Head Of Medicines Optimisation And Safety

Provide Community (Provide Cic); Colchester; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Provide CIC in Colchester is seeking a Head of Medicines Optimisation and Safety to lead medicines governance, safety and optimisation across the organisation. You will work with the Director of Pharmacy, Quality and AHP to set strategic direction and ensure safe, effective and equitable use of medicines.

The role requires GPhC-registered pharmacists with strong leadership, communications and a track record in quality improvement, service transformation and reducing harm.

Qualifications

• Essential: GPhC Registered Pharmacist
• Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management, patient safety or quality improvement

Responsibilities

• Lead medicines optimisation, medicines safety and governance across the organisation.
• Develop and deliver medicines strategies; provide assurance on medicines-related risks and governance.
• Drive continuous improvement through quality improvement and transformational change; oversee prescribing governance and controlled drugs management.
• Collaborate with clinicians, senior leaders and system partners to improve medicines-related outcomes and reduce unwarranted variation.
• Provide professional leadership for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and prescribing professionals; foster a learning and high-performing culture.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Medicines optimisation

Governance

Patient safety

Quality improvement

Collaboration with clinicians

Education

GPhC Registered Pharmacist

Postgraduate leadership/quality improvement (Desirable)

Job description

Head of Medicines Optimisation and Safety

Location: Colchester

Closing date: 06 November 2026

Job summary

Are you an experienced pharmacy leader passionate about improving patient safety, quality and outcomes?

We are seeking an inspiring Head of Medicines Optimisation and Safety to lead our medicines safety, optimisation and governance agenda. Working closely with the Director of Pharmacy, Quality and AHP, you will provide strategic leadership across the organisation, ensuring the safe, effective and equitable use of medicines while driving innovation and continuous improvement.

This influential role offers the opportunity to shape strategy, lead transformational change and provide expert assurance on medicines governance, prescribing and medicines-related risks. You will work collaboratively with clinical teams, senior leaders and system partners to improve quality, reduce harm and deliver better outcomes for patients and communities.

We are looking for a GPhC-registered pharmacist with significant leadership experience, excellent communication skills and a proven track record in medicines optimisation, governance, quality improvement and service transformation. You will be a collaborative leader who can inspire teams, influence change and foster a culture of learning, innovation and excellence.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact on patient care, develop high-performing teams and shape the future of medicines optimisation across our services.

Join us and help deliver safer care, better outcomes and a healthier future for the communities we serve.

Main duties of the job

As Head of Medicines Optimisation and Safety, you will provide strategic leadership for medicines optimisation, medicines safety and governance across the organisation, ensuring the safe, effective and equitable use of medicines to improve patient outcomes and experience.

You will lead the development and delivery of medicines strategies, provide expert advice and assurance on medicines-related risks and governance, and drive continuous improvement through innovation, quality improvement and transformational change. The role includes overseeing prescribing governance, controlled drugs management and medicines safety frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory and professional standards.

Working collaboratively with clinicians, senior leaders and system partners, you will improve medicines-related outcomes, reduce unwarranted variation and support integrated care pathways. You will also provide professional leadership for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and prescribing professionals, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture focused on learning, improvement and patient-centred care.

This is a unique opportunity to influence organisational strategy, shape the future of medicines optimisation and safety, and deliver safer care and better outcomes for the communities we serve.

About us

Provide is a Community Interest Company (social enterprise). We deliver a broad range of health and social care services in the community, and are committed to making sure that they are safe, responsive and of high quality. Provide is owned by its employees and has primarily social objectives. Any profits we make are reinvested into the local community or back into delivering services.

We work from a variety of community settings, such as community hospitals, community clinics, schools, nursing homes and primary care settings, as well as within people's homes to provide more than 40 services to children, families and adults across Essex, Dorset, East Anglia and the North of England.

A highly respected, award winning health and social care provider.

We expect our colleagues to demonstrate and uphold our values at all times:

Vision: Transforming Lives

Values: Care, Innovation and Compassion

Mission: An ambitious, employee owned social enterprise, growing in size and influence. We transform lives by treating, caring and educating people.

Provide is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills, proud to have LGBT+, Ethnic Minority and Men's Networks.

We welcome applicants from underrepresented groups.

Details

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 828-PROVIDE4357

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: GPhC Registered Pharmacist

Experience

• Essential: Comprehensive knowledge of relevant medicines legislation, professional standards, clinical governance and regulatory requirements
• Essential: Significant senior pharmacy leadership experience within a complex healthcare environment
• Essential: Evidence of leading improvements in quality and patient safety and managing complex medicines-related risks.
• Desirable: Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management, patient safety or quality improvement.
• Desirable: Knowledge of the medicines-related challenges associated with transitions of care and working across organisational boundaries
• Desirable: Senior pharmacy leadership experience within community health services and/or integrated health and social care
• Desirable: Experience as a Medication Safety Officer or equivalent. Experience of controlled drugs governance.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Provide CIC

Address: Provide HQ, 900 The Crescent, Colchester, CO4 9YQ, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.provide.org.uk/

Contact: Nisha Desai, Group Director Pharmacy, Quality and AHP, [e-mail], 07580911601

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