Senior Neonatal Pharmacist

Overview

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University of Bristol and Weston Hospital Trust (UHBW) are merging as one organisation from summer 2026. The role is a cross‑site post, hosted by NBT at Southmead Hospital, involving work across both of our level 3 tertiary NICU units. The successful candidate will lead the clinical pharmacy service for Southmead NICU, and work closely with the medical team on both sites to provide excellent patient care.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the management and development of the neonatal pharmacy service to achieve a high standard of efficiency and effectiveness.
• Responsible for the provision of highly specialist pharmaceutical service to neonatal services.
• Attend consultant ward rounds to provide pharmaceutical expertise.
• Attend meetings on the neonatal unit to maintain competency and meet development needs.
• Be a qualified independent prescriber for the neonatal service or be willing to undertake appropriate course to become a qualified independent prescriber.
• Advise on strategies to ensure cost‑effective use of resources.
• Provide a daily clinical pharmacy service to designated area(s) in order to provide pharmaceutical care to patients and ensure the safe, appropriate & cost‑effective use of medicines at all stages of the drug use process, monitor patients for adverse drug events and minimise medication‑associated risk.
• Attend and contribute to speciality governance meetings, support patient safety initiatives and help to investigate and resolve medication incidents within the neonatal unit.
• Develop and manage the delivery of pharmacy services to ensure efficient use of resources including developing guidelines, protocols and PGDs within the neonatal intensive care unit and pharmacy.
• Working closely with neonatal pharmacists at St Michael’s Hospital (UHBW) and regionally where appropriate to share and collaborate on projects.
• Co‑ordinate supply of medicines to the SONAR transport team.
• Provide pharmaceutical expertise to any multidisciplinary working groups considering protocols, policies, and guidelines in the specialist area.
• Produce protocols, policies and guidelines on designated pharmaceutical practice relating to the Critical Care Service.
• Deal with high level pharmaceutical queries and provides advice to medical and nursing staff from the critical care areas including senior medical staff.
• Clinically screen prescriptions to ensure the safe, efficient, evidence‑based and rational use of medicines in line with the Trust Formulary and departmental policies so that risks to patients are minimised.
• Keep a current working knowledge of all relevant digital systems, including EPMA, and ensure that all governance processes are followed.
• Provide advice and information to patients/carers to ensure compliance with treatment.
• Audit and record all errors and where needed identify and implement the required additional training in agreement with the NICU senior team.
• Record all major interventions in line with departmental policy. Investigate and support the recording of Adverse Drug Reactions.
• Provide regular reports for the Women and Children’s Health Division on drug expenditure and other agreed performance indicators relating to neonatal services.
• Audit and risk manage selected areas of practice to promote continuous quality improvement.
• Develop and maintain medicines management systems in conjunction with patients/carers, ward staff and pharmacy staff.
• Contribute to the training of pharmacy undergraduates, medical students, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and medical and nursing staff as appropriate. Train and mentor clinical pharmacy diploma students on aspects of specialist area. Supervises dedicated pharmacy staff.
• Ensure that all procedures are adhered to, reviewed regularly and that all necessary records are completed.
• Keep up to date with developments in Pharmacy in order to maintain a high level of professional knowledge and competence. Attend study days and courses as necessary for the development of the service and the individual. Maintain a record of CPD.
• Provide professional supervision to Patients Services on a sessional basis and be the responsible pharmacist when needed. Act as responsible pharmacist when required.
• To ensure safe and appropriate storage of medicinal products in pharmacy and clinical areas.
• To participate in the weekend, bank holiday and late duty pharmacy service.
• To undertake such duties as may be required by the Director of Pharmacy in the interest of the service, appropriate for grade and agreed with the post holder.

Person Specification

Education / Training / Qualifications

• UK registered Pharmacist
• Clinical diploma or other recognised postgraduate qualification
• Evidence of CPD and revalidation
• Qualified Independent Prescriber / willing to undertake
• Member of neonatal and paediatric pharmacist group (NPPG)

Work Experience

• UK hospital pharmacy experience at agenda for change band 7
• Postgraduate neonatal or paediatric pharmacy experience – working at minimum advance stage I / working towards advanced stage II, of the RPS and NPPG expert professional practice curriculum
• Experience of teaching or supporting learning
• Experience of audit or quality improvement projects
• Experience of management or leadership

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to manage time and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines
• Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge to enhance patient care
• Ability to successfully develop knowledge in specialist area
• Relevant IT skills to ECDL level or equivalent
• Critical appraisal skills
• Evidence of ability to publish

Personal Qualities / Special Circumstances

• Adaptable and flexible approach to work
• Teaching / tutorial and clinical supervisory skills
• Able to work under own initiative and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to work within a multidisciplinary team

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

£57,528 to £64,750 a year, pro rata

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