Advanced Clinical Pharmacist for Community Mental Health

Posting date:	22 January 2026
Salary:	£55,690.00 to £62,682.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£55690.00 - £62682.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	01 March 2026
Location:	Plymouth, PL4 7PY
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	B9832-2026-PH-333-1

Summary

SCOPE AND RANGE As the Advanced Clinical Pharmacist for Community Mental Health, you will have input into the strategic development of Medicines Optimisation in teams within the Community Mental Health Services specifically supporting people suffering from psychosis. You will work as part of an MDT within the community mental health team, specialist outreachrecovery team and Insight team as the medicines expert to help support people and will hold ahighly visible role within the organisation. You will be a pharmacist with a passion and commitment in this area who wants to help developthe service whilst ensuring medicine related governance is in place, bringing the additional skillsof an experienced pharmacist to the teams. You will also support and help develop the Mental Health pharmacy team and a range of otherhealthcare professionals within Mental Health, including NMPs in medicines optimisation andrelated initiatives to the highest clinical pharmacy standards. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Clinical / Professional To be responsible for and lead the provision of a high quality, specialised clinicalpharmacy service to ensure the safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use ofdrugs in mental health. To be responsible for the delivery of the clinical pharmacy services to nominated areas,including attendance at consultant ward rounds, providing expert pharmaceutical adviceand setting standards for junior pharmacists to emulate. To be responsible for the provision of professional pharmaceutical advice tohealthcare colleagues, patients, and carers as necessary. To develop and monitor pharmacy initiatives such as medicines reconciliation onadmission and provision of discharge summaries to GPs, which promote seamlesstransfer of patients from secondary care to primary care and vice versa. To be responsible for the development of ward/unit based pharmaceutical careinitiatives e.g. self-medication schemes, use of patients own drugs in hospital, one stop dispensing, patient and carer counselling, discharge planning, assessing patientconcordance and improved communication with primary care healthcare professionals within mental health. To lead on and develop policy or service changes within Mental Health which improveward or community services and be responsible for their implementation. To promote and monitor compliance with the South and West Devon Joint Formulary andto assist in formulary applications and review for medicines to be used in Mental Health. To be responsible for monitoring prescribing practice to promote cost-effective andeconomic use of resources and contribute to the establishment and implementation ofprescribing guidelines within mental health. To be lead on and be responsible for reporting and review of clinical and otherpharmacy related audits within mental health. To be responsible for the development of junior pharmacy staff within mental healthincluding rotational pharmacists and trainee pharmacists To provide evidence of Continuing Professional Development on an annual basis atappraisal, in accordance with guidance issued by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). To cover for ward pharmacists as required, during periods of absence. Occasional dispensary cover including dispensing and checking of medication followinglocal SOPs. Analytical and Judgemental Skills Have highly developed skiIls for analysing drug, patient intimation in mental health inorder to provide advice on medicines, dosages, production issues/ in areas whereinformation is lacking and medical or other opinion differs. Clinical screening of prescription charts and discharge prescriptions, to ensureprescriptions are safe and appropriate. Responding to and recording medicines information requests from prescribers and otherhealthcare professionals relating to mental health and providing advice on medicinesproactively. In many cases this is a complex task involving highly specialist up to dateknowledge, effective search strategies, evaluation of the evidence base and formulationof an appropriate response. To be responsible for the investigation and monitoring of medicines related incidentsrelating to mental health, recommending and implementing change as required toimprove patient safety, collating these for discussion at pharmacy team meetings and at the Medicines Governance Group (MGG). Clinical Governance To be responsible for and lead on clinical governance and risk management throughinterventions which optimise the management of medicines in mental health, supportingbest practice throughout all areas of responsibility. To participate in and lead multidisciplinary groups in the review and development ofselected medicines related policies and procedures relating to mental health andpresent to the MGG. To lead on the development and review of documents e.g. Patient Group Directions,Policies, Guidelines and Protocols relating to mental health and presenting revieweddocuments to the MGG To support professional leads in identifying and addressing evidence-based medicinepractice consistent with the requirements of clinical governance and of national directives To work with the Pharmacy Senior Management Team to lead on continuous qualityimprovement projects and audit within mental health Managerial To provide mentoring, training, supervision and line management of mental healthsubstantive and rotational pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and otherpharmacy staff and students as required, including appraisals and performancereviews. To organise the trainee pharmacist timetable when they rotate through mental health. To act as Designated Supervisor to a Trainee Pharmacist annually as required. To mentor/buddy other NMPs within Mental Health. To Act as a Designated Prescribing Practitioner, Educational supervisor or PracticeSupervisor as appropriate for members of the team undertaking their independentprescribing training. Freedom to Act Pharmacists are expected to work largely unsupervised and to act on their ownprofessional judgement. Clinical supervision from another health professional can be arranged and isto be encouraged. Technical roles are defined by standard operating procedures which shouldalways be followed. Clinical roles are supported by policies and guidelines within which the pharmacist isallowed professional discretion / interpretation. This role includes setting the parameters under which other pharmacy staff will operate. Training and Education To lead on the training and development of pharmacy staff within Mental Healthand support training of other staff members within the team as appropriate. To plan, develop and deliver appropriate training and education to healthcarecolleagues, carer groups and outside agencies to promote the safe use and clinicalapplication of medicines within mental health. To be responsible for and lead on the induction of new pharmacy staff with mental health. To assist and lead, where appropriate, on the training provided to pharmacystudents, trainee pharmacists and other pharmacy staff. Health, Safety and Security To work safely in the dispensary, ward and office environments ensuring any risksidentified to health and safety are managed or escalated to line manager. To ensure safety and security of medicines, prescription stationery and patientidentifiable documents according to locally agreed standard operating procedures. To inform line manager of any breaches of safety or security or if agreedprocedures are thought to be inadequate to manage the risk. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS The ability to communicate highly complex drug or medicine related information toprescribers, clinicians, patients, relatives within the mental health service. Well-developed verbal and written communications skills (including telephone andemail) are essential to the role. To liaise with all levels of healthcare staff and professionals working in themultidisciplinary team within mental health. The ability to challenge and accept professional challenge from other health careprofessionals. To liaise with patients and carers, the acute hospitals, doctors, GPs, community nursesand community pharmacists to ensure appropriate supply of medicines. To communicate pharmacy / medication issues clearly and concisely at team meetingsand governance groups e.g. MGG. To work virtually through use of technology where required. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB There is a need to travel between units in a timely fashion, therefore ability to drive and touse own car is an advantage. Good keyboard / computer skills are essential. Limited manual handling of static loads. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL POSTS The post holder is required to comply with all relevant policies and procedures pertinent to theirpost. Current versions can be found on the intranet or via your manager. The areas listed beloware those Livewell Southwest currently places particular emphasis on. Failure to follow correctpolicies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.