EPR Chief Pharmacy Information Officer (CPIO)

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 28 April 2025

Job summary

JOB SUMMARY

This is an exceptional opportunity for a registered Pharmacist with strong leadership qualities to lead digital transformation across MSEFT and EPUT as Chief Pharmacy Information Officer (CPIO).

The CPIO will work closely with the Chief Clinical Information Officers and Chief Nursing Information Officers to deliver digital transformation across both organisations with accountability to the Trust Chief Pharmacists for MSEFT and EPUT.

As the CPIO for the joint Trust Nova ePR/ePMA programme, you will play a pivotal role in the implementation, ongoing support, maintenance, and development of the Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) functionality of the new unified Electronic Patient Record (EPR). You will lead on ensuring the safety of the electronic medicines management solutions utilised within the two Trusts.

This is a highly specialised, technical, and clinical role requiring in depth knowledge and understanding of the configuration of both the EPR system and its interaction with all other prescribing and pharmacy managed Trust digital systems and clinical pathways.

A requirement to travel between MSE and EPUT sites throughout Essex on a regular basis.

Maintain registration, as a pharmacist, with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and to act in accordance with the code of ethics.

Main duties of the job

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Chief Pharmacists of MSEFT and EPUT, this is a senior role to enable strategic pharmacy and medicines transformation, to ensure medicines processes are properly supported by digital systems, understood and used by the organisation as intended, and are continually improved and transformed to support wider Trust delivery objectives.

This role is a new role as part of the Trust's 'First of Type' unified electronic patient record (Nova) across acute, community and mental health services. The role will support the Chief Pharmacists and lead in delivering the pharmacy benefits of the EPR business case. It will lead to new ways of working using digital and informatics technologies, transforming care delivery across all clinical environments.

About us

With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff, we can now do more and go further in delivering health services to our local communities.

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

Patients will experience improved care as well as fewer delays and cancellations. We are able to provide more once-in-a-lifetime specialist care region-wide. With our new trust size will come more opportunities for development, research, networking and innovation.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Date posted

14 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£74,290 a year Per annum (Pro rata for part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

390-NOVA-SO-0010

Job locations

Southend

Southend

SS0 0RY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Carry out a range of duties, within both Trust dispensaries and clinical pharmacy services, in order to maintain a broad understanding and appreciate the context in which clinical digital systems are used in both Trusts. Be sufficiently familiar with the functionality of both stock control systems to be able to advise on interface issues between them and the EPR system.

Undertake limited routine dispensary work and contribute on rotation to evening, weekend and public holiday cover and on-call requirements, as necessary.

Ensure participation in clinical pharmacy at ward level to identify patients with pharmaceutical issues and identify drug related admissions.

Be an active member of the pharmacy team and participate in the general duties e.g. ward cover and assisting with the training of junior staff.

Provide effective communication with ward staff to optimise patient care.

Maintain a general awareness of medication practice on ward and identify where practice goes outside safe limits. Enforce good practice and apply the guidelines inTrusts Medicines Management Policies including the Medicines Policy.

Promote value for money in the use of medicines and to reduce wastage.

Demonstrate professional accountability to service users, stakeholders and the profession.

Ensure delivery of the clinical governance agenda in relation to medicines optimisation.

Produce monthly reports, on the use of drugs by the directorates, in order to assist in the control of prescribing and management of drug budgets within the directorates.

To work flexibly, working out of hours as required during roll out and upgrade of electronic systems.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Carry out a range of duties, within both Trust dispensaries and clinical pharmacy services, in order to maintain a broad understanding and appreciate the context in which clinical digital systems are used in both Trusts. Be sufficiently familiar with the functionality of both stock control systems to be able to advise on interface issues between them and the EPR system.

Undertake limited routine dispensary work and contribute on rotation to evening, weekend and public holiday cover and on-call requirements, as necessary.

Ensure participation in clinical pharmacy at ward level to identify patients with pharmaceutical issues and identify drug related admissions.

Be an active member of the pharmacy team and participate in the general duties e.g. ward cover and assisting with the training of junior staff.

Provide effective communication with ward staff to optimise patient care.

Maintain a general awareness of medication practice on ward and identify where practice goes outside safe limits. Enforce good practice and apply the guidelines inTrusts Medicines Management Policies including the Medicines Policy.

Promote value for money in the use of medicines and to reduce wastage.

Demonstrate professional accountability to service users, stakeholders and the profession.

Ensure delivery of the clinical governance agenda in relation to medicines optimisation.

Produce monthly reports, on the use of drugs by the directorates, in order to assist in the control of prescribing and management of drug budgets within the directorates.

To work flexibly, working out of hours as required during roll out and upgrade of electronic systems.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level degree in Pharmacy, or equivalent
  • Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Completed or in progress - MSc / Diploma in Digital Health Leadership (NHS Digital Academy) / qualification in Health Informatics or related subject or equivalent experience
  • Digital Clinical Safety - Practitioner course
  • Evidence of ongoing and relevant personal and professional development

Desirable

  • Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Membership of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics
  • Management or leadership training/qualification
  • Prince2 Project Management qualification or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive post registration hospital pharmacy experience
  • Experienced clinical pharmacist with expertise of working with clinical informatics and managing teams
  • Experience of ePMA implementation and delivery
  • Experience of assessing quality of services, including critical appraisal of current evidence base
  • Previous management / team leader experience with responsibility for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other associated staff groups including staff development, managing performance and recruitment
  • Experience in delivering change management and quality improvement relating to digital systems

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a range of clinical specialities
  • Evidence of having written pharmaceutical and/or educational publications
  • Experience of working with more than one electronic hospital ePR / ePMA / pharmacy system
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level degree in Pharmacy, or equivalent
  • Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Completed or in progress - MSc / Diploma in Digital Health Leadership (NHS Digital Academy) / qualification in Health Informatics or related subject or equivalent experience
  • Digital Clinical Safety - Practitioner course
  • Evidence of ongoing and relevant personal and professional development

Desirable

  • Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Membership of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics
  • Management or leadership training/qualification
  • Prince2 Project Management qualification or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive post registration hospital pharmacy experience
  • Experienced clinical pharmacist with expertise of working with clinical informatics and managing teams
  • Experience of ePMA implementation and delivery
  • Experience of assessing quality of services, including critical appraisal of current evidence base
  • Previous management / team leader experience with responsibility for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other associated staff groups including staff development, managing performance and recruitment
  • Experience in delivering change management and quality improvement relating to digital systems

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a range of clinical specialities
  • Evidence of having written pharmaceutical and/or educational publications
  • Experience of working with more than one electronic hospital ePR / ePMA / pharmacy system

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Southend

Southend

SS0 0RY


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Southend

Southend

SS0 0RY


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

NOVA project recruitment advisor

Chris Germain

chris.germain@nhs.net

03004437914

Date posted

14 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£74,290 a year Per annum (Pro rata for part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

390-NOVA-SO-0010

Job locations

Southend

Southend

SS0 0RY


Supporting documents

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