Trust Pharmacist

15 hours per week, closing date 11 May 2026. The post holder will lead the review and audit of the Trust’s medicines management systems, assist in implementing recommendations, and provide expert pharmaceutical advice to senior managers ensuring compliance with legal and statutory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert and specialist advice to senior Trust managers regarding medicines management systems.
• Liaise with clinicians, managers and other health professionals to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and economical medicines management.
• Develop and maintain systems for appropriate and secure storage of medicinal products on all Trust premises and vehicles.
• Conduct medicine audits and checks within the service, responding to drug‑related queries from Trust staff.
• Keep up to date with and contribute to research and development in collaboration with Trust managers, clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry.
• Provide information to the Trust on budgets and drug expenditure.
• Review requests for drug protocols for clinical trials, evaluate new medications, and make recommendations for safest and most effective options.
• Work with the Consultant Paramedic for Pre‑Hospital Care to ensure medicines compliance.
• Ensure compliance with all legislative and regulatory requirements for medicines management and appropriate licences.
• Organise and manage workload and objectives to meet Trust requirements within agreed timescales.
• Analyse and advise on any adverse incident relating to medicines and their use.
• Review patient group directions for the Trust.
• Complete regulatory licence applications on behalf of the Trust.
• Oversee clinical risk management assurance and ensure compliance with medicines legislation.
• Lead the development of Trust‑wide policies for prescribing, drug administration, medication monitoring and the medicines components of resuscitation, wound care and other medical policies.
• Ensure the supply of medication complies with legislation such as the Misuse of Drugs Act, national guidance and local procedures.
• Incorporate new legislation and professional guidelines into individual practice.
• Ensure cost‑effective use of medicines across the Trust, local health economy, and wider medicines management activities.

Quality Management System Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a quality management system proportionate to distributor activities.
• Implement quality risk management and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to address deviations.
• Apply change control procedures.
• Measure performance indicators and conduct management review.
• Designate and ensure the Responsible Person carries out duties supporting GDP compliance, defines roles and responsibilities, records delegated duties, delivers training, and maintains records.
• Conduct self‑inspections at appropriate intervals following a pre‑arranged programme and implement corrective measures.
• Maintain standards of GDP for own premises and contracted storage premises.
• Identify medicinal products, legal categories, storage conditions, and Marketing Authorisation types.
• Maintain safety and security of medicinal products including product integrity and storage.
• Use appropriate systems to segregate, store and distribute medicinal products.
• Maintain records for repair, maintenance, calibration and validation of equipment including computerised systems.
• Ensure storage areas are temperature mapped, qualified and validated.
• Document accuracy and quality of records, record storage, ensure procedures are valid, version‑controlled and followed.
• Carry out due diligence checks on suppliers and customers to ensure qualifications.
• Manage authorised activities to ensure operations do not compromise quality and demonstrate compliance with GDP.
• Adhere to all additional national law requirements for special, unlicensed imports and controlled drugs.

Complaints, Returns, Suspected Falsified Medicinal Products and Medicinal Product Recalls

• Ensure relevant customer complaints are dealt with effectively, informing the manufacturer and/or marketing authorisation holder of any product quality/product defect issues.
• Decide on the final disposition of returned, rejected, recalled or falsified products.
• Coordinate and promptly perform any recall operations for medicinal products.
• Co‑operate with marketing authorisation holders and national competent authorities in the event of recalls.
• Have an awareness of the issues surrounding falsified medicines.

Outsourced Activities

• Approve any subcontracted activities that may impact on GDP.

Self‑Inspection

• Ensure that self‑inspections are performed at appropriate regular intervals following a pre‑arranged programme and necessary corrective measures are put in place.

Transportation

• Apply the appropriate transport requirements and methods for cold chain, ambient and hazardous products.
• Ensure all transport equipment is appropriately qualified.

Brokers

• Ensure that transactions are only made with brokers who are registered.
• Ensure that any broker activities performed are registered.

Person Requirements

• Prior relevant knowledge and experience related to the distribution of medicinal products.
• Access to pharmaceutical knowledge and advice when required.
• Knowledge of the products traded under the licence.

General Responsibilities and Conditions

• Post holder will report to the Head of Compliance and manage workload and objectives autonomously; monthly update meetings are held.
• Special conditions: requirement for a current and valid driving licence to attend meetings at various locations within and on occasions outside the Trust.
• Work complexity: undertake a full review of current medicines management legislation, processes and controls, including budget and financial decisions relating to medicines.
• Job consists of varied tasks requiring flexibility and personal organisation to determine priorities and handle multiple issues simultaneously.
• Contacts: liaise with staff and managers at all levels of the organisation, and with external representatives, primarily via telephone or email.
• Policy: responsible for implementation and development of pharmacy/medicines policies and procedures and contribute to Trust medicines/drugs management policies.
• Staff Management: undertake Personal Development Reviews (PDRs) for managers and staff in own area, liaise with HR, occupational health, and other stakeholders for recruitment, sickness management, communication, grievance, discipline, health & safety and welfare.
• Participate in staff recruitment in line with organisational needs.
• Authorised signatory for travel expenses, overtime payments and staff timesheets.
• Creative Work: prepare correspondence and reports; assist in developing new medicines management procedures; provide specialist advice on introduction of new medicines to the Trust, including developing clinical protocols.

Qualifications

• Current registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Professional knowledge through degree, supplemented by specialist training to doctorate or equivalent level, management qualification or equivalent experience.
• Specialist or Advanced practice qualification relevant to Primary/Urgent/Emergency care pharmacy practice.
• WDA Responsible Person trained.
• Management/leadership qualification or working towards.

Skills and Knowledge

• Full UK Driving Licence / Car Owner (willing to travel across Trust sites).
• Qualified pharmacist with current registration.
• Skills for analysing service related issues, clinical governance, medicines issues, dealing with complaints.
• Ability to work at a senior level within an organisation.
• Knowledge of legislative and regulatory requirements for medicines management.
• Evidence of recent CPD.

Experience

• Professional knowledge acquired through pharmacy degree (4 years) plus 1 year pre‑registration training and experience plus specialist knowledge acquired through diploma level training plus further specialist / management knowledge in area of practice.
• Experience as a MHRA WDA Responsible Person (RP).
• Line management for department and individuals.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Where a Disclosure & Barring Service check is required for the post, all applicants are required to cover the cost of the check.