Chief Pharmacist | West London NHS Trust

West London Mental Health Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 119,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

West London NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Chief Pharmacist to lead pharmacy services, medicines optimisation and medicines governance across the trust. Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, you will lead around 100 pharmacy staff and shape strategic direction for mental health, community and specialist care.

This senior role requires a proven track record in healthcare leadership, managing large budgets, and delivering service improvements while ensuring safe and effective use of

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with full UK registration.
• Experience leading pharmacy services in a large NHS trust.
• Strong governance, safety and quality focus.
• Proven budget and workforce management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and professional leadership for all pharmacy services across the Trust.
• Drive medicines optimisation and medicines governance initiatives.
• Lead a multidisciplinary pharmacy team and manage significant budgets.
• Collaborate with executive colleagues and external partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Medicines optimisation

Medicines governance

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Pharmacist registration

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and visionary Chief Pharmacist to lead pharmacy services, medicines optimisation and medicines governance across West London NHS Trust. This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to shape strategic direction, champion high-quality patient care and support the continued development of services across a diverse organisation delivering mental health, community and specialist care.

Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, you will lead a team of around 100 pharmacy staff, drive strategic developments across the Trust and wider health system, and act as the Trust's Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished pharmacy leader to have a significant impact on service quality, workforce development and the future delivery of pharmacy services.

As Chief Pharmacist, you will provide strategic and professional leadership for all pharmacy services across the Trust. You will be accountable for medicines optimisation, medicines governance, controlled drugs management, financial and workforce leadership, and compliance with relevant legislation and national standards.

Working closely with executive colleagues, Integrated Care Board partners and external stakeholders, you will lead service improvement, quality improvement and research initiatives, ensure the safe and effective use of medicines, manage significant budgets and resources, and contribute to the development of pharmacy services.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

This advert closes on Friday 20 Nov 2026

£118,919 - £135,920 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)