medicines management for pregnant patients and neonates
• Acting as an independent prescriber within the scope of practice
• Supporting complex prescribing decisions involving high-risk or specialist medications
• Guidance on medicines safety and prescribing standards

Medicines Governance and Patient Safety

You will play a key role in strengthening medicines governance by:

• Overseeing prescribing verification and medicines reconciliation processes
• Leading incident reviews, risk management initiatives, and audits
• Supporting compliance with national medicines safety standards
• Ensuring consistent clinical governance practices across hospital sites
• NHS medicines safety initiatives is available

Clinical Service Development

The role includes responsibility for improving pharmacy services through:

• Development and implementation of clinical guidelines and prescribing pathways
• Standardisation of medicines use across Trust sites
• Leading quality improvement programmes based on prescribing data and safety reporting
• Supporting strategic development of pharmacy services within Women’s Health

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

The Lead Pharmacist will work closely with a broad range of professionals, including:

• Obstetricians and gynaecologists
• Maternal medicine specialists
• Anaesthetists
• Midwives and neonatal teams
• Commissioners and regional healthcare networks
• Collaboration with community healthcare providers will also support continuity of care across hospital and primary care settings.

Workforce Development and Education

An important element of the role involves developing pharmacy staff by:

• Providing supervision, mentoring, and specialist training
• Supporting professional development across pharmacy teams
• Promoting best practice in medicines optimisation within Women’s Services

Financial and Strategic Oversight

The post holder will contribute to the effective management of medicines resources through:

• Monitoring high-cost medicines usage
• Supporting budget planning and financial governance
• Ensuring cost-effective prescribing while maintaining clinical quality

About the Organisation

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the South East of England, delivering care across multiple hospitals and specialist services.

The Trust is committed to delivering “Excellent Care Everywhere” and promotes an inclusive workplace where staff are encouraged to innovate, collaborate, and grow professionally.

The organisation has been recognised as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission and supports a diverse workforce through staff networks, mentorship programmes, and inclusive policies.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Advanced specialist knowledge gained through postgraduate training (post-diploma level or equivalent)
• Non-Medical Prescriber (NMP) qualification
• Significant experience working within acute hospital pharmacy settings
• Demonstrated experience supporting medicines use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Desirable Experience

While not essential, the following would strengthen an application:

• Experience developing clinical guidelines or prescribing protocols
• Involvement in research, audits, or quality improvement projects
• Membership of the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group or similar specialist professional bodies
• Experience working within maternity or women’s health services

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to equality and inclusion by:

• Supporting diverse patient populations
• Promoting inclusive practices within the workplace
• Participating in personal learning to improve awareness of equality issues

Visa Sponsorship

This position may qualify for sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa route, provided applicants meet eligibility requirements relating to salary, experience, and job role.

International applicants may also be required to provide criminal record certificates from countries where they have lived for extended periods

Pre-Employment Checks

The successful applicant will be required to complete:

• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background check
• Occupational health clearance
• Verification of professional registration
• More information about DBS checks is available

A Unique Leadership Opportunity

This role provides an exciting opportunity for a senior pharmacist to lead and shape the development of specialist pharmacy services for women and neonatal care within a major NHS organisation.

By joining University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, you will contribute directly to improving medicines safety, patient outcomes, and clinical innovation across Women’s Services.