Head of Pharmacy - Bedford Hospital site
Job overview
Are you a forward-thinking, experienced pharmacist with the drive to step into a senior leadership role and progress towards a future Chief Pharmacist position?
We are seeking a dynamic and ambitious pharmacist to lead the Pharmacy service at Bedford Hospital, part of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This is a pivotal role within the Trust, with responsibility for both operational delivery and strategic development of pharmacy services.
You will work closely with the Senior Pharmacy Leadership Team (PSLT), Trust colleagues, and partners across the BLMK Integrated Care System (ICS) to support innovation and continuous improvement across all areas of medicines optimisation, patient safety, and staff development.
You will be an inspirational leader and clinical role model with experience of motivating and developing teams including delivery of the NHS People and NHS People Promise agenda. You will have a clear vision of the value of the pharmacy workforce, taking a particular lead on strategic portfolios such as workforce, culture, EDI, and education & training, in addition to the day-to-day operational role.
This role offers the opportunity to participate in the General Manager on-call rota, giving valuable exposure to wider Trust operations and supporting career progression into more senior management roles.
Main duties of the job- To be responsible and accountable for the day-to-day performance of the Pharmacy department
- To assist and deputise for the Chief Pharmacist as required
- To be responsible to the Chief Pharmacist for the delivery of relevant KPIs; budget management; medicines management agenda and regulatory and mandatory standards
- To support the Chief Pharmacist in the development of Pharmacy Workforce, Culture & Morale, EDI and Education, Training & Development service requirements across both sites of the Trust in order to meet national standards in Medicines Management and professional requirements
- To be the department lead (Responsible Person) for any MHRA licenses e.g. WDA, Manufacturers ‘Specials’
- To maintain a Quality Management System across Pharmacy services at the BH site, consistent with GxP standards
- To work closely with the service lead for Training & Development, Clinical Pharmacy, Medicines Safety, Medicines Governance & Commissioning, and Medicines Supply Chain in executing delivery of a safe and effective pharmacy service to the hospital
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Hear from our staff on why BHFT Pharmacy department is a fantastic place to work: Bedfordshire Hospitals Pharmacy - what our staff have to say
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Pharmacy degree (Masters level)
- Registration as a pharmacist with the GPhC
- Post graduate level Diploma in a relevant aspect of Pharmacy
- Management qualification or equivalent experience (consistent with post graduate Masters level) - or willing to undertake
- Demonstrates continuous professional development
- Member of the RPS Stage II Faculty Member of the RPS (MIIFRPS)
- GCP Training
- Prince 2 Foundation, Agile, Change Management, QI or equivalent accreditation
- CPPE Chief Pharmacist Development Programme
- Independent Prescriber
- Coaching or equivalent accreditation
Experience
Essential criteria- Previous excellent performance in a senior pharmacy role
- Validated expertise in the management of a Pharmacy Operations and Medicines Supply Chain function, meeting performance targets
- Extensive experience of working as a senior pharmacy practitioner in an acute hospital setting
- Managing and advising on medicine expenditure for a directorate / department
- Delivering on cost reduction initiatives and service improvement initiatives
- Substantial experience with pay and non-pay budgets
- Demonstrable skills of clinical governance, clinical audit, risk management and health and safety management
- Leading, managing / matrix-managing and motivating large groups of staff
- Collaborative working in multidisciplinary settings
- Policy and service development including driving performance and meeting KPIs
- Working across and leading Trust wide projects and initiatives
- Experience of leading process redesign work
- Experience of working in a number of hospital pharmacy areas
- Actively engaged in research and development
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria- Organised and able to devise, plan and manage a number of complex work programmes simultaneously
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner
- Business case planning, preparation, delivery and service development
- Awareness of, and ability to demonstrate implementation in practice of, GMP, GDP and GCP
- Knowledge and understanding of medicines legislation and governance
- Knowledge and awareness of implications of current developments in pharmacy practice and NHS strategies
- Understanding of national Pharmacy policies and strategies and implications to own practice and the wider Trust
- Ability to integrate research into practice
- Ability to formulate, lead and implement service strategies
- Trained Incident Investigator
- Knowledge and awareness of pharmacy education developments and good practice requirements
- Knowledge and experience of Clinical Governance, particularly in respect of medicines use and governance
- Knowledge of medication safety processes and drivers
It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.