Post-registration foundation pharmacist

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

The Department will have its organisational base in Acute Services and covers the entire NHS GG&C system, including CHCPs, Mental Health Partnership, Health Improvement Network and the NHS Board.

The post is based at one of the mental health sites (Gartnavel Royal, Leverndale or Stobhill)

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

Permanent, Full time

Shift Pattern - Monday-Friday 09:0- 17:00, with one day finish at 16:30 Grade of previous postholder

Base location - Royal Hospital for Children

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

• Deliver competent pharmaceutical care on designated wards, ensuring safe, effective and cost‑efficient prescribing and medicines administration.

Identify, document and resolve pharmaceutical care issues, including drug histories, care planning and monitoring of clinical parameters.

Check and clinically validate discharge prescriptions.

Participate in ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings.

Provide advice to prescribers, healthcare staff and patients on dosing, interactions, side effects, TDM and cost‑effective treatment choices.

Ensure continuity of care through communication with primary care teams.

Support clinical governance and follow national/local guidelines.

Maintain and develop clinical pharmacy services such as formulary management, use of patients’ own medicines, self‑medication schemes, discharge planning and patient education.

Monitor medicines use and contribute to directorate reporting.

Take professional responsibility for accurate, legal prescribing documentation.

Dispensing

• Provide inpatient and outpatient dispensing services in line with departmental policies.
• Professionally review, check and release discharge prescriptions, communicating with primary care when needed.
• Support preparation of extemporaneous products and pre‑packs.
  
  

Medicines Information

• Provide evidence‑based medicines information using appropriate search strategies and documented responses.
• Prioritise and manage enquiry workload, agreeing deadlines and reviewing cases with MI pharmacists.
• Use enquiry systems appropriately, maintaining confidentiality and data protection.
• Participate in quality assurance processes, including peer review and incident reporting.
  
  

Education and Training

• Complete and document the post‑registration foundation training programme.
• Participate in ongoing education, training sessions and peer review to support professional development.
• Assist in training and supervising pharmacy students, preregistration graduates, technicians and other healthcare staff.
• Maintain CPD in line with Royal Pharmaceutical Society expectations.
  
  

General Duties

• Contribute to medicines use reviews, evaluations, research and clinical audit.
• Identify and manage risks related to medicines use, escalating when necessary.
• Work in accordance with legal and professional requirements (e.g., Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, COSHH, RPS Code of Ethics).

Ensure secure storage and handling of medicines at ward and departmental level.

Maintain safe working procedures.

Write, review and maintain IV monographs with senior pharmacist input.

Carry out routine drug checks, including controlled drugs.

Support service development and redesign.

Deputise for senior pharmacists when required.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

Master’s degree in pharmacy or equivalent is essential

• Foundation training year completed, and examination passed is essential
• Be willing to undertake the post-registration foundation training programme
  
  

Knowledge Required

• Medicines Act 1968
• Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• The Poisons Act 1972
• COSHH, HASAWA (1974)
• Medicines, Ethics and Practice: A Guide for Pharmacists
• Pharmacy Dept Standard Operating Procedures
  
  

Experience Required

• Good communication skills (verbal, written and formal presentations)
• Ability to form and maintain working relationships with colleagues and patients

Ability to work to deadlines

Personal organisational skills

Committed to continuing professional development

Good numeracy skills

Ability to work to deadlines

Personal organisational skills

Computer literacy

Knowledge of Health and Safety and Infection Control protocols

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
  
  

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For An Informal Discussion, Please Contact

Susan Kafka; Shahad Abbas, Lead Clinical Pharmacist W&C, Advanced Pharmacist, Paediatric Antimicrobials and Medicine -Susan.kafka@nhs.scot Shahad.abbas@nhs.scot - 0141 452 4987, 0141 452 4952

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates

This post may close early due to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to provide shortlisting feedback.  

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application, but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.
  
  

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you, not an AI tool.

From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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