Principal Pharmacist, Education, Training and Development

Job overview

This exciting new post has been created to develop and deliver a workforce development strategy for the pharmacy department that supports the workforce plan ambitions of the trust, the ICS and NHS England.  The post holder will oversee the education and training needs of pharmacy professionals and support staff and provide strategic and operational leadership of training programmes undertaken by staff.  Supported by a very experienced senior leadership team, they will co-ordinate, develop and deliver medicines training to staff across the wider trust, and act as the pharmacy on-call manager.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will take on overall responsibility for the delivery of education and training for pharmacy staff at the trust.  They will lead on the development and implementation of a pharmacy education, training and workforce development strategy.  The postholder will lead on the delivery of trainee pharmacist training and early career/newly qualified pharmacist training, and lead the department contribution to undergraduate teaching at our academic partner organisation, King’s College London.  The postholder will represent the pharmacy department at trust, system, regional and national education training fora.

Managing the out-of-hours service will include creating of rotas for the on-call pharmacy service as well as providing clinical leadership to pharmacists participating in the service.

We are looking for someone who has experience of working at a senior level in pharmacy who is enthusiastic about taking on the responsibility of workforce development for one of the world’s leading mental health pharmacy departments.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder is expected to develop and deliver a workforce development strategy for the pharmacy team that supports the workforce plan ambitions of the Trust, the ICS and NHS England.

They will oversee the education and training needs of pharmacy professionals and pharmacy support staff to ensure they have sufficient skills and knowledge to competently do their job and provide high quality and safe pharmacy services.

They will provide strategic and operational leadership of key training programmes including pharmacist foundation training, and early career / newly qualified pathways, as well as co-ordinating undergraduate pharmacy placements in conjunction with King’s College London to ensure that all components are delivered to the appropriate syllabuses and standards, supporting practical application of theoretical clinical knowledge.

Together with professional leads and the Pharmacy Leadership Team the post holder will co-ordinate, develop and deliver relevant medicines training to other clinical and non-clinical staff within the trust to ensure that teaching resources are appropriate, and reviewed and maintained in line with Trust expectations.

The post holder will also act as pharmacy On-Call manager, to ensure the pharmacy On-Call service meets the needs of the Trust and that weekend and bank holiday services are planned and delivered in accordance with operational plans.  They will oversee, review and develop the pharmacy out-of-hours service to ensure safe and effective medicines management service to all patients and staff, and provide clinical leadership to pharmacists participating in the pharmacy out-of-hours service.