At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead medication safety initiatives and promote incident reporting within the organisation.
- Company: Join a leading NHS Trust known for innovation and high-quality patient care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and extensive learning opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in patient safety and collaborate with healthcare professionals.
- Qualifications: Masters in Pharmacy and registered with GPhC required.
The predicted salary is between 66582 - 77368 £ per year.
Lead as the named individual within the organisation for encouraging medication incident reporting and learning. Identify themes or trends with medicines incidents and oversee development and deployment of appropriate action plans and advise risk management where reporting could be improved.
The Medicines Safety Officer (MSO) promotes the safe use of medicines across their organisation and is expected to be an expert in this area. You will have the opportunity to be an active member of both the National Medication Safety Network and Regional Medicines Safety Group in order to keep up to date with current priorities.
The role involves working closely with the Pharmacy Governance and Safety Team and Associate Director of Pharmacy (Trust Medicines Assurance and Pharmacy Governance) to drive change and improvement in medicines safety both within the pharmacy department and Trustwide. The Associate Director of Pharmacy, alongside the Medicines Policy and Practice and Medicines Safety Committee members will support you to provide assurance to Trust board around safe medication practices.
You will work closely with the Quality and Clinical Effectiveness Department, medical, nursing and pharmacy staff as well as senior managers, Clinical Directors and patient representatives to ensure that resources are used effectively to provide the best possible care to our patients. This may involve providing expert advice, identifying and managing risks or producing business cases in order to improve services.
As chair of the Medication Safety Committee you will report to the Trust Medicines Optimisation Committee, and may be asked to attend Speciality Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) meetings and the Nursing and Midwifery Care Quality Forum.
Details:
- Date posted: 02 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 8b
- Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Reference number: 218-HSS-B8B-8403023
- Job locations: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities:
- Lead on medicines safety for the pharmacy department and provide assurance to the Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacy SLT that pharmacy services are safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led and represent efficient use of resources.
- Lead as the named individual within the organisation for encouraging medication incident reporting and learning. Identify themes or trends with medicines incidents and oversee development and deployment of appropriate action plans and advise risk management where reporting could be improved.
- Lead on collaborative workstreams related to improving medication safety by communicating medication risks and associated mitigation strategies.
- Lead and oversee programme of work to manage medicines shortages, contribute to and support local decision making processes and prioritisation for new medicines or new uses of medicines, in line with national priorities (e.g. critical shortages) and statutory policy, ensuring decision makers are aware of clinical and financial implications of decisions made.
- Support the Associate Director of Pharmacy on service evaluation and audit of all aspects of the pharmacy service including planning and overseeing an audit programme to ensure that appropriate statutory, professional and service obligations are met and quality targets achieved.
- Support the Associate Director of Pharmacy on the development of and maintain both local and organisational policies and standard operating procedures that are evidence based and comply with legal and current guidance thus providing tools to maintain the safe and secure handling of medicines.
- To input into the use of digital solutions available to improve the safety of medicines use, support the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of pharmacy information systems including electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA).
- Lead on internal communications (related to medicines safety and shortages) within the pharmacy department and external communications to key stakeholders, using effective and appropriate means, including websites and social media.
- To develop, monitor and implement the Trust strategy around medication safety through clinical leadership.
- To work closely with the Director of Pharmacy on the system-wide strategy on medicines safety, including key areas of risk (polypharmacy, high risk drugs, dependence forming medicines, antimicrobials, etc.).
Person Specification:
Qualifications & Training
- Essential: Masters Degree in Pharmacy 4 years + 1 year pre-registration training or equivalent
- Essential: Registered as a practising pharmacist with the GPhC
- Essential: Evidence of up to date CPD
- Essential: Post-graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
- Desirable: Member of a professional organisation (e.g. RPS, UKCPA)
- Desirable: Pharmacy or Pharmacy Practice related MSc
- Desirable: Registered as an independent prescriber
- Desirable: Approved Management or Leadership qualification
Experience
- Essential: Substantial Hospital pharmacy experience post registration
- Essential: Experienced at working with and influencing senior medical and nursing staff
- Essential: Experience managing difficult situations/ difficult conversations
- Desirable: Experience of project management
- Desirable: Have research or quality improvement work published in related journals
- Desirable: Experience in line managing staff and conducting appraisals
- Desirable: Use of Datix incident management system
Knowledge
- Essential: Good knowledge of audit & research
- Essential: Good sound Clinical Knowledge
- Essential: Up to date knowledge of Medicines Legislation
- Essential: Specialist knowledge of area of Clinical responsibility
- Desirable: Understanding of Human Factors
- Desirable: Understanding of NRLS Data Quality Standards
- Desirable: Use of Excel/Access databases
Skills & Abilities
- Essential: Communicate effectively in a calm, courteous manner to patients and all levels of colleagues
- Essential: Maintaining situational awareness and provide appropriate advice in situations where a patient may have come to harm.
- Essential: Able to work in multidisciplinary teams and independently and supervise the work of others.
- Essential: Able to present clinical and complex information to groups and individuals
- Essential: To provide written information in a concise readable manner for patients and colleagues
- Essential: High level of analytical skills
- Essential: Able to undertake a level of handling & moving.
- Essential: Pass OH clearance
- Essential: Able to participate in weekend, late, on call and bank holiday rota as needed
- Desirable: Identify the costs associated with prescribing changes in your given clinical area for the Director of Pharmacy
- Desirable: Proven ability to cope in stressful situations and under pressure.
- Desirable: Demonstrable evidence of effective leadership, negotiation and motivations skills
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
- Essential: Evidence of demonstrating the Trust Values (Compassion, Openness, Pride, Partnership, Improve, Learn and Respect) and the associated Values in Action behaviours in the workplace.
- Essential: For posts with managerial responsibility only Evidence of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and ensuring fair and equitable practices throughout your work experience.
- Essential: Evidence of promoting a culture which helps individuals live behaviours aligned to our Trust Values (Compassion, Openness, Pride, Partnership, Improve, Learn and Respect)
Lead Pharmacist, Medicines Safety Officer employer: National Health Service
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for healthcare professionals in North Wales. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on compassionate care, staff have access to continuous professional development opportunities and the chance to make a meaningful impact in both acute and community paediatrics. The Health Board's integrated approach ensures that employees are part of a dynamic team dedicated to improving health outcomes for the local population.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Pharmacist, Medicines Safety Officer
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When you're applying for roles, don't rush it! Take the time to customise your applications for specific positions, showcasing relevant skills and experiences that align with what National Health Service is looking for. A tailored application can really make you stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Pharmacist, Medicines Safety Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Whether that's internships, lab work, or even related coursework, make sure to weave this into your CV and cover letter. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're applying for at National Health Service!
Emphasise Your Understanding of Regulations:The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, so it's important to indicate your familiarity with industry standards and regulations. In your cover letter, mention any training or certifications you've received that are relevant, or discuss projects where you’ve navigated compliance. This will show National Health Service that you're not just a fit for the job but also a safety-conscious candidate!
Tailor Your CV to Be Result-Driven:Craft your CV to highlight quantifiable achievements, especially if you have previous roles in pharmaceuticals or related fields. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, such as improved processing times or successful project completions while working on trials. This analytical approach will resonate well with hiring managers at National Health Service!
Convey Your Passion for the Industry:In your cover letter, express why you are passionate about working in the pharmaceutical sector. Whether it’s your desire to contribute to groundbreaking drug research or improve patient outcomes, let it shine through! At National Health Service, we value candidates who are truly enthusiastic about their work—you might just stand out from the crowd.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Health Service
✨Understand the Science
Make sure you brush up on key pharmaceutical concepts and recent developments in the industry. You might get asked some technical questions during the interview at National Health Service that show your grasp of drug development processes or regulatory requirements, so be ready to discuss them clearly.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
If you have any hands-on experience or internships in a laboratory setting, be sure to highlight these in your responses. Think about the projects you worked on, the methodologies you used, and the impact you made. It's all about telling a story that connects your background to the role you're applying for.
✨Know Their Products
Take some time to familiarise yourself with National Health Service’s product range and recent breakthroughs. Understanding their portfolio not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but also allows you to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in actively contributing to their projects.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Scenarios
In a full-time pharmaceutical role, understanding the regulatory landscape is crucial. Prepare for situational questions that may test your problem-solving skills concerning compliance and safety standards. You could be asked how you'd handle a hypothetical issue regarding a drug’s market release, so think through your approach.
