Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Pharmacy team at the Bedford Hospital site as Principal Pharmacist for Operations & Quality Assurance.
As a direct report to the Bedford site Head of Pharmacy you will be a key member of the site leadership team, providing input into the strategic direction of Pharmacy and close involvement in the creation and delivery of medicines optimisation within the site and impacting the Bedfordshire Care Alliance. You will play a key role in service innovation to bring care and access to medicines closer to home e.g. virtual wards.
Development of our workforce is a key part of our Pharmacy Strategy therefore evidence of compassionate leadership, experience of service redesign with stakeholder input and reflections on practice are essential to the role.
You will be encouraged to maintain any prior clinical specialism.
Main duties of the job
- To be the operational lead pharmacist for matters relating to medicines supply (dispensary, procurement, quality assurance and homecare) at the Bedford Hospital site
- To support and deputise for the Head of Pharmacy as specified
- To support the Head of Pharmacy in the development and implementation of the Pharmacy Integration Strategy alongside key medicines management, medicines safety and governance priorities
- To support the Head of Pharmacy in the implementation of service improvement initiatives, development of business cases and support cross-site integration work
- To be responsible for leading on Quality Assurance processes and Quality Management Systems at Bedford Hospital
- To support the Head of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Clinical Services Manager as required in the implementation of Safe and Secure Handling/Storage of Medicines processes at ward / clinic level to enable high quality medicines storage, supply and use across the Trust in line with professional and regulatory requirements
- To lead on the validation of documentation control for the department (including any MHRA licenses), approval of Standard Operating Procedures, and tracking and monitoring of temperature control systems
- To support the Medicines Use & Quality team in the coordination of actions in response to drug recalls and safety notifications
- To support the Homecare team for any matters requiring a clinical pharmacist input
- To be responsible for the delivery of defined service Key Performance Indicators
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification provided. If further information is required, please speak to our contact on advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Pharmacy degree (Masters level)
- Registration as a pharmacist with the GPhC
- Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
- Validated experience as a postgraduate diploma and/or trainee pharmacist tutor
- Demonstrates continuous professional development
Desirable
- Post graduate Masters in Pharmacy (or equivalent)
- Member of the RPS Stage II Faculty Member of the RPS (MIIFRPS)
- Prince 2 Foundation, Agile, Change Management, QI or equivalent accreditation
- Leadership or Management training course
- QI Training
- Train the Trainer qualification
- Registered as an Independent Prescriber with the GPhC
Experience
Essential
- Extensive recent post-registration hospital experience as a clinical pharmacist at band 8a across a range of clinical specialities
- Experience as a personal tutor to trainee pharmacists and diploma students
- Experience of writing professional reports
- Experience of developing and reviewing drug policies and treatment guidelines
- Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development within the area of pharmacy operations and or quality assurance
- Policy and service development including driving performance and meeting KPIs
- Experience of business case preparation, submission and implementation of outcomes
Desirable
- Experienced clinical pharmacist who has covered a range of clinical specialities in more than one hospital
- Recent practical experience of independent prescribing for a designated group of patients
- Experience of writing for pharmaceutical or educational publications
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of developments in NHS strategy particularly in operations, medicines supply, quality assurance and digital systems to implement into NHS services
- Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems
- Knowledge of electronic prescribing IT systems
Desirable
- Principles of Quality Improvement
- Advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgement. Ability to apply logical and analytical skills to manage clinical risk during the use of medicines
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Pharmacy degree (Masters level)
- Registration as a pharmacist with the GPhC
- Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
- Validated experience as a postgraduate diploma and/or trainee pharmacist tutor
- Demonstrates continuous professional development
Desirable
- Post graduate Masters in Pharmacy (or equivalent)
- Member of the RPS Stage II Faculty Member of the RPS (MIIFRPS)
- Prince 2 Foundation, Agile, Change Management, QI or equivalent accreditation
- Leadership or Management training course
- QI Training
- Train the Trainer qualification
- Registered as an Independent Prescriber with the GPhC
Experience
Essential
- Extensive recent post-registration hospital experience as a clinical pharmacist at band 8a across a range of clinical specialities
- Experience as a personal tutor to trainee pharmacists and diploma students
- Experience of writing professional reports
- Experience of developing and reviewing drug policies and treatment guidelines
- Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development within the area of pharmacy operations and or quality assurance
- Policy and service development including driving performance and meeting KPIs
- Experience of business case preparation, submission and implementation of outcomes
Desirable
- Experienced clinical pharmacist who has covered a range of clinical specialities in more than one hospital
- Recent practical experience of independent prescribing for a designated group of patients
- Experience of writing for pharmaceutical or educational publications
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of developments in NHS strategy particularly in operations, medicines supply, quality assurance and digital systems to implement into NHS services
- Knowledge of pharmacy computer systems
- Knowledge of electronic prescribing IT systems
Desirable
- Principles of Quality Improvement
- Advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgement. Ability to apply logical and analytical skills to manage clinical risk during the use of medicines
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
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).
