Regional Quality Assurance Pharmacist (East of England)

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Foundation Trust in the UK is seeking a qualified individual to lead its regional quality assurance team. The role involves providing quality assurance expertise, managing compliance audits, and developing strategic plans to enhance the quality of medicines and patient outcomes. Ideal candidates will have a background in pharmacy and substantial experience in quality assurance within healthcare settings. This full-time position offers an opportunity to drive innovation in the NHS.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quality assurance in a healthcare setting.
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams effectively.
• Excellent communication and advisory skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the regional QA team to deliver quality assurance services.
• Develop and implement quality risk management systems.
• Support NHS organisations with quality assurance expertise.

Skills

Quality assurance expertise

Leadership

Training and mentoring

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Pharmaceutical degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The post holder will lead and manage the regional QA team to deliver the QA service to the East of England region. This includes:

• Provision of quality assurance expertise and support to the procurement, preparation and manufacture of medicines and medicines provider service to the NHS.
• Leading the programme of audit of NHS aseptic units across the region and provide support and oversight of high risk units through a programme of compliance management.
• Developing web-based best practice resources for the quality assurance of medicines in the NHS and support implementation through audit, training, mentoring and advice.
• Taking a lead across organisations in the development and implementation of quality risk management systems to underpin the principles of medicines optimisation and ensure consistently effective outcomes for patients.
• Promoting innovation and transformation in the NHS by taking a lead in development, implementation, and safe use of new medicines (e.g. clinical trials, ATMP, biological medicines) and technologies through working with regulators, academia and industry.
• Formulating, directing and delivering strategic plans for the provision of QA services to the NHS Trusts in the region. To support the region\'s Chief Pharmacist network and Regional Chief Pharmacist in delivering agreed work plans.
• Contributing to the development, implementation and delivery of the NHSE, SPS and NHS Pharmaceutical QA Committee work plans.

The Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) National Quality Assurance (QA) Service is an expert advisory service that supports the principles of medicines optimisation by the development and championing of best practice and by ensuring continuous improvement through the implementation of quality risk management systems in NHS medicines manufacturing & preparation and NHS supply chain management.

The SPS QA Function provides specialist advice relating to the quality of medicines to NHS pharmacy professionals to support safe patient care. The scope of our advisory and consultancy service includes:

• Aseptic preparation of medicines
• Manufacturing of unlicenced medicines
• Assigning shelf life to medicines
• Temperature controlled storage and distribution of medicines
• Assessing the pharmaceutical quality of medicines

The types of advisory and resources we provide include:

• Responses to queries and requests for help
• SPS articles
• Multi-media resources
• Exemplar procedures and templates
• Risk management materials for assessment of medicines
• Injectable medicines stability tool
• Audit reports
• Focused support to regional projects and NHS Trusts
• Participation in regional and national pharmacy networks and staff development events.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women’s Hospital is a specialist in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK’s largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

For roles at Liverpool Women’s, visit their careers page.

Providing highly complex specialist QA advice and support to the NHS Organisations and networks on a range of specialist topics.

Lead and contribute to the development of articles for the SPS website relating to the quality assurance of medicines.

To develop and participate in webinars and podcasts to educate and promote best practice.

To work and liaise with regulators and expert advisory groups (MHRA, BP, CHM, EAHP, RPS, GPhC) in the development and implementation of quality assurance standards for medicines.

To support local and regional service development and innovation, showcasing best practice.

To respond to relevant UK and EU medicines consultations on behalf of SPS, Regional Chief Pharmacists and regional networks.

For full details, please refer to the attached job description and person specification

This advert closes on Sunday 16 Nov 2025