Deputy Lead Pharmacist in Banbury

The core purpose of the Pharmacy Department is to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient use of medicines to improve patient outcomes and support high quality clinical care. As a key member of the pharmacy leadership team, the Deputy Lead Pharmacist contributes to this purpose by providing expert professional and operational leadership across all aspects of pharmaceutical service delivery. The post holder supports the delivery of a responsive, patient-centred, and evidence based pharmacy service that underpins the organisations strategic objectives and clinical priorities. With centralisation of pharmacy services across the BCHC and CRMP footprint, the Deputy Lead Pharmacist plays an integral part in supporting this core function of service delivery and patient safety.

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Lead Pharmacist plays a key leadership and operational role within the Pharmacy Department, supporting the Lead Pharmacist in the strategic and day-to-day management of pharmacy services. The post holder will contribute to the delivery of safe, effective, and high quality pharmaceutical care across BCHC and wider PML, ensuring compliance with clinical governance, medicines optimisation, and regulatory standards. The Deputy Lead Pharmacist will provide expert clinical and professional advice, lead designated service areas or projects, and act as deputy in the absence of the Lead Pharmacist. This includes supporting workforce development, quality improvement initiatives, and having oversight of all trainees within the pharmacy team.

Job responsibilities

• To act as one of the first points of contact for Pharmacy team members and partner agencies requesting pharmacy advice and support and be able to direct them accordingly.
• To act as an ambassador of the pharmacy team, providing representation at management meetings or providing advice and guidance to senior managers / board level.
• Communicate with a range of different agencies including Integrated Care Board, GPs, medical staff, hospitals and tertiary sectors involved in patient care.
• To be the Pharmacist lead for training.
• Support the professional development and training of pharmacy staff, pre-registration trainees, and students.
• Deliver education sessions to multidisciplinary teams on medicines optimisation and safe prescribing.
• Act as a role model and mentor, promoting best practice in clinical and operational pharmacy.
• Provide personal development plans for individual team members where appropriate.
• Deliver specialist clinical pharmacy services in designated areas, ensuring evidence based and patient centred care.
• Promote safe, effective, and economical use of medicines, aligned with national and local formulary guidance.
• Provide expert advice to GPs, clinicians, nursing staff, and other healthcare professionals on all aspects of medicines use.
• Follow Practice guidelines for pharmacy services.
• Will be required to propose and implement changes to policies and asked to provide feedback on new / revised policies for their own area.
• Undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to support with safety, compliance or business development specifically related to pharmacy service delivery.
• Support the development, implementation, and evaluation of new pharmacy-led services and clinical pathways.
• Contribute to digital transformation initiatives and the optimisation of electronic prescribing and medicines administration.
• Support members of the team with booking onto training and appropriate courses specific to their role.
• Ensure the suitability and serviceability of all equipment related to the pharmacy team, including FeNO testing machines.
• Provide leadership and supervision to pharmacists, technicians, and support staff within designated clinical or operational areas.
• Deputise for the Lead Pharmacist as required, ensuring continuity of service and decision making.
• Contribute to workforce planning, recruitment, and staff development, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Support implementation of medicines management policies, audits, and risk management initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, standards, and professional codes of practice.
• Lead or contribute to clinical governance, incident review, and service improvement programmes.
• Ensure GPhC standards are upheld across the pharmacy department.
• Promote effective and safe prescribing across the whole of PML.
• Ensure all clinical staff are aware of medicine warning alerts.
• Support with clinical audits around prescribing of medication and medicine safety to support QoF.

General Information

At all times promote and maintain the safety of children by working according to the Practices Child Protection Policy and supporting guidance. Being pro-active and responsive to child protection concerns by early reporting, recording and referral of issues according to Practice arrangements. Attending child protection training that is appropriate to your role.

Confidentiality

The post holder will maintain appropriate confidentiality of information relating to commercially sensitive matters in regard to Practice business, and also to personal information relating to members of staff and patients. The post holder will be expected to comply with all aspects of the Data Protection Act (2018), the Staff Code of Confidentiality and the IT Security and Acceptable Use Policy.

Equality & Diversity

Banbury Cross Health Centre & Principal Medical LTD are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all staff and for those who access services. You must work in accordance with equal opportunity policies/procedures and promote the equality and diversity agenda of the Practice.

Safeguarding

All employees have a duty for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Staff must be aware of the Practices procedure for raising concerns about the welfare of anyone with whom they have contact. All staff must be compliant with L3 safeguarding.

Risk Management / Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them for ensuring the safety of our patients, service users, visitors and colleagues under the Practices Risk Management Strategy and policy and under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. All employees are expected to be familiar with and comply with the Practices risk and health and safety policies and procedures and all other policies and procedures relevant to their role.

Records Management

The post holder has responsibility for the timely and accurate creation, maintenance and storage of records in accordance with Practice policy, including email documents and with regard to the Data Protection Act, The Freedom of Information Act and any other relevant statutory requirements.

Clinical Governance

The post holder will be expected to participate in clinical governance activities to assist the Practice to provide high quality services. Practice employees are expected to follow Practice policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines. Copies of Practice policies can be accessed via the staff intranet or TeamNet or via your manager.

Review of Job Description

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties, but is intended to give a general indication of the range of work undertaken within this new role. Work will vary in detail in the light of changing demands and priorities, and therefore the duties identified will be subject to periodic change/review, in consultation with the post holder. All employees have a responsibility to abide by all Practice Policies.

Person Specification

• Experience of using IT systems i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Minimum of 5 years post qualification.
• Experience of providing training / education to student pharmacists within a relatable clinical setting.
• Proven ability to manage a team of staff.
• Maintain good working relationships across a range of staff levels, both internally and externally.
• Experience of creating and delivering personal development plans.
• Experience managing performance within a clinical setting.
• Experience of working within the General Practice environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified Pharmacist registered with the GPhC.
• Completed PCPEP.
• Independent & Supplementary Prescriber.

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.

£55,000 to £60,000 a year, FTE, Depending on Experience.

Contract: Permanent.

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours.