Lead Pharmacist - Medication Safety Officer

NHS; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Medication Safety Officer to oversee safe medication practices across healthcare settings. The role involves leading quality and safety strategies, managing projects, and collaborating with senior leaders to ensure regulatory compliance. Ideal candidates will hold a Masters in Pharmacy, have extensive clinical pharmacy experience, and possess strong leadership and communication skills. Applications from diverse backgrounds are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with GPhC.
• Extensive experience as a senior clinical pharmacist.
• Experience in medication safety and clinical governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the medication safety programme.
• Ensure alignment with NHS Patient Safety Strategy.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to embed medicines safety.

Skills

Leadership and management skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Team collaboration

Negotiation skills

Education

Masters Degree in Pharmacy

Relevant post graduate clinical qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job summary

Interview dates for this post will be 9th & 10th December 2025

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. We are currently seeking an outstanding candidate to be our next Medication Safety Officer to support the safe use of medicines across our healthcare settings. You will work collaboratively with health professionals within the organisation to drive quality improvements in the safe use of medicines, promoting a culture of safety and adherance to regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will be able to work in conjunction with a number of key stakeholders and influence across professional boundaries. You will lead the pharmacy health informatics strategy and support best use of digital solutions for best use of medicines. You will be a key member of the team embedding PSIRFT principles into practice, and lead the wider medication safety agenda through participation in the Trust medication safety committee. We welcome applications from pharmacists looking to build on their experience, skills and knowledge and actively support professional development opportunities within this role.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will lead the development, implementation and oversight of quality and safety strategies both within the pharmacy departments and across the wider organisation. You will link across regional and national boundaries to identify opportunities for improving safe medication practices and be a key member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, providing professional expertise and leadership to all members of the department, Trust and wider health system. You will align your work to the NHS Patient Safety Strategy and NHS Digital transformation agenda. Working closely with the Chief Pharmacist, Medical Director and Director of Nursing, you will support the senior Trust leadership team to embed medicines safety within clinical systems, standard operating procedures and patient safety processes across the organisation.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre‑employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester‑le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI‑generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up‑to‑date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Job details

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number: C9439‑2526‑1074

Job locations:
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6HX
University Hospital Of North Durham, North Road, Durham, DH1 5TW

Responsibilities

Reports to and is directly managed by the Chief Pharmacist as the Trust’s Medication Safety Officer, providing leadership and oversight for all medicines safety initiatives.

Leads the Trust’s medication safety programme, managing a portfolio of safety projects and quality improvement initiatives, including clinical audits, incident reviews, and risk reduction strategies, as agreed with the Chief Pharmacist.

Works closely with the Chief Pharmacist, Medical Director, Director of Nursing, and other senior leaders to embed medicines safety within clinical systems, standard operating procedures, and patient safety processes across the organisation.

Collaborates with the Pharmacy leadership team and Patient Safety, Governance, and Digital Transformation teams to align medicines optimisation with workflows, data insights, and safety intelligence, ensuring continuous improvement.

Ensures that lessons learned from incident reporting, audit and research are analysed and applied to drive proactive risk management, policy development, and quality improvement initiatives across the Trust.

Represents the Trust in regional and national Medication Safety Officer Networks and contributes to NHS England patient safety programmes, sharing best practice and supporting national safety initiatives.

Acts as the key link between the Trust, the MHRA, and NHS England regarding medicines safety incidents, regulatory compliance, and the implementation of local and national guidance and alerts.

Contributes to the development and delivery of the Trust’s Pharmacy and Medicines Management Strategy and supports operational planning, ensuring services are safe, effective, and patient‑focused.

Provides line management to members of the Medication Safety and Health Informatics teams within the pharmacy department.

Offers specialist advice and guidance to staff across the department, the wider Trust, and the local health economy to promote the safe and effective use of medicines in all care settings.

Communicates complex medicines information and safety guidance to consultants, clinicians, pharmacists, nurses, patients, and carers to improve understanding, compliance, and patient outcomes.

Participates actively in key clinical and strategic committees, including the Trust Medication Safety Committee, contributing expertise and recommendations to support organisational decision‑making.

Person Specification

Special Requirements

• Able to build good relationships with colleagues
• Team player who delegates appropriately
• A problem solver with good negotiation and influencing skills
• Desire to develop clinical skills
• Able to prioritise own workload
• Able to travel across Trust sites to meet requirements of the post

Desirable – Special Requirements

• Excellent presentation skills

Statutory Registration

• Registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Experience

• Extensive experience as a senior clinical pharmacist
• Experience of medication safety / clinical governance
• Extensive experience of managing pharmacy services
• Experience of developing good working relationships in multi‑professional teams
• Experience of leading and managing a team of staff
• Experience of Project Management / Change Management / Audit and Performance management
• Experience of service evaluation and development
• Experience of education and training provision
• Experience and knowledge of legislation relating to pharmacy practice
• Experience of providing HR support to a team

Desirable – Experience

• Experience of practice research

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Good understanding of current pharmacy / NHS issues
• Demonstrable leadership and management skills
• Demonstrable clinical skills
• Ability to interpret complex data and present complex information
• Works well as part of a team
• Able to work as an autonomous practitioner in all areas of pharmacy practice
• Ability to deliver training
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Sound knowledge of MI resources
• Problem solver with good negotiation and influencing skills
• Able to build good relationships with colleagues
• Team player who delegates appropriately
• Key board skills, ability to use basic Microsoft office applications

Desirable – Special Skills & Knowledge

• Proven ability to communicate effectively across professional boundaries
• Proven ability to influence others outside direct management control

Qualifications

• Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
• Relevant post graduate clinical qualification (to at least diploma level)
• Management training or equivalent experience
• Evidence of CPD and education

Desirable – Qualifications

• Post graduate Masters qualification in a relevant subject
• Qualified Pharmacist Prescriber
• Management Qualification

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 https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX

Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)