Lead Pharmacist - EPMA

North Bristol NHS Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Lead Pharmacist for Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) at Southmead Hospital. The post leads the EPMA team, shaping digital medicines services and ensuring governance, safety, and performance across the Trust.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic development, and collaboration with Pharmacy, Digital teams and regional networks; prior hospital EPMA or IT pharmacy experience is advantageous.

Qualifications

• UK GPhC registered Pharmacist with hospital experience.
• Clinical diploma or recognised postgraduate qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).

Responsibilities

• Lead EPMA pharmacy service including strategic development and governance.
• Oversee system builds, configuration and safety reviews of EPMA.
• Provide leadership and development of staff involved in EPMA.
• Collaborate with Pharmacy, Digital teams and regional/national networks for interoperability.
• Represent the Trust at regional and national EPMA forums.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Communication

Change management

Pharmacy IT

Team collaboration

Education

UK GPhC registered Pharmacist

Clinical diploma or postgraduate qualification

Evidence of CPD

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade Band 8b Contract 12 months (Fixed term for 12 months/Secondment considered for Internal) Hours 37.5 hours per week (Full time to include weekend working 1 in 6) Job ref 339-CCS6076-DAC

Site Southmead Hospital Town Bristol Salary £66,582 - £77,368 per annum, pro rata for part time roles Salary period Yearly Closing 23/08/2026 23:59 Interview date 04/09/2026

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

Lead Pharmacist Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA)– Band 8B (Fixed Term - 12 Months)

Southmead Hospital (part of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust) has recently implemented EPMA moving into the maintenance and optimisation stage of our journey. We are looking for someone to work at the forefront of EPMA and lead the pharmacy EPMA team.The post holder will need to havestrongleadership skillsas well asthe enthusiasm,visionand negotiation skills towork with stakeholders across the organisation to help further develop this patient safety initiative.

WHYAPPLY: Thisrole isa great opportunityto:

• Shapehow EPMA evolves at Southmead Hospital.
• Implement innovative ways to improve patient flow and optimise resources.
• Engagement with the digital agenda, especially in the optimisation of dashboards to demonstrate service performance.
• Professional Development – including leadership programmes.
• Great Team – work closely with the divisions, a supportive senior pharmacy structure and specialist pharmacists.

YOU: We are looking for candidates with:

• Strong leadership skills
• Ability to motivate staff and develop effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Passion to further developahigh-qualityservice.
• Enthusiasm for service development and innovation
• Management Skills

Main duties of the job

• Lead pharmacist for the clinical and strategic development, implementation, optimisation and ongoing clinical governance of EPMA across SHOU, ensuring delivery of a safe, patient-focused, progressive, responsive and efficient digital medicines service.
• Lead the clinical governance, assurance and lifecycle management of EPMA., including system configuration, medicines content, protocols, clinical workflows, safety reviews, risk management, testing and optimisation to ensure the system remains safe, effective and aligned with national standards and best practice.
• Provide strategic leadership for the ongoing development of digital medicines services, working collaboratively with Pharmacy, Clinical Services, Digital teams, suppliers and regional/national networks to support interoperability, innovation and future transformation.
• Represent the Trust at regional and national forums relating to EPMA, digital medicines and medicines safety, contributing to the development of best practice and future strategy.
• Provide leadership, supervision and development of pharmacy staff involved in EPMA delivery, ensuring appropriate expertise, resilience and capability within the service.
• Participate in the provision of clinical pharmacy services to a designated area, maintaining clinical credibility and supporting safe, effective and evidence-based medicines use.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert

Leadership and team management

• Provide professional leadership for the EPMA Pharmacy service, acting as the recognised Pharmacy expert for EPMA.
• To represent Pharmacy, and where appropriate the Trust, in all internal and external forums concerning EPMA.
• To establish links with other NHS Trusts and Healthcare organisations around EPMA.
• To be the lead with responsibility for training of Pharmacy staff in the use and application of EPMA.
• Competently lead the change to ensure engagement of all stakeholders.
• To line-manage and develop allocated staff.
• Produce performance reports for the defined areas of responsibility.
• To be responsible for the development, updating and maintenance of the medicines database supporting EPMA.
• To provide the Director of Pharmacy with details of output, performance, and activity at specified time intervals in a format agreed with the Director of Pharmacy.
• To ensure the EPMA system adheres to relevant national/local standards e.g. RPS guidance, information governance, Medicines Act.
• Critically examine working practices within the department to identify cost improvements and effective measures, develop and implement action plans, especially in relation to medicines-related cross-cutting cost saving schemes. This will involve communication with clinicians.

Service development and improvement

• Lead pharmacist for the strategic development, implementation, and maintenance of EPMA throughout the Trust to ensure delivery of a safe, patient focused, progressive, responsive, and efficient service.
• Lead on system builds and developments ensuring it meets all legal and practical requirements as well as the necessary digital clinical data capture and business intelligence requirements.
• Ensure robust testing is undertaken of the system with agreed outcomes met before launch and embedded into all maintenance processes.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure that the final delivery of the EPMA system is successful through training, implementation, cutover support, and stabilisation periods.
• Use clinical data capture and business intelligence requirements to support system development.

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

• UK GPhC registered Pharmacist
• Clinical diploma or other recognised postgraduate qualification
• Evidence of CPD

Work Experience

• UK hospital pharmacy experience
• Experience of managing and leading a team
• Experience of audit and quality systems
• Experience of leading change
• Experience as a specialist practitioner in Pharmacy IT

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to manage time and prioritise effectively
• Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge in order to enhance patient care
• Ability to successfully develop knowledge in specialist area
• Relevant IT skills to ECDL level or equivalent
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage and motivate staff
• Ability to manage projects and change effectively
• Understand and practice excellent leadership skills

Personal Qualities

• Adaptable and flexible approach to work
• Teaching / tutorial and clinical supervisory skills
• Able to work under own initiative and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Colm McKenzie Job title Associate Director of Pharmacy Meds Gov & Safety Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0117 41 42278

To discuss with the current post-holder please contact:

Jenna Auchraje

Lead EPMA Pharmacist Southmead Hospital Operational Unit

[e-mail]