Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Senior Lead for Clinical Informatics and ePMA

The closing date is 29 June 2025

Job summary

Are you ready to drive transformative change in pharmacy practice through cutting-edge technology and innovative informatics? In this role you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of medication management and patient care. You'll leverage your expertise to optimize electronic prescribing and medication administration (ePMA) systems, ensuring seamless integration within clinical workflows.

In this strategic leadership position, you'll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of medication processes, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Your insights will guide the development and implementation of pioneering informatics solutions, bridging the gap between pharmacy and healthcare technology.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:

As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role.

Applicants will be prompted in the application form to declare if they wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and their response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

If you have any queries about expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please contact Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) in confidence via email robert.saunders1@nhs.net

Main duties of the job

Work with the Digital Lead Pharmacist to drive the development of the Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) system across the Trust.

In the absence of the Digital Lead Pharmacist, will be deputised for the daily operational management of the ePMA and Pharmacy Clinical Informatics team by co-ordinating with team members, Clinical Stakeholders, pharmacy, IT and other relevant parties to prioritise the risk management, maintenance, implementation and delivery of clinical systems in accordance to the Trusts priorities.

Be responsible for leading system developments and projects under the System Developments Workstream.

Support the ePMA team and the System Maintenance Workstream in the ongoing maintenance of the ePMA system and other clinical systems where appropriate.

Liaise with pharmacists working in clinical specialities to ensure seamless care of those patients transferring between different levels of care and assisting in the provision of clinical duties as agreed with pharmacy.

When required, support the main pharmacy service in the provision of normal and extended hours pharmacy service for weekends and bank holidays.

Support the provisions of the ePMA oncall service as and when required.

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

Better never stops, and we are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and Costs

Details

Date posted

13 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

C9365-25-0534-1

Job locations

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

WR5 1DD


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To be responsible for leading the Projects and System Development Workstream to implement and support new clinical systems during project implementations.
  • To provide development and support for the clinical aspects of the ePMA system working closely with the Digital Lead Pharmacist, Clinical Stakeholders, IT and other relevant parties.
  • To support, develop, implement and continuously review ePMA contingency plans to ensure patient safety and service delivery are maintained during planned downtime or in the event of system failure.
  • To assist in the day to day management of the ePMA system including the documentation of operational procedural material on the use and management of the system.
  • To contribute to the testing of clinical systems during project implementation.
  • To support the provision of operational procedural material on the use and management of clinical systems while ensuring any guidance adheres to existing Trust Policy and Procedures.
  • To help coordinate aspects of the ePMA system and ensure any ePMA related incidents are prioritised, logged, resolved and/or escalated to the Digital Lead Pharmacist, EPMA Operational Group, the ICT team or the Medicines Management Group as needed.
  • To liaise with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure clinical systems are delivered within agreed timescales and within the scope of the project specification.
  • To provide assurance that new clinical systems are safe, fit for purpose and maintain good information governance practice and GDPR.
  • To work in collaboration with the System Maintenance Workstream to ensure safe and smooth system transition from project implementation to business as usual.
  • To work with and support the System Maintenance Workstream to ensure Business as Usual systems are adequately maintained and resourced.
  • To regularly audit, analyse, interpret and validate data to identify anomalies, resolve problems and ensure data integrity.

To review and respond to national advice and guidance from bodies such as NHS England /Improvement and NHS Digital.

  • To review and respond to security and safety notifications from system suppliers, the Trust IT department, NHS Digital and other system providers,
  • To deliver a comprehensive and consistently high quality clinical pharmacy and medicines management service, in order to improve the quality of patient care and to promote evidence based, cost-effective prescribing, in line with departmental procedures.
  • To maintain own training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to be able to fulfil requirements for providing pharmacy input to system configuration and developments.

See Job Description attached.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To be responsible for leading the Projects and System Development Workstream to implement and support new clinical systems during project implementations.
  • To provide development and support for the clinical aspects of the ePMA system working closely with the Digital Lead Pharmacist, Clinical Stakeholders, IT and other relevant parties.
  • To support, develop, implement and continuously review ePMA contingency plans to ensure patient safety and service delivery are maintained during planned downtime or in the event of system failure.
  • To assist in the day to day management of the ePMA system including the documentation of operational procedural material on the use and management of the system.
  • To contribute to the testing of clinical systems during project implementation.
  • To support the provision of operational procedural material on the use and management of clinical systems while ensuring any guidance adheres to existing Trust Policy and Procedures.
  • To help coordinate aspects of the ePMA system and ensure any ePMA related incidents are prioritised, logged, resolved and/or escalated to the Digital Lead Pharmacist, EPMA Operational Group, the ICT team or the Medicines Management Group as needed.
  • To liaise with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure clinical systems are delivered within agreed timescales and within the scope of the project specification.
  • To provide assurance that new clinical systems are safe, fit for purpose and maintain good information governance practice and GDPR.
  • To work in collaboration with the System Maintenance Workstream to ensure safe and smooth system transition from project implementation to business as usual.
  • To work with and support the System Maintenance Workstream to ensure Business as Usual systems are adequately maintained and resourced.
  • To regularly audit, analyse, interpret and validate data to identify anomalies, resolve problems and ensure data integrity.

To review and respond to national advice and guidance from bodies such as NHS England /Improvement and NHS Digital.

  • To review and respond to security and safety notifications from system suppliers, the Trust IT department, NHS Digital and other system providers,
  • To deliver a comprehensive and consistently high quality clinical pharmacy and medicines management service, in order to improve the quality of patient care and to promote evidence based, cost-effective prescribing, in line with departmental procedures.
  • To maintain own training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to be able to fulfil requirements for providing pharmacy input to system configuration and developments.

See Job Description attached.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters degree in Pharmacy MPharm or equivalent IT qualification
  • Postgraduate clinical diploma or equivalent qualification.
  • Additional postgraduate qualifications, particularly in project management.

Desirable

  • Pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council GPhC
  • Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 3 years working recently in an acute Trust setting.
  • Experience of working in the field of clinical informatics.
  • Ability to understand the working of an acute Trust and the role of the Pharmacy Directorate within that Trust.
  • Ability to understand the working of the Finance Department with respect to its interaction with the Pharmacy Directorate.
  • Ability to understand the importance of interactions with the directorates throughout the Trust and in particular with directorate managers with respect to medicines budget management and contracts.
  • Ability to demonstrate a high level of generic IT skills, particularly with respect to word processing, presenting, spread sheets, databases, websites, email and the use of use of internet searching.
  • Ability to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of good Information and clinical governance.
  • Commitment to, and evidence of, formal continuous professional development CPD
  • Ability to manage own time effectively and prioritise appropriately.
  • Ability to lead and drive initiatives to achieve objectives, particularly those involving clinical systems and clinical safety.
  • Ability to work both on own initiative and also to co-operate within a team to achieve desired outcomes
  • Ability to analyse and resolve highly complex situations, and able to provide expert advice when required.
  • Experience in supervising, training and assessing staff
  • Experience of implementing and delivering the objectives of cost improvement programmes.
  • Experience of managing change and innovation.
  • Experience of compiling business cases in the hospital environment would be desirable.
  • Experience of developing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures SOPs

Desirable

  • Experience of implementing and working with EPMA systems
  • Experience of working with pharmacy stock management systems
  • Experience of robotics and automation
  • Ability to demonstrate a wider understanding of pharmacy practice and the workings of the NHS.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

  • As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters degree in Pharmacy MPharm or equivalent IT qualification
  • Postgraduate clinical diploma or equivalent qualification.
  • Additional postgraduate qualifications, particularly in project management.

Desirable

  • Pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council GPhC
  • Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 3 years working recently in an acute Trust setting.
  • Experience of working in the field of clinical informatics.
  • Ability to understand the working of an acute Trust and the role of the Pharmacy Directorate within that Trust.
  • Ability to understand the working of the Finance Department with respect to its interaction with the Pharmacy Directorate.
  • Ability to understand the importance of interactions with the directorates throughout the Trust and in particular with directorate managers with respect to medicines budget management and contracts.
  • Ability to demonstrate a high level of generic IT skills, particularly with respect to word processing, presenting, spread sheets, databases, websites, email and the use of use of internet searching.
  • Ability to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of good Information and clinical governance.
  • Commitment to, and evidence of, formal continuous professional development CPD
  • Ability to manage own time effectively and prioritise appropriately.
  • Ability to lead and drive initiatives to achieve objectives, particularly those involving clinical systems and clinical safety.
  • Ability to work both on own initiative and also to co-operate within a team to achieve desired outcomes
  • Ability to analyse and resolve highly complex situations, and able to provide expert advice when required.
  • Experience in supervising, training and assessing staff
  • Experience of implementing and delivering the objectives of cost improvement programmes.
  • Experience of managing change and innovation.
  • Experience of compiling business cases in the hospital environment would be desirable.
  • Experience of developing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures SOPs

Desirable

  • Experience of implementing and working with EPMA systems
  • Experience of working with pharmacy stock management systems
  • Experience of robotics and automation
  • Ability to demonstrate a wider understanding of pharmacy practice and the workings of the NHS.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

  • As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Chief Pharmacist

Jiten Vyas

jiten.vyas@nhs.net

01905733375

Details

Date posted

13 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

C9365-25-0534-1

Job locations

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB


Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

WR5 1DD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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