Lead Pharmacist Antimicrobial Stewardship

Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic, dynamic and clinical pharmacist with demonstrable skills in Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and Infection Management?

Are you ready for the next step in your pharmacy career to play a lead role in AMS across our large integrated NHS hospital Trust in Somerset, working closely with the Somerset Consultant Pharmacist for AMS, local microbiologists, infection prevention and control teams and the Somerset ICB, to coordinate and deliver a high quality AMS programme?

If the answers to the questions above are yes then then this could be the job for you!

We are encouraging applications from pharmacists with AMS and hospital clinical pharmacy experience.

If your AMS and leadership experience is more limited and you would like to develop a career in AMS at a senior level we would consider offering this post with a progression step from AfC Band 8a to Band 8b.

A generous relocation package is available for this role if you are looking to relocate to Somerset.

Main duties of the job
This is a key leading role driving AMS in Somerset, working closely with the Somerset Consultant AMS Pharmacist and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure delivery of the NHSE Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) strategy within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) and across the Somerset Health system.

You will be responsible for the leadership and operational delivery of a high-quality AMS programme in line with the agreed priorities within SFT. This will involve leading an AMS pharmacy team providing a highly specialist, evidence-based service to influence infection management strategies and the safe and effective use of antimicrobials within the Trust.

You will work with the Somerset Consultant AMS Pharmacist to align AMS strategies across Somerset health sectors to positively impact antimicrobial prescribing practice in primary care, in line with national and local priorities.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust , we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card , unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce , and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty , and breathtaking coastlines , with vibrant cities like Bristol , Bath , and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London .

The region is home to excellent educational facilities , and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further details relating to this post.

Informal visits are more than welcome!

Qualifications
Essential

• Masters degree or equivalent in Pharmacy
• Postgraduate Diploma and/or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy and/or General Pharmacy Practice
• Registered independent prescriber
• Further training in infection management or AMS

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification(s) relating to infection management or AMS
• Recognised leadership training or qualification
• Active Member of the Infection Network within UKCPA or the British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy or equivalent pharmacist specialist interest group

Experience
Essential

• Evidence of post-registration clinical pharmacy knowledge and experience, sufficient to the levels in the clusters of the RPS Advanced Pharmacy Framework
• Demonstrable hospital pharmacy experience delivering infection management clinical pharmacy practice at an advanced level
• Experience delivering AMS at mostly an advanced level
• Clinical pharmacy experience of general medicine, general surgery (including non-specialist service provision to acute and emergency patients)
• Experience in clinical training and/or mentoring of pharmacy staff
• Experience of staff appraisal and objective setting
• Experience of change management and implementation of improvement initiatives in service delivery within the NHS
• Experience of being accountable for the delivery, management, and strategic overview of a specialist service(s)
• Experience of undertaking and publishing research and audit

Desirable

• Experience of change management and implementation of improvement initiatives in service delivery within the NHS

Additional Criteria
Essential

• Demonstrable commitment to continuous professional development
• Evidence of excellent standard of Literacy / English language skills
• High quality and effective communication skills, verbal, telephonic and written

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).