Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Principal Pharmacist, Biologics

The closing date is 20 July 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a proactive and dynamic individual with the requisite knowledge, skills, experience, and expertise to join our team to provide a high quality specialist pharmacy service for patients using biologics and high cost drugs.

Due to service expansion, and in collaboration with the existing Principal Pharmacist, this is a unique opportunity to lead, strategically develop, and deliver a specialist service for patients requiring biologics and high cost drugs, including via homecare. This will include working closely with multidisciplinary teams within defined specialties and using independent prescribing to provide pharmacist-led clinics to optimise the use of biologics and high-cost drugs to improve patient care. It will also include contributing to the development and tracking of Cost Improvement Plans (CIPs), including biosimilar switching programmes.

You will also be involved in the development of Trustwide treatment guidelines and protocols, divisional reporting, clinical audit, risk management, multi-professional teaching, and supervision of other pharmacy staff.

The post includes participation in the late duty, weekend, bank holiday and senior on-call rotas.

Main duties of the job

o To be responsible for leading, managing, strategically developing and delivering a specialist pharmacy service for patients requiring biologics and high cost drugs, including via homecare.o To provide specialist advice regarding the use of biologics and high cost drugs for patients and clinicians across the Trust and facilitate good prescribing practice in these areas.o To work as part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) within a defined specialty and to use independent prescribing to provide pharmacist-led clinics to ensure the optimal use of biologics and high-cost drugs to improve patient care.o To develop, implement, evaluate and monitor medicines management guidelines, policies and procedures related to biologics and high cost drugs, in collaboration with appropriate specialists and in line with national guidance.o To undertake risk assessments and ensure compliance with medicines legislation within the relevant areas.o To contribute to the development and tracking of Cost Improvement Plans (CIPs), particularly relating to biologics and high-cost drugs, to achieve Trust and system savings, including biosimilar switching programmes.o To work collaboratively with South West London and Surrey Integrated Care Systems High Cost Drugs teams to implement NICE Technology Appraisal guidance and local policies regarding biologics and high cost drugs.o To provide education and training to pharmacy staff and other health care professionals as required.

About us

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust provides a range of medical services to approximately 490,000 people living across southwest London and northeast Surrey. In addition, we provide more specialist services, in particular renal and neonatal intensive care, to a wider area, covering parts of Sussex and Hampshire.We serve an area that is rich in diversity, with a mix of urban and rural areas, and differing levels of quality of life. We cover some of the most prosperous postcodes in the country, as well as some poorer areas. Together with our colleagues at NHS Surrey and NHS Sutton and Merton, we work to make sure that we deliver the best possible care to the communities we serve.The Trust employs approximately 5,000 staff across its hospitals and is supported by over 500 volunteers.

Details

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£59,490 to £66,239 a year Pro-rata pa inc HCAS (Outer London)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

343-7283565-FM-AG

Job locations

St Helier

Wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Masters in Pharmacy Degree - MPharm
  • 1 year pre-registration training Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Desirable

  • Membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Member of the faculty of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (or working towards) at Faculty Advanced Stage II or Advanced level practice against the Core Advanced Curriculum
  • Independent Prescriber
  • Leadership/management qualification

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Extensive post registration hospital experience
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of biologics and areas of medicine where these are used
  • Understanding of Homecare service issues
  • Significant and relevant clinical experience
  • Demonstrates evidence of excellent clinical knowledge and skills
  • Experience in liaison across the primary/secondary care interface
  • Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development
  • Staff training and appraisal, including providing feedback on performance
  • Previous management experience with responsibility for pharmacy staff
  • Principles of Clinical Governance
  • Knowledge of funding routes and commissioning of high cost drugs

Desirable

  • Knowledge of CMM (formerly JAC) pharmacy computer system
  • Risk management and assessment
  • Procedure and business plan writing
  • An understanding of how digital tools / EPR functionality can improve clinical practice in the hospital setting
  • Experience of biologics and high cost drugs
  • Demonstrates a whole system patient focused approach to work
  • Experience of using Blueteq funding system

Skills/abilities

Essential

  • Excellent organisational and time management skills-self and others
  • Computer literate including familiarity with electronic prescribing systems
  • Demonstrates initiative and problem solving skills
  • Excellent time management
  • Excellent communication skills-verbal and written
  • Excellent numeracy skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
  • Ability to motivate self and others
  • Able to influence and negotiate with all grades of staff
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Team player with leadership skills
  • Demonstrates ability to plan develop and implement
  • Knowledge and experience of clinical audit methodology

Desirable

  • Up to date on changes to pharmacy and hospital standards
  • Ability to implement and manage change
  • In-depth understanding of the principles of Quality Improvement
  • Ability to understand the needs of a breadth of stakeholders, including patients, and develop solutions
Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Masters in Pharmacy Degree - MPharm
  • 1 year pre-registration training Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Desirable

  • Membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Member of the faculty of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (or working towards) at Faculty Advanced Stage II or Advanced level practice against the Core Advanced Curriculum
  • Independent Prescriber
  • Leadership/management qualification

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Extensive post registration hospital experience
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of biologics and areas of medicine where these are used
  • Understanding of Homecare service issues
  • Significant and relevant clinical experience
  • Demonstrates evidence of excellent clinical knowledge and skills
  • Experience in liaison across the primary/secondary care interface
  • Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development
  • Staff training and appraisal, including providing feedback on performance
  • Previous management experience with responsibility for pharmacy staff
  • Principles of Clinical Governance
  • Knowledge of funding routes and commissioning of high cost drugs

Desirable

  • Knowledge of CMM (formerly JAC) pharmacy computer system
  • Risk management and assessment
  • Procedure and business plan writing
  • An understanding of how digital tools / EPR functionality can improve clinical practice in the hospital setting
  • Experience of biologics and high cost drugs
  • Demonstrates a whole system patient focused approach to work
  • Experience of using Blueteq funding system

Skills/abilities

Essential

  • Excellent organisational and time management skills-self and others
  • Computer literate including familiarity with electronic prescribing systems
  • Demonstrates initiative and problem solving skills
  • Excellent time management
  • Excellent communication skills-verbal and written
  • Excellent numeracy skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
  • Ability to motivate self and others
  • Able to influence and negotiate with all grades of staff
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Team player with leadership skills
  • Demonstrates ability to plan develop and implement
  • Knowledge and experience of clinical audit methodology

Desirable

  • Up to date on changes to pharmacy and hospital standards
  • Ability to implement and manage change
  • In-depth understanding of the principles of Quality Improvement
  • Ability to understand the needs of a breadth of stakeholders, including patients, and develop solutions

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

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

St Helier

Wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA


Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

St Helier

Wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA


Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Pharmacist Formulary & Medicines Optimisation

Amy Fox

amy.fox22@nhs.net

02082962000

Details

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£59,490 to £66,239 a year Pro-rata pa inc HCAS (Outer London)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

343-7283565-FM-AG

Job locations

St Helier

Wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)