Deputy Chief Pharmacist – Medicines Safety and Medicines Optimisation

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Hospital Trust in the UK is seeking a Deputy Chief Pharmacist specializing in Medicines Safety and Optimisation. The role involves leading the pharmacy team, managing medicines governance, and developing innovative strategies to improve patient outcomes. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in clinical governance and demonstrate strong leadership skills. Join a dynamic team dedicated to providing high-quality patient care in a modern healthcare environment.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Diverse workforce commitment

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in medicines optimisation and governance.
• Current registration as a pharmacist with the GPhC.
• Experience in leadership of large teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of medicines safety strategies.
• Manage the Lead Pharmacist and Principal Pharmacy Technician.
• Provide assurance regarding quality, patient safety, and risk management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Knowledge of clinical governance

Education

Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy (MPharm)

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Formal management qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

ePMA

Job description

Overview

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust invites applications for the role of Deputy Chief Pharmacist - Medicines Safety and Medicines Optimisation.

The post holder will be a key senior leader in the organisation, leading the medicines optimisation and medicines safety agendas with the Clinical Director of Pharmacy. This is a great career development opportunity for current senior leaders in pharmacy, giving the opportunity to inspire teams, promote the pharmacy profession internally and externally to the trust, and lead change across an organisation.

We welcome applications from dynamic and experienced pharmacy leaders who are passionate about delivering high standards in medicines governance and medicines optimisation and improving the outcomes associated with medicines.

You will have extensive and expert knowledge and experience in medicines optimisation and medicines governance and developing systems and processes to provide assurance regarding quality, patient safety, risk management and governance.

You will have a creative approach and ability to articulate a clear vision for the delivery of Medicines Optimisation and Safety and the associated workforce developments required to deliver this as well as providing assurance to the Trust and regulatory bodies.

Main duties of the job

• Be a proactive member of the Pharmacy Senior Leadership team and deputise for the Clinical Director of Pharmacy as required and in their absence.
• To lead on the development of a clear vision and strategy for the future delivery and transformation of the Medicines Safety Agenda for the Trust and the Pharmacy Department
• To be the nominated Medicines Safety Officer for UHNM
• To work with the Clinical Director of Pharmacy, the Trust Chief Medical Officer and Trust Chief Nursing Officer in setting the agenda and coordinating the actions and outcomes for the Trust Medicines Optimisation and Safety Group and any other relevant Trust level meetings.
• To line manage the Lead Pharmacist for Best Value Medicines and Clinical Commissioning including the Pharmacy Homecare Service.
• To line manage the Principal Pharmacy Technician for Pharmacy Procurement and Distribution
• To lead on, and be an expert in, the interpretation and explanation of medicines use and expenditure data in order to optimise the use of medicines across the organisation to improve the clinical effectiveness of treatment and improve patient outcomes.
• To lead on the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of long-term strategies, operational policies and standards relating to medicines optimisation.
• To be an active member of the Pharmacy Senior Leadership Team and be invested in the development of the department and its people.

About us

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we\'re highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by our staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Job responsibilities

You will have a sound understanding of the regulatory requirements relating to medicines use, excellent working knowledge of clinical governance and risk management and a good knowledge of secondary care commissioning / contracting arrangements e.g. high cost medicines.

This role offers the opportunity for the postholder to work closely with senior Trust employees as well as commissioners (e.g. ICS and NHS England). For this you will need a proven high standard of written and verbal communication skills.

You will actively support the engagement of pharmacy staff and develop a culture that encourages excellence in clinical practice, facilitates team working and multi-professional delivery of care. You will be supported in your role by the Clinical Director of Pharmacy and be a proactive member of the Pharmacy Senior Leadership team, contributing to the development and implementation of the Pharmacy Directorate Strategy, Medicines Optimisation Strategy and Annual Business Plan. You will deputise for the Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation as required and in her/his absence.

Our Pharmacy team is well respected across the organisation and delivers services across our two hospital sites, Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital. We have a well-established third-party out-patient dispensing service and hold several external accreditations e.g., MHRA, GMP and GDP licenses. We have over 300 WTE staff including registered pharmacists, registered pharmacy technicians, pharmacy support workers, scientists, data analysts, nurse and support managers / staff. We actively encourage pharmacy practice research and have presented at national pharmacy conferences and won a few national awards for our innovative work. At a regional and national level we have contributed to key pharmacy documents (e.g. 7 day pharmacy services, peri-operative care, National Aseptic Review).

The Trust is currently implementing electronic prescribing across all wards and there is a programme for the replacement of our automated dispensing system. The Pharmacy Directorate has recently successfully demonstrated improvements in service following substantial investment with the opportunity to bid for further investment.

For more information on this exciting post please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) (or equivalent pharmacy degree) and 1 year pre-registration training, portfolio based experience and final examination
• Current registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) of Great Britain
• Mandatory continuing professional development to support revalidation with GPhC
• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• Formal management qualification or equivalent experiential learning
• Formal leadership qualification or equivalent experiential learning
• Qualified as a pharmacist independent or supplementary prescriber with relevant annotation on GPhC register
• Postgraduate Masters degree and / or Doctorate in Pharmacy (DPharm)
• Registered member with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
• Registered member with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
• Member of the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association and / or Member of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists
• Completion of the CPPE Aspiring Chief Pharmacist course (or equivalent)
• Other relevant qualification (e.g. coaching, teaching, train the trainer, mentoring)

Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience

• Demonstrates expert knowledge and advanced practice in medicines optimisation and/or medicines procurement and/or medicines safety and governance
• Creative approach and ability to articulate a clear vision for the delivery of Medicines Optimisation and Safety and the associated workforce developments required to deliver this.
• Clear understanding of the medicines optimisation agenda
• Clear understanding of the medicines safety and clinical governance agenda
• Clear understanding of regulatory requirements for medicines use including Good Distribution Practice for Wholesaler Dealer Licence
• Good knowledge of secondary care commissioning / contracting arrangements e.g. high cost medicines
• Excellent working knowledge of clinical governance and risk management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - has demonstrable skills in report writing to a high standard
• Knowledge of key NHS and national Pharmacy documents and their implications for pharmacy practice.
• Proven experience and skills in leadership of large teams and projects
• Able to provide and receive information which requires tact, persuasive or reassurance skills, or where there are barriers to understanding and ability to communicate in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere
• Highly developed analytical skills and able to interpret complex, sensitive or contentious information
• Ability to convey information in a clear and concise way to large groups of pharmacy staff, clinicians, nurses and / or senior managers
• Demonstrates innovative thought and good problem solving skills
• Excellent negotiating and influencing skills, particularly with service managers and in demanding circumstances
• Excellent IT skills and computer literate using Microsoft software, ESR, Excel databases and other software systems (e.g. ePMA).
• Ability to manage change in a complex environment
• Able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and renew specialist pharmaceutical care programmes for patients
• Demonstrates ability to make decisions in the absence of evidence or data or where there is conflicting evidence or data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills Developing links and / or teaching with academia (post and under graduate)
• Practice research background with evidence of publications, abstracts, presentations, audits etc
• Experience of working in a large tertiary teaching hospital
• Evidence of professional involvement at a regional or national level
• Must have three years acute hospital experience from with the last five years

Personal Qualities

• Remains calm under pressure, personally effective in all situations and able to change communication style to suit the audience
• Resilient and able to successfully manage own work life balance
• Able to identify and prioritise tasks and organise and plan own work to meet deadlines along with prioritising work for others
• Enthusiastic about pharmacy and the positive contributes to patient centred care and patient
• Awareness of the staff engagement agenda and initiatives to improve well-being of staff
• Highly self-motivated and able to motivate the clinical pharmacy team.
• Interested in the development of others (e.g. mentoring; coaching)

Other

• Able to work flexibly
• Able to demonstrate Trust Values and Behaviours
• Able to travel between hospital sites.
• Ability to work weekends and Bank Holidays.

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.

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust