Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 8c
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 364-B-388
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Units E&F Chelford Court, Widford Ind Estate
- Town
- Chelmsford
- Salary
- £79,504 - £91,609 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/09/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 24/09/2026
Employer heading
Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Inpatient, Specialist and Secure Services
Band 8c
Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
We are seeking a highly experienced pharmacist with excellent leadership skills to join our senior pharmacy management team as Deputy Chief Pharmacist. You will lead on the provision of pharmacy and medicines optimisation services to mental health services, and work closely and collaboratively with the lead pharmacists within community health services.
Ideally you will have a track record in a similarly complex position at a senior level managing the delivery of operational services, and have a background in mental health services.
Main duties of the job
As Deputy Chief Pharmacist you will represent the service at the highest levels within the Trust, deputising for the Director of Pharmacy at Trustwide and external meetings.
You should be able to work on your own initiative as well as within a larger team, and will be supported by the wider Trust pharmacy team. Central to the role is modelling good clinical practice to our ward pharmacists and technicians and inspiring them to perform to their best.
We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, who demonstrates the values of the Trust and who through their previous experience is in a position to support the Director of Pharmacy in overseeing day-to-day operations and shaping our team for the future.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Master’s Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent acceptable for registration by the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Current and continued registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as practicing member
- Postgraduate Diploma in mental health pharmacy and therapeutics, or equivalent clinical experience
- Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and a member or willing to work towards Faculty membership
- Member of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy
Desirable criteria
- Certificate in Management studies or equivalent management experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Ability to influence senior pharmacy, management and healthcare staff
- Ability to critically evaluate clinical material and disseminate findings to others. Demonstrate an advanced level of clinical knowledge and skills
- Broad technical, clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge relating to the promotion of high quality, effective and cost efficient use of medicines
- The ability to identify and manage risks. Good organisational skills e.g. prioritising and time management, managing others, and able to work as part of a team or alone
Skills/Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant post-registration clinical pharmacy experience gained working within a number of specialities within acute, community and mental health settings
- Experience of providing relevant pharmacy services within a mental health / learning disability setting
- Experience of working with senior healthcare professionals outside of pharmacy to achieve goals.
- Experience of co-ordinating and leading clinical audit and able to demonstrate how it is used to improve practice
- Experience of managing, developing and mentoring staff
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Matthew Ling
- Job title
- Director of Pharmacy
- Email address
- [email protected]
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