The Lead Pharmacist – Antimicrobial Stewardship at UHCW NHS Trust plays a critical role in delivering the Trust’s antimicrobial stewardship strategy. This includes ensuring the safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of antimicrobials while minimising resistance risks. The role involves close collaboration with the Trust Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Stewardship, microbiologists, infectious disease consultants, and the Infection Prevention and Control team to drive antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.
The postholder, in collaboration with the Trust AMS lead, will oversee the development and implementation of antimicrobial policies, oversee audits to monitor prescribing practices, and provide specialist advice on complex antimicrobial cases. They will also support training and education for multi-disciplinary teams across the Trust, ensuring best practices in antimicrobial prescribing and infection management. Additionally, they will contribute to the development of digital prescribing tools, engage with regional antimicrobial leads, and work with system partners to align antimicrobial stewardship efforts with wider healthcare objectives.
This role requires strong leadership, expert clinical knowledge in antimicrobial therapy, and a commitment to improving patient outcomes through effective antimicrobial stewardship.
The Lead Pharmacist – Antimicrobial Stewardship at UHCW NHS Trust is responsible for developing and delivering a robust antimicrobial stewardship strategy across the Trust. This includes leading initiatives to optimise antimicrobial prescribing, enhance infection control measures, and minimise antimicrobial resistance.
The role involves collaborating with key stakeholders, including the Trust Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Stewardship, microbiologists, infectious disease consultants, and the Infection Prevention and Control team. The postholder will oversee antimicrobial policy development, support clinical audits, and provide expert guidance on complex antimicrobial cases. Additionally, they will contribute to workforce development by leading training initiatives for pharmacy staff and the wider multi-disciplinary team, ensuring best practices in antimicrobial stewardship are embedded across clinical areas.
Working closely with system partners, the Lead Pharmacist will help align antimicrobial stewardship efforts with integrated care system (ICS) priorities. The role also includes supporting digital advancements in prescribing systems and driving research and innovation in antimicrobial stewardship to improve patient outcomes.
Please be advised the proposed interview date in the week commencing 3rd March 2025.
We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.
Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.
We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence ® designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)
By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.
The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation’s core values.
In collaboration with the Trust Clinical Lead for antimicrobial and antifungal Stewardship, provide leadership in promoting antimicrobial stewardship and ensuring the safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of antimicrobials throughout the Trust.
In collaboration with the Trust Clinical Lead for antimicrobial and antifungal Stewardship, maximise clinical effectiveness in the use of antimicrobials, balancing cost management with efforts to minimise the emergence of resistance, and continuously assess risks to prudent prescribing practices.
Collaborate with the senior pharmacy technician to lead service development initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes from antimicrobial therapy at UHCW.
In collaboration with the Trust Clinical Lead for antimicrobial and antifungal Stewardship and the microbiology team, influence best practices in prescribing and administration of antimicrobials and anti-infectives across the Trust, working closely with senior clinical teams and providing highly specialised advice on complex antimicrobial cases.
In collaboration with the Trust Clinical Lead for antimicrobial and antifungal Stewardship and the microbiology team provide pharmaceutical expertise in healthcare-acquired infection reviews (e.g., C. difficile, MRSA) to improve patient safety and enhance infection control measures.
In collaboration with the Trust Clinical Lead for antimicrobial and antifungal Stewardship lead the development, implementation, and review of antimicrobial guidelines, ensuring compliance with local and national standards, and overseeing changes to guidelines when necessary.
Maintain an active presence on the wards, collaborating closely with Trust Clinical Lead for antimicrobial and antifungal Stewardship. Consultant Microbiologists and Infectious Disease Consultants to ensure optimal use of anti-infective drugs in line with Trust policies.
Represent the pharmacy service at strategic and operational meetings on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) issues, to represent pharmaceutical aspects of infection prevention at a strategic level.
Collaborate with the Trust Clinical Lead for antimicrobial and antifungal Stewardship, Infection Prevention and Control team, Clinical Microbiologists, and Clinical Leads to develop and deliver an effective antimicrobial stewardship programme, including the annual programme of work.
Lead antimicrobial audits across UHCW NHS Trust, monitor performance against local and national antibiotic-related CQUINs, and report on antimicrobial use and costs to relevant stakeholders.
For further details please see the attached job description

Please refer the Job description for details