Lead Pharmacist - Medicines Quality and Safety (MSO)

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

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a highly experienced pharmacist at the Harrogate General Hospital to lead medicines safety initiatives. This strategic leadership role involves collaborating with various stakeholders and fostering a quality-focused environment. Responsibilities include acting as the Trust's Medicines Safety Officer, leading pharmacy services, and delivering education on medication safety. Essential qualifications include being a registered pharmacist with GPhC and having previous experience at the Advanced Practice level. The role offers a salary range of £64,455 to £74,896 annually.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff Recognition Awards

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with GPhC.
• Management or leadership experience required.
• Previous experience at Advanced Practice level.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of medicines safety initiatives.
• Advise the Director of Pharmacy on strategic leadership.
• Provide clinical pharmacy leadership to a specialty.

Skills

Leadership

Medicines safety

Stakeholder engagement

Quality improvement

Education

Registered pharmacist with GPhC

Post‑graduate qualification

Registered supplementary or independent prescriber

Job description

Overview

Looking for a new challenge in 2026? Looking to be part of a team that is focussed on medicines quality and safety? Looking for a strategic leadership role that provides you an opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders across different professions? Looking to be part of a team that lives by the Trust values of kindness, integrity, teamwork and equality? We have an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced pharmacist to work at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust as an integral member of the Trust Medicines Quality and Safety Group to lead the delivery of medicines safety initiatives across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Trust's Medicines Safety Officer and Professional Secretary to the Trust Medicines Quality and Safety Group, leading and managing the provision of medicines quality and safety agenda.
• Provide strategic leadership to medicines optimisation and pharmacy services, advising the Director of Pharmacy and working closely with Trust Quality and Safety leads.
• Take a lead role in the national Medicines Safety Officer (MSO) network and support the Director of Pharmacy in inspections by the Care Quality Commission.
• Lead, develop and plan the activities of the Pharmacy Quality of Care Group and implement risk reduction strategies on medicine management issues across the Trust.
• Lead education and training in medication safety, learning from events and medicines management for Trust staff, identifying training needs to embed medication safety throughout the medication use process.
• Provide clinical pharmacy leadership to a named specialty, as agreed with the post holder.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Registered supplementary or independent prescriber
• Registered pharmacist with GPhC
• Post‑graduate qualification
• Previous experience working at Advanced Practice level
• Management or leadership experience

Desirable Qualifications

• Quality improvement training
• Experience of complaint management
• Experience of investigating incidents
• Experience of quality improvement initiatives
• Experience of working across healthcare boundaries

Presentation Skills

• Ability to present to senior stakeholders in an engaging way

Benefits

• A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work.
• Staff Recognition – regular appraisals and awards (Making a Difference, Team of the Month, Colleague Recognition Awards).
• Employee Support and wellbeing – Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast‑track physiotherapy service.

Location & Salary

Harrogate General Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate, HG2 7SX

Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year pro rata + EDC. Band 8b. Permanent, full‑time, flexible working, compressed hours.