Job summaryAre you a highly motivated and experienced pharmacist with passion for Medicines Optimisation? Looking for an opportunity to lead a clinical pharmacy team to ensure safety, evidence-based practice and improve patient experience? Do you have the skills and experience to manage, motivate, and inspire pharmacists and medicines management technicians? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!We are looking for a Principal Pharmacist to help us improve safe and effective use of medicines to improve patient outcome. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our patients.NSFT Pharmacy will support the development of pharmacists looking to go into a leadership role within mental health.The post-holder will be based in Norfolk. This is a full-time post and will involve some travelling across different sites within Norfolk and Suffolk. Main duties of the jobAs a Principal Pharmacist, you will:Management and supervision of pharmacists and Medicines Management Technicians and develop a competent, motivated, and versatile clinical pharmacy workforce.Providing leadership role for good Medicines Management to ensure and to promote safe and secure handling of medicines in their clinical area of responsibilityLeading Medicines Optimisation agenda to ensure and to promote patient safety, treatment effectiveness, better patient experience with treatment, embedding medicines optimisation principles in routine clinical practice in their clinical area of responsibilityWorking with leadership in the Trust and commissioners to support wider Trust requirements in relation to medicines management and medicines optimisationDeveloping and implementing clinical pharmacy standards and quality improvement initiativesLeading the development, delivery, evaluation, and improvement of clinical pharmacy services across the TrustProviding professional expertise, advice, and training to health professionals, patients and carers.About usSome of the benefits included with this role:NHS pensiona comprehensive in house & external training programmescareer progressionstarting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)staff physio serviceNHS discounts and many moreHere at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.Why work for us?We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.Why Norfolk and Suffolk?The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.DetailsDate posted05 November 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary
Please read the information in this job post thoroughly to understand exactly what is expected of potential candidates. 66,582 to 77,368 a year
gross per annum (pro rata)
ContractPermanentWorking pattern
Full-time,
Part-time,
Job share,
Flexible working
Reference number246-COR8293738Job locationsHellesdon HospitalDrayton High RoadNorwichNR6 5BEUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY! Job description Job responsibilitiesPlease find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!Person Specification
Qualifications
EssentialMaster’s Degree in PharmacyCurrent registered member of General Pharmaceutical CouncilPostgraduate qualification in mental health therapeuticsDesirableMember of the College of Mental Health PharmacyManagement qualificationPostgraduate qualification in general pharmacyMember of the Royal College of PharmacyIndependent Prescriber
Knowledge
EssentialThorough knowledge of mental health therapeuticsKnowledge of national and local prioritiesUp to date with local and national evidence-based guidelines
Skills
EssentialAble to work as part of a multidisciplinary teamCommunicates with medical, nursing and pharmacy staff in clear precise and appropriate manner.Clinical and critical appraisal skillsThe ability to identify and manage risksThe ability to identify and prioritise clinical workloadEvidence of writing or supporting procedures, guidelines or protocols.DesirableResearch skills
Experience
EssentialSignificant working experience of mental health environmentExperience of service and staff managementTo have led or undertaken clinical auditand staff management Demonstrate the ability to appropriately recommend, substantiate and communicate medicine related information to mental health patients, carers and clinical staffDesirableService evaluation and developmentPrevious evaluated experience of mentorship and training skillsMonitoring and advising on drug expenditureTeaching experience Person Specification
Qualifications
EssentialMaster’s Degree in PharmacyCurrent registered member of General Pharmaceutical CouncilPostgraduate qualification in mental health therapeuticsDesirableMember of the College of Mental Health PharmacyManagement qualificationPostgraduate qualification in general pharmacyMember of the Royal College of PharmacyIndependent Prescriber
Knowledge
EssentialThorough knowledge of mental health therapeuticsKnowledge of national and local prioritiesUp to date with local and national evidence-based guidelines
Skills
EssentialAble to work as part of a multidisciplinary teamCommunicates with medical, nursing and pharmacy staff in clear precise and appropriate manner.Clinical and critical appraisal skillsThe ability to identify and manage risksThe ability to identify and prioritise clinical workloadEvidence of writing or supporting procedures, guidelines or protocols.DesirableResearch skills
Experience
EssentialSignificant working experience of mental health environmentExperience of service and staff managementTo have led or undertaken clinical auditand staff management Demonstrate the ability to appropriately recommend, substantiate and communicate medicine related information to mental health patients, carers and clinical staffDesirableService evaluation and developmentPrevious evaluated experience of mentorship and training skillsMonitoring and advising on drug expenditureTeaching experienceDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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).UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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).UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. xrnqpay For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameNorfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS TrustAddressHellesdon HospitalDrayton High RoadNorwichNR6 5BEUnited KingdomEmployer’s websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameNorfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS TrustAddressHellesdon HospitalDrayton High RoadNorwichNR6 5BEUnited KingdomEmployer’s website…