Job summary
Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week
Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Cover - Until March 2027)
We are seeking an experienced and motivated pharmacist to join our Medicines Optimisation Team and take a leading role in driving medicines safety and governance across the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This is a 12-month fixed-term position to provide maternity cover.
This is a senior role with Trust-wide impact. If you are passionate about medicines optimisation and safety, and ready to influence strategic decision-making, we would love to hear from you.
As the dedicated Medicines Safety Officer, you will work collaboratively with the risk and governance team and build strong connections with system and regional MSO networks. You will represent Pharmacy at Trust-wide patient safety meetings and contribute to the regional safety subgroup, ensuring our approach aligns with national standards and best practice.
You will work closely with clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nursing and medical colleagues and maintain a proportional clinical commitment. As a key member of the senior pharmacy team, supporting the Associate Director of Pharmacy for Medicines Optimisation in shaping the strategic direction of medicines optimisation across the organisation.
The position is full-time, however applications for part-time working hours may be considered.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job:
- Be responsible for development and delivery of the Medicines Governance agenda at the Countess of Chester Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- Act as a subject matter expert for the Trust in all aspects of medicines safety.
- Promote the safe and effective use of medicines across the Countess and associated environments.
- Provide guidance and accept referrals from clinical staff regarding medication safety, providing expert opinion and support where appropriate.
- Be responsible for supporting the management of Trust policies relating to Medicines Management.
- Lead and direct the education programme for Countess staff around medicines safety.
- Oversee the implementation of national policies and safety alerts which impact on the Countess and associated environments.
- Liaise with other NHS organisations and healthcare providers to disseminate good practice and learn from others' experience.
About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or demonstratable equivalent NHS hospital experience
- Independent prescribing qualification or commitment to achieving following appointment
- Evidence of ongoing continued professional development
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification or training in quality improvement methodology
- Postgraduate qualification or training in leadership
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of medicines safety and governance
- Relevant post-registration hospital pharmacy experience
- Delivery of clinical pharmacy services to a range of specialities
- Experience of audit, practice research or projects
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge within the area of practice
- Experience working in both primary and secondary care
- Experience of teaching or tutoring
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Ability to prioritise and plan own workload
- Ability to negotiate positive outcomes with other disciplines
- Ability to meet deadlines, while paying attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writte
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or demonstratable equivalent NHS hospital experience
- Independent prescribing qualification or commitment to achieving following appointment
- Evidence of ongoing continued professional development
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification or training in quality improvement methodology
- Postgraduate qualification or training in leadership
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of medicines safety and governance
- Relevant post-registration hospital pharmacy experience
- Delivery of clinical pharmacy services to a range of specialities
- Experience of audit, practice research or projects
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge within the area of practice
- Experience working in both primary and secondary care
- Experience of teaching or tutoring
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Ability to prioritise and plan own workload
- Ability to negotiate positive outcomes with other disciplines
- Ability to meet deadlines, while paying attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writte
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This 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.
Applications 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 Check
This 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.
Applications 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).
