Band 8b Deputy Chief Pharmacist - Safety and Quality

NHS; Gravelly Hill; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health organization in the UK is seeking a Deputy Chief Pharmacist for their Central Pharmacy. This role involves providing senior leadership for Medicines Optimisation and leading medication safety functions within the Trust. The successful candidate will need significant NHS pharmacy experience, a strong background in psychiatric pharmacy, and excellent communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in an inclusive and supportive team committed to delivering high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Substantial post-registration experience within NHS pharmacy practice.
• Demonstrable ability to lead and motivate a team.
• Experience of managing budgets and overseeing financial information.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chief Pharmacist in Medicines Optimisation.
• Lead and implement pharmacy-led medication safety functions.
• Engage patients and colleagues in service development.

Skills

MPharm or equivalent experience

Registered with the GPhC

Postgraduate clinical qualification to diploma level

Practical experience of psychiatric pharmacy

Good knowledge of Mental Health legislation

Excellent verbal & written communication skills

Ability to analyse complex information

Demonstrable experience of delivering training

Education

Postgraduate qualification in psychiatric pharmacy

Job description

Go back Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Band 8b Deputy Chief Pharmacist - Safety and Quality

The closing date is 28 December 2025

A truly exciting time to join the organisation, develop your career and deliver high quality and meaningful patient outcomes within mental health and specialist services.

We are looking for a highly motivated, dedicated and experienced pharmacist to join our dynamic, inclusive and ambitious team, based at the Central Pharmacy site in Erdington.

We are a forward thinking, well-developed and highly respected pharmacy team, with even higher aspirations to deliver exemplar pharmaceutical care.

Main duties of the job

You will be a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, supporting the Chief Pharmacist in providing senior leadership for Medicines Optimisation and ensuring the Trust-wide delivery of safe, effective and efficient medicines use. You will also deputise for the Chief Pharmacist on a range of issues and support the strategic planning of pharmacy services for the future, whilst maintaining your clinical skills.

As Trust Medication Safety Officer you will lead, develop and implement the pharmacy-led medication safety function and medicines-related quality programmes within the Trust.

The post holder will also be responsible for leading the innovative operational and clinical delivery of pharmacy services to the Children and Young Persons (CYP) Directorate. You will be able to identify areas of development and opportunity within our services, engaging patients and colleagues in the development of effective solutions, including establishing pharmacist independent prescribing roles.

About us

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Job responsibilities

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Essential and desirable

• MPharm or equivalent experience
• Registered with the GPhC
• Postgraduate clinical qualification to diploma level or above
• Registered independent prescriber (or willing to undertake Independent Prescriber training)
• Substantial post-registration experience within NHS pharmacy practice
• Practical experience of psychiatric pharmacy
• Good clinical knowledge of psychiatric medication
• Good understanding of contemporary Medications Safety Issues
• Good knowledge and understanding of clinical governance
• Confident and assertive when dealing with other professionals
• Good knowledge of Mental Health legislation with regard to consent to treatment
• Good knowledge of all medicines legislation relating to the supply and storage of medicines
• Demonstrates own CPD record / or documented CPD portfolio
• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills with demonstrable ability to present complex or sensitive information to large groups of clinicians or senior managers
• Demonstrates ability to organise and prioritise workload
• Demonstrates ability to motivate self and others
• Demonstrable ability to lead and motivate a team
• Demonstrable experience of delivering a pharmacy-led medication safety function and leading medicines-related audit programmes within a Trust
• Demonstrable experience of Financial/resource management
• Experience of delivering training to all grades of staff
• Ability to analyse highly complex information, both clinical, financial and managerial
• Experience of supporting Drug and Therapeutics/Medicines Optimisation Committees
• English language competency sufficient to communicate effectively with all staff and deliver education sessions in an appropriate form ILETS level 7 across all domains for overseas pharmacists who did not train in English
• Advanced computer, keyboard and mouse skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates empathy towards client groups
• Demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy and numeracy skills
• Independently mobile and able to travel to sites across the region
• Postgraduate qualification in psychiatric pharmacy
• Membership of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy
• Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Post Graduate qualification in Psychiatric Therapeutics Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy
• Experience of managing budgets and overseeing financial information
• Senior clinical pharmacy experience working within Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Venture House, Central Pharmacy

Fentham Road (access via Slade Road), Highcroft Site

£64,455 to £74,896 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Reference number

436-7620440

Job locations

Venture House, Central Pharmacy

Fentham Road (access via Slade Road), Highcroft Site