Deputy Chief Pharmacist - Medicines Optimisation

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious pharmacy leader to join our senior Pharmacy Leadership Team as Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation.

This is a high-profile Trust-wide leadership role with responsibility for medicines optimisation, medicines governance, medicines safety, medicines cost-improvement schemes and assurance across a large and complex organisation. Working closely with the Chief Pharmacist, Associate Chief Pharmacist and senior clinical leaders, you will help shape the strategic direction of medicines use across the Trust whilst ensuring the highest standards of quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance and professional practice.

You will lead a broad portfolio encompassing medicines safety, controlled drugs, medicines governance, procurement, homecare services, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions, medical gases and medicines-related policies. You will provide expert professional leadership on complex medicines legislation and governance matters and play a key role in supporting the delivery of organisational priorities through effective medicines optimisation and assurance.

This role offers an outstanding opportunity to influence strategy and decision-making at Trust, system and regional level whilst contributing to major transformation programmes, digital developments and service improvements across one of the largest hospital pharmacy services in the region.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, the Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation will provide strategic and operational leadership across medicines governance, medicines optimisation and pharmacy assurance functions.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide leadership for medicines governance, medicines safety, medicines cost-improvement schemes and assurance activities across the Trust.
• - Lead and develop the Trust's approach to medicines optimisation, ensuring alignment with national policy, legislation and best practice.
• - Act as a senior professional adviser on medicines legislation, medicines risk management and regulatory compliance.
• - Oversee key medicines governance portfolios including controlled drugs, homecare services, procurement, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions and medical gases.
• - Chair and support key governance groups including pharmacy quality, medicines safety and medicines optimisation forums.
• - Lead quality improvement, assurance and service development programmes that improve patient outcomes and support organisational priorities.
• - Develop strong working relationships with senior clinicians, executives, corporate services and external partners to influence Trust-wide decision making.
• - Deputise for the Associate Chief Pharmacist and Chief Pharmacist as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Deputy Chief Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation is a senior leadership position within the Pharmacy team, providing strategic leadership across medicines optimisation, medicines governance, assurance, quality and patient safety. The post holder will work closely with the Chief Pharmacist and Associate Chief Pharmacist to develop and deliver the Trust's medicines optimisation strategy whilst ensuring compliance with professional, statutory and regulatory requirements.

The role is responsible for providing senior oversight and assurance for a broad range of medicines governance functions, including controlled drugs, medicines safety, procurement, homecare services, unlicensed medicines, Patient Group Directions, medicines-related policies and medical gases. The post holder will provide expert advice on medicines legislation and governance and act as a recognised source of professional expertise across the Trust.

The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of medicines optimisation and governance strategies, ensuring effective systems are in place to support safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines. They will monitor performance, identify opportunities for improvement and provide assurance regarding medicines-related risks across the organisation. They will deliver medicines-related cost-improvement programmes (CIP) for the trust.

The post holder will provide leadership for key governance and assurance structures, supporting the delivery of medicines safety priorities, quality improvement programmes and organisational objectives. They will work collaboratively with clinical, operational and corporate teams to ensure medicines governance considerations are embedded within wider Trust initiatives, including digital transformation, innovation and service redesign.

A key aspect of the role will be influencing and engaging at senior levels both within and outside the organisation, representing pharmacy at Trust, system and regional forums and building effective partnerships across organisational boundaries. The post holder will contribute to strategic planning, service development and transformation programmes while fostering a culture of continual improvement, patient safety and professional excellence.

The successful candidate will join the organisation during a period of significant opportunity and change, including continued digital transformation, evolving medicines optimisation models, workforce innovation and major service developments. They will play a central role in ensuring that medicines governance, quality and assurance arrangements remain robust, innovative and responsive to future healthcare needs.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.