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

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

Band 8a

Main area Pharmacist Grade Band 8a Contract 12 months (Fixed Term/ Secondment from 1st August 2026 to 31st July 2027) Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 360-IC-11388-A

Department name West Herts – General Staffing Site Watford General Hospital Town Watford Salary £59,798 – £67,020 inc HCA Salary period Yearly 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. We are looking for a pharmacist with excellent clinical knowledge, strong communication skills, and a passion for delivering high‑quality care for older patients.

If you are looking to further develop your specialist practice within a supportive and forward‑thinking pharmacy department, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be required to:

• 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 multidisciplinary team.
• Actively deprescribe as a fully independent pharmacist prescriber and provide training in use of deprescribing tools to support reduction of polypharmacy in frail patients as per the Trust and departmental policies and procedures.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick “Member of the Armed Forces Community” on the application form.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for a full list of duties and details about the role.

The Pharmacy Department at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust operates across three sites, with over 100 staff members. The main department is based at Watford General Hospital.

The department provides a stimulating, friendly and professionally rewarding environment for staff to develop their clinical expertise.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Certificate in Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent).
• MSc/Diploma in Pharmacy Practice (or equivalent).
• Registered Independent Non‑Medical Prescriber.
• Management Training.
• Management Qualification.

Knowledge

• Prescription Monitoring.
• Computer and IT Literate.
• Need for Confidentiality.
• Well‑developed therapeutic and clinical pharmacy knowledge in appropriate area.
• Up to date knowledge of national pharmacy issues.
• Critical appraisal skills.
• Preparation of written reports and procedures.
• NHS organisational structure.
• Health and Safety.

Experience

• Post qualification experience in hospital pharmacy including experience in the specialty in an acute setting.
• Recent experience in providing clinical pharmacy services to Older People.
• Experience of 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.

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

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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