Highly Specialist Clinical Pharmacist - Drug Initiation Service

The NHS Lanarkshire Acute Pharmacy Service is delighted to offer an exciting 12‑month fixed‑term opportunity for an ambitious and motivated pharmacist to lead our newly developed Drug Initiation Service (DIS)—a nationally recognised model of excellence in the safe initiation and monitoring of high‑risk medicines.

This senior leadership role offers significant opportunities for advanced practice, service development, research and multidisciplinary team working within an innovative and modern clinical setting. The post will be based in our DIS Hub suite due to be newly refurbished, designed to support collaborative working, digital innovation and high‑quality, person‑centred care.

About The Drug Initiation Service

The DIS Hub oversees the initiation and early monitoring of high‑risk medicines such as methotrexate, azathioprine and sulfasalazine, working closely with specialist teams across acute and primary care. This modern, patient‑focused service was established to provide dedicated support to patients throughout their initial monitoring period. The service has been nationally recognised, receiving Hospital Pharmacy Team of the Year at the Scottish Pharmacy Awards 2025, highlighting the invaluable contribution of the Clinical Pharmacy team.

The Role

This is a dynamic and strategic post that combines advanced clinical practice, operational leadership and service innovation.

As the Highly Specialist Clinical Pharmacist, you will lead and continue to develop the Drug Initiation Service by providing strategic and operational oversight, managing a multidisciplinary team, and ensuring consistently high standards of quality, governance and performance.

You will work closely with specialist clinicians across acute services, making autonomous prescribing decisions, interpreting clinical results, managing adverse reactions and leading escalation pathways for patients initiating high‑risk medicines.

The role also drives innovation through pathway redesign and digital transformation—including developments such as printing directly onto HBP prescriptions—and leading the review and modernisation of Drug Specific Monitoring Documents in line with national guidance. Overall, you will help shape the continued development of a key service, ensuring it remains robust, scalable and responsive to growing demand.

Advanced Practice

This role provides excellent opportunities to practise at, or evidence progression towards, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Advanced Practice Curriculum, with clear development opportunities across all four pillars.

Clinical Practice

Build substantial experience in advanced clinical decision‑making and independent prescribing during the initiation and monitoring of high‑risk medicines. You will independently interpret clinical information, manage adverse effects and deliver high‑quality, person‑centred care in collaboration with specialists.

Leadership & Management

Lead a multidisciplinary team and support the development of a major Board‑level service, influencing pathways across acute and primary care. Your role will include training, supervision and expert guidance for pharmacists, technicians, trainees and clinical colleagues.

Education

Contribute to education across the wider clinical workforce by supporting training on high‑risk medicines, monitoring approaches and digital processes.

Research

Lead research and evaluation activities, including work on early adverse‑effect risk and assessment of digital and pathway improvements to enhance the quality and safety of the service.”

“What We'll Need You To Bring

Please note for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.

It would be great if you also have

Contract type

Please note this is a fixed term post for 12 months. Where a post only has temporary funding and an existing member of NHS Lanarkshire staff wishes to apply, this will be treated as a secondment. The employee MUST already have written agreement from their line manager to be released on a secondment before applying for the post.

Location and Working Pattern

This role will be based in Pharmacy within University Hospital Hairmyres.

Whilst this advertisement may be for a specific post(s) in a particular location, applicants who are shortlisted for interview may be considered for similar vacancies in alternative locations.

Looking to find out more?

We would be delighted to discuss this post in more detail with any interested candidates. Please contact either Anthony Carson, UHH Head of Pharmacy on 01355 584 885 or [email protected] or Hannah Rae, Highly Specialist Clinical Pharmacist (Rheumatology) on 07798653868 or [email protected]

For enquiries regarding the application form or recruitment process, please contact David Murray, Recruitment Administrator on [email protected] (Please remember to include the job title and reference number in your email)

Why NHS Lanarkshire?

Join us and you will discover a supportive environment where you will have the chance to add to your skills and further your career.

Some Of NHS Lanarkshire’s Benefits Include:

NHS Lanarkshire have a range of support services on topics that can impact both on your working and personal life including occupational health, spiritual care and independent counselling. This support can be accessed using the links on this page.

Further Information

For more information on the role, please refer to the Job Description. If you’re looking for more information on the recruitment process, organisation or the services we provide, please refer to our information pack, or our recruitment webpage.

Additional Information For Applicants

NHS Lanarkshire is dedicated to building a diverse workforce where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed based on their skills, knowledge, and talent—regardless of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or care experience* or any other dimension that can be used to differentiate people from one another.

Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Right to Work within the UK

NHS Lanarkshire has a legal obligation to ensure that it does not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK.

We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category. UK Visas & Immigration rules are available at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to check eligibility in advance of applying for vacancies in NHS Lanarkshire.

Please note that all Band 1 and Band 2 posts are not eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route.

NHS Lanarkshire is dedicated to building a diverse workforce where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed based on their skills, knowledge, and talent—regardless of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or care experience* or any other dimension that can be used to differentiate people from one another.

Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Right to Work within the UK

NHS Lanarkshire has a legal obligation to ensure that it does not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK.

We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category. UK Visas & Immigration rules are available at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to check eligibility in advance of applying for vacancies in NHS Lanarkshire.

Please note that all Band 1 and Band 2 posts are not eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route.**