Lead Pharmacist – Antimicrobial Stewardship

at  Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Senior 8a Clinical Pharmacist - Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead
Fixed Term (up to 12 months) secondment / maternity leave cover (full-time, part-time, job share, flexible working)
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced pharmacist to lead our Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programme. The successful candidate will work closely with all grades of pharmacy staff as well as a wide range of medical, nursing and AHP colleagues. The post holder will ensure compliance with the Trust antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, support the work of the infection prevention team, and provide clinical advice on request.
You will be actively involved in strategic planning, education, training, surveillance, and governance of antimicrobial usage. You will also be given the opportunity to provide clinical pharmacy support to our inpatient community health wards.
In return we will help you develop your clinical and leadership skills, and collaborative working with both senior and junior clinicians, nursing teams and primary care colleagues.
We are based at Prospect Park Hospital, in leafy Reading, 30 mins by train from London Paddington and Waterloo stations. We offer free onsite parking, top staff accommodation less than a 5-minute walk from your base.
Evaluate pharmacy services for antimicrobial stewardship and infection management throughout the Trust in accordance with local and national standards and policies, ensuring the safe, clinical and cost effective use of antimicrobials.
Provide expert antimicrobial therapy advice to pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals to encourage and ensure good prescribing practices, optimise outcomes and reduce individual patient and organisational risk.
Represent the Trust at various AMS groups including the Trust’s AMS Group (AMSG) meetings, the cross-sector AMS Network across primary-secondary care settings in Berkshire and the regional Thames Valley & Wessex antimicrobial pharmacist network
Act as the AMSG secretary ensuring timely submission of AMSG meeting reports and minutes to the trust Drugs and Therapeutics Committee including liaising with clinicians for the timely preparation of the AMSG meeting agenda
Contribute to the development, monitoring, updating and dissemination of Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines and related policies to ensure appropriate antimicrobial prescribing
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.
We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer. We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you’ll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.

Experience in general / acute hospital pharmacy
Self motivated, confident and ability to prioritise
Have a flexible approach to work in order to meet the developing needs of the pharmacy service
Strong team player and must be able to navigate conflicting work priorities
If you’re someone who shares our passion for excellence and care, join us and let’s be outstanding together.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact: Dr Elizabeth Francis, Deputy Chief Pharmacist on elizabeth.francis@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required