Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and forward-thinking pharmacist to join West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust as Principal Pharmacist – Digital Systems/Chief Pharmacy Information Officer (CPIO).
The post holder will provide strategic and professional pharmacy leadership for electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA) and other medication-related digital systems across the Trust. Working closely with pharmacy, clinical, digital and corporate teams, they will lead the development, implementation, optimisation and governance of digital medicines systems to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes, operational efficiency and the experience of patients and staff.
The successful candidate will manage the EPMA team, provide highly specialist pharmaceutical and digital expertise, and support delivery of the Trust’s Digital Medicines Strategy. They will also contribute to clinical pharmacy services, medicines governance, education and training, financial management, audit, research and service improvement.
Main duties of the job
Provide strategic and professional pharmacy leadership for EPMA and all other medication-related digital systems across the Trust.
- Lead the development and delivery of the Trust’s Digital Medicines Strategy in alignment with organisational, system and national priorities.
- Maintain pharmaceutical oversight of the design, configuration, testing, implementation, maintenance and optimisation of digital medicines systems and their interfaces.
- Provide expert advice on medicines legislation, clinical governance, patient safety, formulary compliance and the safe and effective use of medicines within digital systems.
- Lead risk assessments and investigations relating to digital medicines systems and implement actions to reduce medication-related harm.
- Work collaboratively with pharmacy, clinical, digital, finance and governance teams, as well as system suppliers and external partners.
- Manage the EPMA team and provide leadership, supervision, training and development to pharmacists and other pharmacy professionals.
- Develop and monitor performance indicators, reports and business intelligence relating to medicines use, expenditure, safety, quality and system performance.
Please see full job description attached to view main duties of role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
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.
Person specification
Personal qualities
Essential
- Keen to put patient care at the heart of work to improve outcomes and service delivery
- Motivated to deliver the highest possible standards and quality outcomes
- Willing to “be the best you can be”, continually looking for ways to improve and develop in order to reach full potential
- Confident to encourage others to develop themselves and the service through improvement, innovation and continuous development
- Able to work effectively in conjunction with others (patients, colleagues, families) to contribute to the delivery of high quality healthcare
- Build positive working relationships, respecting and valuing the contributions made by others and acting in a considerate, helpful and inclusive manner at all times
- Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes positive team working ethic
- Shares information and good practice appropriately and in a timely manner
- Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
- Maintains high levels of concentration for prolonged periods of time
- Excellent verbal and written skills
Desirable
- Able to travel
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Able to communicate effectively verbally or in writing with a wide range of healthcare professionals and patients
- Able to provide expert advice on the use of medicines to treat patients within a specialist area
- Able to manage difficult or ambiguous situations
- Able to be organised and manage time effectively and meet tight deadlines
- Able to prioritise and manage workload
- Able to demonstrate an advanced level of reasoning and judgment
- Able to present highly complex information to a large group of staff
- Able to train and supervise staff
- Able to undertake prescription review of complex medication regimes
- Attention to detail and good problem solving skills
- Proficient digital literacy
- Able to reflect and critically analyse own performance
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Extensive post-registration experience with substantial hospital experience
- Proven skills in effective leadership, successful communication, negotiation, persuasion and influence
- Extensive experience of directly working with EPMA and digital medicines systems in a development function
- Up to date knowledge of current NHS landscape and priorities including NHS digital agenda
- Experience of project management and implementation of change management
- Experience of designing and developing pharmacy service
- Experience in producing high level of reports
- Experience in providing and evaluating pharmacy education & training including mentorship
- Experience of development, implementing and/or reviewing policies, guidelines, PGDs or equivalent
- Knowledge of risk management, patient safety strategies and learning culture
- Knowledge of how the delivery of the clinical pharmacy service must meet the needs of local and national priorities
Desirable
- Experience of working at ICS level
- Experience in the provision of pharmacy expertise to the clinical governance agenda
- Experience of providing post-graduate level training and/or education
- Experience of managing the entry of new medicines into a hospital formulary
- Experience of budgetary responsibility and/or experience with high cost drugs
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Registered as a pharmacist with The General Pharmaceutical Council
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
Desirable
- Leadership/Management qualification or equivalent
- Project management qualification
- MSc in Clinical or Technical Pharmacy
- Relevant IT qualification
- Independent prescribing qualification
- Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Pharmacist for Digital Systems with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It is listed as a Pharmacist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 Per annum, pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 02 Sep 2026.
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