Head of Medicines Optimisation and Safety in Colchester, Essex

Job summaryAre you an experienced pharmacy leader passionate about improving patient safety, quality and outcomes?

We are seeking an inspiring Head of Medicines Optimisation and Safety to lead our medicines safety, optimisation and governance agenda. Working closely with the Director of Pharmacy, Quality and AHP, you will provide strategic leadership across the organisation, ensuring the safe, effective and equitable use of medicines while driving innovation and continuous improvement.

This influential role offers the opportunity to shape strategy, lead transformational change and provide expert assurance on medicines governance, prescribing and medicines-related risks. You will work collaboratively with clinical teams, senior leaders and system partners to improve quality, reduce harm and deliver better outcomes for patients and communities.

We are looking for a GPhC-registered pharmacist with significant leadership experience, excellent communication skills and a proven track record in medicines optimisation, governance, quality improvement and service transformation. You will be a collaborative leader who can inspire teams, influence change and foster a culture of learning, innovation and excellence.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact on patient care, develop high-performing teams and shape the future of medicines optimisation across our services. Join us and help deliver safer care, better outcomes and a healthier future for the communities we serve.

Main duties of the jobAs Head of Medicines Optimisation and Safety, you will provide strategic leadership for medicines optimisation, medicines safety and governance across the organisation, ensuring the safe, effective and equitable use of medicines to improve patient outcomes and experience.

You will lead the development and delivery of medicines strategies, provide expert advice and assurance on medicines-related risks and governance, and drive continuous improvement through innovation, quality improvement and transformational change. The role includes overseeing prescribing governance, controlled drugs management and medicines safety frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory and professional standards.

Working collaboratively with clinicians, senior leaders and system partners, you will improve medicines-related outcomes, reduce unwarranted variation and support integrated care pathways. You will also provide professional leadership for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and prescribing professionals, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture focused on learning, improvement and patient-centred care.

This is a unique opportunity to influence organisational strategy, shape the future of medicines optimisation and safety, and deliver safer care and better outcomes for the communities we serveAbout usProvide is a Community Interest Company (social enterprise). We deliver a broad range of health and social care services in the community, and are committed to making sure that they are safe, responsive and of high quality. Provide is owned by its employees and has primarily social objectives.

Any profits we make are reinvested into the local community or back into delivering services. We work from a variety of community settings, such as community hospitals, community clinics, schools, nursing homes and primary care settings, as well as within people's homes to provide more than 40 services to children, families and adults across Essex, Dorset, East Anglia and the North of England. A highly respected, award winning health and social care provider.

We expect our colleagues to demonstrate and uphold our values at all times: Vision: Transforming LivesValues: Care, Innovation and CompassionMission: An ambitious, employee owned social enterprise, growing in size and influence. We transform lives by treating, caring and educating people.

Provide is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills, proud to have LGBT+, Ethnic Minority and Men's Networks.

We welcome applicants from underrepresented groups. If you have the skills and experience for the job, please apply regardless of your background.

DetailsDate posted23 October 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary
66,582 to 77,368 a year

per annum

ContractPermanentWorking pattern

Full-time

Reference number828-PROVIDE4357Job locationsProvide HQ900 The CrescentColchesterCO4 9YQUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see the attached job description for a full list of the main responsibilities for this role. Thank you for taking the time to apply for a role within Provide.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesPlease see the attached job description for a full list of the main responsibilities for this role. Thank you for taking the time to apply for a role within Provide. Person Specification

Qualifications

EssentialGPHc Registered Pharmacist

Experience

EssentialComprehensive knowledge of relevant medicines legislation, professional standards, clinical governance and regulatory requirementsSignificant senior pharmacy leadership experience within a complex healthcare environmentEvidence of leading improvements in quality and patient safety and managing complex medicines-related risks. DesirablePostgraduate qualification in leadership, management, patient safety or quality improvement. Knowledge of the medicines-related challenges associated with transitions of care and working across organisational boundariesSenior pharmacy leadership experience within community health services and/or integrated health and social careExperience as a Medication Safety Officer or equivalent. Experience of controlled drugs governance.
Person Specification

Qualifications

EssentialGPHc Registered Pharmacist

Experience

EssentialComprehensive knowledge of relevant medicines legislation, professional standards, clinical governance and regulatory requirementsSignificant senior pharmacy leadership experience within a complex healthcare environmentEvidence of leading improvements in quality and patient safety and managing complex medicines-related risks.

DesirablePostgraduate qualification in leadership, management, patient safety or quality improvement.

Knowledge of the medicines-related challenges associated with transitions of care and working across organisational boundariesSenior pharmacy leadership experience within community health services and/or integrated health and social careExperience as a Medication Safety Officer or equivalent. Experience of controlled drugs governance.

Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.

Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.

Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameProvide CICAddressProvide HQ900 The CrescentColchesterCO4 9YQUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameProvide CICAddressProvide HQ900 The CrescentColchesterCO4 9YQUnited KingdomEmployer's website