Lead Pharmacist in Liverpool

Join one of the largest and most ambitious Primary Care Networks in North Liverpool, serving 21 GP practices, 137,000 patients and 22 care homes. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced pharmacist leader to influence healthcare delivery at scale and help shape the future of pharmacy services across a diverse population.

Working closely with Clinical Directors and senior leaders, you will have the opportunity to drive innovation, lead transformation programmes and make a lasting impact on patient outcomes, workforce development and the quality of care delivered across the network.

We are looking for an individual with vision, ambition and a passion for improving services, offering a unique opportunity to combine strategic leadership with meaningful clinical influence in a supportive and forward-thinking organisation.

Main duties of the job

• Provide senior professional leadership for the network pharmacy workforce, supporting pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and Cluster Lead Pharmacists to deliver high-quality services across the network.
• Lead strategic programmes relating to medicines optimisation, quality improvement and service transformation, ensuring services continue to evolve in response to local need, national priorities and best practice.
• Monitor and evaluate service performance, support the development of innovative models of care, build effective relationships with key stakeholders and provide senior clinical governance and assurance to promote patient safety, quality and regulatory compliance.

About us

North Liverpool PCN is a collaborative network of practices committed to delivering high-quality, accessible and sustainable healthcare for the communities we serve. We bring together clinical and non-clinical professionals from across our member practices to work towards shared goals and improved outcomes for patients.

Our culture is built on collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement. We encourage innovation, value new ideas and support colleagues to develop their skills and careers. Teamwork, mutual respect and a commitment to excellence underpin everything we do.

By joining us, you will become part of a supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team that is passionate about making a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of local people while helping to shape the future of primary care services.

Job responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide leadership across the network pharmacy team, supporting Cluster Lead Pharmacists and ensuring the clinical supervision, mentorship and competency development of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
• Provide clinical oversight and work closely with the PCN management team, practices and care coordinators to ensure the effective delivery of Structured Medication Reviews, Medicines Optimisation services and the requirements of the Clinical Pharmacist role.
• Meet regularly with Cluster Lead Pharmacists and practice pharmacy teams to review service delivery, performance, workforce development and improvement opportunities.
• Lead and facilitate Pharmacy MDT meetings, supporting the development of network-wide skills, knowledge sharing and training initiatives.
• Lead on high-quality, safe and cost-effective prescribing in line with evidence-based practice, national and local guidance, relevant legislation and CQC requirements.
• Develop and oversee a centralised Medicines Management Work Plan and rota, ensuring services are responsive to the differing needs of member practices.
• Provide expert advice, direction and support on medicines management issues across the network.
• Initiate and lead service development activities that support innovation, high‑quality prescribing and improved patient outcomes.
• Drive service development, shaping models of care that support national policy, local population needs and long‑term sustainability.
• Oversee the evaluation of service performance, outcomes and impact to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Support and lead prescribing-related audits, quality improvement programmes and service evaluation activities.
• Work collaboratively with community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and wider health and social care partners to support integrated working and improve patient care.
• Influence prescribing behaviour across multidisciplinary teams, including GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Patient care

• Undertake Structured Medication Reviews within practices, remotely or through domiciliary visits where appropriate.
• Support patients to improve concordance with treatment and optimise health outcomes.
• Run specialist review clinics within areas of competence and training.
• Act as a Non-Medical Prescriber in accordance with professional standards, policies and guidance.
• Work collaboratively with Community Pharmacists to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient services.

Medicines management

• Identify, develop and implement prescribing plans with the network pharmacy team.
• Develop prescribing guidelines and formularies and support their adoption across practices.
• Promote safe repeat prescribing through protocol development, audit and feedback.
• Monitor prescribing budgets, support cost-effective prescribing and minimise medicines waste.
• Maintain accurate and appropriate clinical records.
• Utilise the full functionality of Electronic Prescription Services (EPS).
• Participate in medication safety initiatives, including incident reporting, medication error reporting and adverse drug reaction reporting.
• Actively participate in local clinical governance arrangements and identify prescribing issues requiring action.
• Support public health initiatives relating to medicines use, including antimicrobial stewardship.
• Support delivery of strategic medicines management objectives and future service developments.

Education, training and workforce development

• Analyse and present information to support service development and influence prescribing trends.
• Deliver education and training sessions to GPs, practice staff, healthcare professionals and patient groups.
• Maintain an ongoing programme of continuing professional development and participate in annual appraisal processes.
• Engage in professional supervision and network learning opportunities.
• Provide clinical supervision to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
• Deliver formal and informal teaching, training and support to colleagues and multidisciplinary team members.
• Provide support and mentorship to Cluster Lead Pharmacists, ensuring they are equipped to fulfil their leadership responsibilities.

Policy, research and audit

• Develop and implement Patient Group Directions where appropriate.
• Lead and develop clinical audit work relating to local priorities, NICE guidance and national programmes.
• Analyse, interpret and communicate audit findings, medicines management alerts and prescribing pathway changes.
• Support research, service evaluation and quality improvement activities across the network.

Clinical governance and professional responsibilities

• Participate in primary healthcare team meetings and organisational development activities.
• Provide data and reports to support service planning, development and performance monitoring.
• Collect and analyse data as part of clinical and organisational audit processes.
• Follow organisational policies relating to risk management, incident reporting, patient safety and health and safety.
• Provide senior clinical oversight and governance assurance to ensure compliance with professional, contractual and regulatory requirements, including Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
• Maintain a personal professional development plan and participate fully in appraisal processes.
• Seek patient satisfaction and multi-source colleague feedback as part of professional development and quality assurance processes.
• Manage complaints appropriately and support learning from complaints, incidents and feedback.

Information governance

• Ensure familiarity with relevant clinical systems and electronic patient records.
• Comply with all information governance, data protection and data security requirements.
• Utilise clinical systems effectively to support patient care, service delivery and reporting requirements.

Other responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of all patient, staff and organisational information.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of work.
• Take reasonable care for the health, safety and welfare of themselves and others.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the responsibilities of the post.

Person specification

Experience

• Experience within a GP setting and knowledge of the procedures
• Experience of working in a team
• Experience of team leadership
• Experience of Windows Based Computer Systems
• Experience of the EMIS clinical system
• Experience in promoting Health Improvement Campaigns

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to work with colleagues and services users in a non-judgemental manner
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate with patients and outside agencies
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Able to obtain and analyse complex technical information
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to work flexibly
• Commitment to equal opportunities

Qualifications

• Pharmacy Mpharm
• NMP qualification attained or due to be attained
• Completed CPPE pathway training or equivalent