UHN Associate Chief Pharmacist, Medicines Governance in Northampton

Act as a key member of the Pharmacy Management and Leadership teams, deputising for the Chief Pharmacist as required and ensuring the Trust receives accurate, timely, and contemporary advice on all aspects of pharmacy and medicines. Ensure full compliance with medicines legislation, policy, and best practice across the organisation. Work with the Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacy Leadership teams to develop, maintain, and implement annual business plans and service strategies. Act as an authorised signatory and manage allocated budgets effectively and responsibly.

Work collaboratively with stakeholders across the Integrated Care System (ICS) to improve and transform pharmacy and medicines optimisation services and address health inequalities.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to develop a vision and strategic direction, and lead on the development, planning/implementation and evaluation of long-term strategies, operational policies and standards for medicines governance and related pharmacy services, ensuring alignment with the Pharmacy Department and Trust strategies.
• Provide effective and enabling leadership across teams and promote equality and the value of diversity.
• Participate in Pharmacy Improvement programmes, managing a series of improvement projects within the department and across the Trust.
• Build a development plan for medicines governance and related pharmacy services to meet Trust and patient needs (includes risk management strategies), detailing future service provision and objectives for all key areas and personnel.
• Ensure the maintenance and continued development of workforce capacity and demand plans.
• Deputise for the Chief Pharmacist and represent the Trust in external networks; influence and maintain awareness of national and regional clinical pharmacy strategies, policies, standards and changes in political agendas.
• Ensure Pharmacy service compliance with the RPS standards for Hospital Pharmacy services and local and national guidelines.
• Monitor service performance and compliance through audits, data analysis, identifying areas for improvement, implementing changes, and disseminating best practice.
• Develop and evaluate methods for gathering, analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information.
• Ensure all team members work within service and clinical guidelines and have a good working knowledge of national and local standards.
• Review policies, protocols and procedures related to medicines governance, identify gaps, and act upon them.
• Develop innovative service models to improve safety and quality of care, in partnership with MDT colleagues and external partners (universities, NHS trusts, ICBs, NHSE, Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership).
• Maintain effective communication systems and act as professional secretary to Trust Medicines Management Committees; provide strategy and leadership for medication safety, governance and risk management.
• Coordinate and review medicines and pharmacy risks; oversee medicines incident reporting, investigation, analysis, and dissemination of learning to drive continuous improvement in medicines safety and governance.
• Lead, mentor and line-manage the Medicines Safety team, supporting development and performance.
• Provide expert advice on controlled drugs, including CDLIN reporting, auditing, safe custody, monitoring, and compliance with legislation (Misuse of Drugs Act, etc.).
• Act as deputy to Controlled Drug Accountable Officer.
• Ensure compliance with national safety alerts and facilitate prompt action and assurance across the Group.
• Lead and manage secretaries of medicines optimisation committees to ensure coordination and alignment of purpose.

Education, Training, and Development

• Liaise with the Pharmacy Practice Development team, supporting their development and performance.
• Develop, deliver, and oversee training programmes on medicines safety, governance, and legislation for pharmacy staff, prescribers, nursing, medical and other healthcare professionals.
• Provide specialist advice and support to clinical teams, promoting a culture of openness, learning, and high standards in medicines use.

Medicines Optimisation and Quality Improvement

• Lead on the implementation of national and local medicines optimisation initiatives, including antimicrobial stewardship, safe prescribing and use of best value medicines.
• Coordinate group-wide audits, quality and cost improvement projects related to medicines safety, efficacy, and governance.
• Analyse data trends and risks, reporting key findings and recommendations to the Medicines Optimisation Committees and Trust board.
• Lead on the safe use of medical gases across UHN.
• Develop indicators to monitor safe and effective Pharmacy service provision.
• Lead, mentor and line-manage the Medicines Effectiveness and Antimicrobial teams, supporting their development and performance.

Research and Service Development

• Be at the forefront of innovative practice, inspiring others to implement such practice and to lead on service developments and innovative ways of working.
• Demonstrate a critical approach towards Pharmacy practice research and the integration of research evidence into practice.
• Present and publish research outputs locally, nationally and internationally as appropriate.

Policy, Regulation, and Audit

• Ensure the Group’s medicines policies are up to date, evidence-based, and reflective of current legislation and best practice.
• Lead policy review, consultation, approval, dissemination, and ensure accountability and implementation.
• Monitor compliance with medicines management policies via regular audits, report gaps and support corrective actions.
• Liaise with external regulators and inspectors on medicines governance matters, preparing for and participating in inspections as required.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Work closely with multi-disciplinary teams to foster effective partnership working on medicines governance, safety, education and training.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders on medicines governance issues, including patients, carers, regulatory bodies, and commissioners.
• Produce reports, briefings, and presentations for clinical, operational, and governance committees, as well as the UHN board.
• Champion the voice of pharmacy in Group-wide governance and quality initiatives.

Provide a Clinical Pharmacy Service

• Participate in the Clinical/Advisory Pharmacy Service, reviewing prescriptions for legality, safety and efficacy; monitor medication effects and provide patient counselling.

Clinical Responsibilities and Professional Practice

• Record clinical activity and monitor the outcomes of advice; provide information, guidance and options to patients and staff on safe, effective and economical use of medicines; maintain knowledge of developments in pharmacy practice and undertake continuing professional development; fulfil the requirements of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Good Professional Practice; undertake adverse drug reaction reporting where necessary.

Other Duties

• This may include: being an authorised signatory for staff overtime payments, travel expenses, course fees, agency invoices, Pharmacy medicines orders and non-stock requisitions; finalisation of rosters; participating in departmental, Trust and external meetings; upholding the security of medicines and the premises; being a member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team; practicing in accordance with GPhC Standards; safeguarding patient confidentiality; undertaking Pharmacy second on-call duties; undertaking duties elsewhere in the locality if required.