Director of Medicines & Governance

WellBN; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

WellBN in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced Director of Medicines & Governance to lead medicines optimisation, prescribing governance and clinical governance across our multi-site GP practice network.

You will shape strategy, drive quality improvement, oversee patient safety and risk management, and ensure compliance with CQC and NHS requirements while supporting NHS and PCN engagement.

Qualifications

• Registered clinician with the appropriate professional body (GPhC/GMC/NMC).
• Postgraduate leadership/management qualification preferred.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in primary care/NHS.
• Strong medicines optimisation and prescribing governance knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for medicines optimisation, prescribing governance and clinical governance across WellBN.
• Lead pharmacy and medicines management across multi-site practice.
• Oversee patient safety, risk management and incident reporting.
• Ensure CQC readiness and NHS regulatory compliance.
• Represent WellBN at PCN, ICB and NHS meetings.

Skills

Medicines optimisation

Governance leadership

Clinical governance

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Strategy development

Education

Postgraduate qualification in leadership or management

Registration with GPhC/GMC/NMC

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and strategic clinical leader to join WellBN as our Director of Medicines & Governance. This is a temporary senior leadership role with the potential to become permanent. You will be responsible for shaping our medicines optimisation strategy, strengthening clinical governance, and ensuring the highest standards of patient safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across our practice.

Working closely with the Partners and senior leadership team, you will lead our pharmacy and medicines management team, drive continuous improvement, and support the delivery of outstanding patient care across all WellBN sites.

Main duties of the job

The Director of Medicines & Governance will provide executive leadership for medicines optimisation, prescribing governance and clinical governance across the organisation. The role includes leading medicines-related audits and quality improvement programmes, overseeing patient safety and risk management systems, ensuring compliance with CQC and NHS regulatory requirements, and supporting the delivery of QOF and enhanced services.

The postholder will also lead and develop the pharmacy team, provide strategic assurance to the leadership team, and represent WellBN at PCN, ICB and wider NHS meetings.

About us

WellBN is a progressive multi-site GP practice providing primary care across Brighton & Hove. We are committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred healthcare through clinical excellence, innovation and collaborative working.

Our teams work across multiple sites to provide accessible services for our diverse local communities. We value continuous improvement, strong governance and a supportive working environment where staff are encouraged to develop and contribute to the future of primary care.

Job responsibilities

The Director of Medicines & Governance is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for medicines optimisation, prescribing governance, clinical governance and regulatory compliance across WellBN's multi-site practice.

Working closely with the Partners and senior leadership team, the postholder will lead the pharmacy and medicines management team, oversee patient safety and risk management systems, and ensure compliance with CQC standards and NHS contractual requirements.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Director of Medicines & Governance is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for medicines optimisation, prescribing governance, clinical governance and regulatory compliance across WellBN's multi-site practice.

Working closely with the Partners and senior leadership team, the postholder will lead the pharmacy and medicines management team, oversee patient safety and risk management systems, and ensure compliance with CQC standards and NHS contractual requirements.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Medicines Optimisation and Prescribing Governance

• Lead the medicines optimisation strategy across all practice sites.

• Oversee prescribing quality, safety and cost-effectiveness.

• Develop and implement systems to support evidence-based prescribing.

• Lead medicines-related audits and improvement programmes.

• Monitor prescribing performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Clinical Governance and Patient Safety

• Provide strategic leadership for clinical governance across the practice.

• Oversee patient safety, risk management and incident reporting processes.

• Promote a culture of learning, openness and continuous improvement.

• Support the investigation of significant events and implementation of learning.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Lead medicines-related CQC readiness and ongoing compliance activity.

• Ensure governance policies and procedures remain current and compliant.

• Coordinate quality assurance programmes across all sites.

• Provide governance and assurance reports to Partners and senior leaders.

Quality Improvement and Audit

• Develop and deliver the annual medicines audit and quality improvement programme.

• Monitor quality indicators and service performance data.

• Use data to drive improvements in safety, quality and efficiency.

• Support innovation and service redesign.

Leadership and Management

• Lead, support and develop the pharmacy and medicines management team.

• Provide professional leadership, coaching and mentorship.

• Promote staff engagement, wellbeing and development.

Strategic and External Leadership

• Support delivery of QOF and enhanced service requirements.

• Contribute to organisational strategy and business planning.

• Represent WellBN at PCN, ICB and wider NHS meetings.

• Build effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and partner organisations.

• Identify Opportunities for efficiency and service improvement.

• Support achievement of contractual and organisational objectives.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Current professional registration with the GPhC, GMC, NMC or another relevant professional body.
• Postgraduate qualification in leadership or management.

Skills and Attributes

• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical colleagues across a multi-site organisation.
• Ability to use data, evidence and performance information to drive improvement.
• Strong commitment to patient safety, quality improvement and good governance.

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within primary care or NHS services.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of medicines optimisation and prescribing governance.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, risk management and patient safety.
• Experience of leading quality improvement and audit programmes.
• Knowledge and understanding of CQC standards, NHS contractual requirements and relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of working at PCN, ICB or wider system leadership level.
• Experience of leading large-scale transformation programmes.

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.