Associate Chief Pharmacist, Operations

Job Overview

Applications are invited from pharmacists currently working at Band 8b or above.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and forward-thinking pharmacy leader to join us as an Associate Chief Pharmacist, Operations at Band 8C.

Working as a senior member of the Chief Pharmacist Leadership Team, you will provide strategic and professional leadership for pharmacy operational services across the Trust. Your portfolio will include dispensing, medicines procurement and distribution, stock management, digital pharmacy systems, operational governance and medicines supply. You will help ensure that services are safe, effective, resilient, financially sustainable and responsive to the needs of patients and clinical teams.

Main duties of the job

As Associate Chief Pharmacist, Operations, you will lead the delivery, development and evaluation of pharmacy operational services across the Trust. You will be the Trust’s lead pharmacist for operational services, providing expert advice on medicines optimisation, medicines legislation, procurement, supply, digital systems and the cost-effective use of medicines.

You will

Lead dispensing, procurement, purchasing, medicines distribution, stores, stock management and supply-chain arrangements.

Set, monitor and continuously improve operational pharmacy standards.

Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, General Pharmaceutical Council standards, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency requirements, Trust policies and medicines governance arrangements.

Lead business continuity planning and manage risks affecting medicines availability, service resilience and patient safety.

Working for our organisation

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing high-quality services supported by safe practice, effective governance and a culture in which staff can contribute to organisational and service development.

Joining the Trust’s pharmacy leadership team will place you at the centre of a broad professional network. You will collaborate with the Chief Pharmacist, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Associate Chief Pharmacists, lead pharmacists, clinical leaders, senior managers, medical, nursing and allied health professional colleagues, and teams across Finance, Procurement, Digital, Estates, Facilities and other corporate services.

Externally, the role provides opportunities to work with NHS England, regional procurement specialists, pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers, regulatory bodies, education and research organisations, wholesalers, logistics providers, and pharmacy teams across acute, community and mental health trusts.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The postholder will lead Trustwide pharmacy operational services, ensuring the safe, legal and efficient procurement, storage, dispensing and distribution of medicines. They will oversee policies, procedures, medicines safety and regulatory compliance.

They will lead operational teams, ensuring safe staffing, workforce development, recruitment, staff wellbeing and an inclusive working culture.

They will manage operational budgets, medicines expenditure, contracts, stock control and supplier performance, working with Finance and Procurement to ensure value for money.

They will lead risk management, incident reviews, audits, inspections and quality improvement, ensuring actions are completed and learning is shared.

The postholder will work flexibly across Trust services, deputise for senior pharmacy leaders and undertake additional responsibilities as agreed with the Chief Pharmacist.

Person specification

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy and pre-registration training
• Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council and Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Postgraduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice
• Portfolio demonstrating specialist knowledge acquired through training and experience

Desirable criteria

• Business/Management qualification

Previous Experience

Essential criteria

• Hospital pharmacy at a senior level ( Delivering training and education at postgraduate level
• Budget negotiations within a Trust at directorate level
• Management experience (e.g. recruitment, appraisal, training, leadership, motivation, sickness, absence).
• Experience working within clinical governance frameworks and policy development
• Record of achieving results against set targets Audit
• Experience managing change

Desirable criteria

• Experience in providing a clinical pharmacy service to CNWL specialities
• Previous procurement experience
• Track record of building business cases, obtaining funding, and delivering service change

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities

Essential criteria

• Creativity to plan and develop a vision for pharmacy services and the ability to negotiate its implementation within pharmacy and the Trust.
• Demonstrates advanced level of clinical knowledge and skills and advanced levels of clinical reasoning and judgement in order to manage difficult, ambiguous and potentially conflicting problems
• Able to prioritise pharmacy services and identify and deliver development needs which enhance the quality of patient care
• Knowledge of primary and secondary care working
• Knowledge and implementation of clinical governance
• Able to identify and prioritise risks and evaluate service quality
• Able to identify own training needs
• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy using good communication skills

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of promotion and evaluation of best practice
• Project management skills
• Working knowledge of pharmacy IT systems
• Evidence that the individual has extended the boundaries of the profession

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Essential criteria

• Able to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times adopting a culturally sensitive approach which considers the needs of the whole person
• Able to work autonomously and under pressure Self motivated, self confident, proactive
• Able to cope with conflicting pressures to meet deadlines
• Team worker able to relate to all grades of staff
• Flexible and able to modify approach to achieve objectives
• Effective communication with patient and carer groups
• Methodical with attention to detail