Job summary
Fixed Term / Secondment until 16th February 2026
We are seeking a motivated and knowledgeable individual to join our
award-winning team. As part of this team, you will have the opportunity to
develop your knowledge of medicines and contribute to the development of
policies and guidelines that have a far-reaching impact across Ipswich and East
Suffolk, West Suffolk, and North East Essex, serving over 1 million people.
In this role, you will have the chance to grow and develop your skills
through leading on projects for Suffolk and North East Essex and supporting GP
practices to deliver safe, cost-effective prescribing. This role will
involve working closely with specialist teams and a variety of partners across
our ICS. You will also have the opportunity to explore new areas, such as
finances, and contribute to the improvement and support of the medication
optimisation agenda.
If you are passionate about making a difference and are
looking for a challenging yet rewarding role, we encourage you to apply for
this exciting opportunity. Join us in our mission to improve the lives of those
we serve and contribute to the future of healthcare.
Main duties of the job
To
support the implementation, delivery, and monitoring of the Alliances and
ICBs medicines optimisation strategy.
To
provide expert advice on matters relating to medicines optimisation and
prescribing
To
support SNEE ICBs commitment to commissioning services that are both safe and
effective in meeting the needs of the local population, ensuring that pathways
in which medicines are used deliver cost-effective use of resources, reduced
risks associated with medicines use, and improved patient outcomes and
experience.
To
support system wide integration, working with wider health and care
professionals to ensure that medicines practice in health and care delivery settings
are joined up.
To
improve the health of the population by optimising the use of medicines.
To
support the development, implementation and delivery of the annual QIPP
strategy for Medicines Optimisation, working collaboratively across the ICB.
About us
The NHS Suffolk and North-East Essex Integrated Care Board
(ICB) plans and buys healthcare services for our population. This function is
commonly referred to as commissioning.
To do this, we work within a budget of around
£1.5 billion, which is set by NHS England, and work closely with local
government and the NHS providers in our area. Our performance is judged by how
well our local health and care system as a whole is working, including the
health outcomes of our communities.
The ICB has delegated some authority to the three
health and wellbeing alliances that operate in Suffolk and North-East Essex to
act on its behalf. This is to ensure that the needs of smaller, local areas are
addressed.
The ICB remains accountable for all of its functions, including
those it has delegated.
Local residents have a big role to play in the
operation of the ICB. We rely on the experiences and perspectives of our
communities to help shape our decision-making.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The job
description and person specification are an outline of the tasks,
responsibilities andoutcomes
required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may
reasonably berequired
by their line manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The job
description and person specification are an outline of the tasks,
responsibilities andoutcomes
required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may
reasonably berequired
by their line manager.
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Able to use Visual Display Unit equipment for prolonged periods of time and on most working days.
- Able to work in a variety of environments, to include own home, office, GP practices and care homes.
- Able to travel independently across Suffolk and North East Essex (and occasionally further afield) as required.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of using critical appraisal skills to aid decision making.
- Experience of planning, developing, and implementing change in the health environment impacting beyond own area of work.
- Experience of budget management/oversight
- Experience of delivering contentious information and managing conflict
Desirable
- Experience of line management
- Experience of working with care homes
- Experience of writing reports for clinicians and/or non-clinical staff
- Experience of training/presenting to large groups of people.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of the prescribing and medicines optimisation opportunities and challenges facing the NHS
- Highly developed and extensive knowledge of therapeutics in practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS contracting and funding mechanisms
- Knowledge of CQC and inspection process
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft software
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional knowledge acquired through vocational masters degree in pharmacy plus 1 year pre-registration training
- Post graduate qualification in pharmacy or equivalent experience
- Registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Leadership qualification.
- Specialist knowledge acquired through non-medical independent prescribing qualification (nb. no prescribing will be undertaken as part of this role)
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence.
- Able to disseminate information accurately and to facilitate collaborative working across organisational barriers.
- Able to create clinical and/or financial audits and interpret the results.
- Able to interrogate and interpret highly complex clinical, financial and prescribing data.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time, when clinical/financial accuracy is paramount.
- Able to use a keyboard to enter prescribing or financial data with a very high degree of accuracy, using nationally approved coding where necessary
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, able to work autonomously as well as part of a team
Desirable
- Good presentation and training skills
- Behaviour change techniques
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Able to use Visual Display Unit equipment for prolonged periods of time and on most working days.
- Able to work in a variety of environments, to include own home, office, GP practices and care homes.
- Able to travel independently across Suffolk and North East Essex (and occasionally further afield) as required.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of using critical appraisal skills to aid decision making.
- Experience of planning, developing, and implementing change in the health environment impacting beyond own area of work.
- Experience of budget management/oversight
- Experience of delivering contentious information and managing conflict
Desirable
- Experience of line management
- Experience of working with care homes
- Experience of writing reports for clinicians and/or non-clinical staff
- Experience of training/presenting to large groups of people.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of the prescribing and medicines optimisation opportunities and challenges facing the NHS
- Highly developed and extensive knowledge of therapeutics in practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS contracting and funding mechanisms
- Knowledge of CQC and inspection process
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft software
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional knowledge acquired through vocational masters degree in pharmacy plus 1 year pre-registration training
- Post graduate qualification in pharmacy or equivalent experience
- Registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Leadership qualification.
- Specialist knowledge acquired through non-medical independent prescribing qualification (nb. no prescribing will be undertaken as part of this role)
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence.
- Able to disseminate information accurately and to facilitate collaborative working across organisational barriers.
- Able to create clinical and/or financial audits and interpret the results.
- Able to interrogate and interpret highly complex clinical, financial and prescribing data.
- Able to concentrate for prolonged periods of time, when clinical/financial accuracy is paramount.
- Able to use a keyboard to enter prescribing or financial data with a very high degree of accuracy, using nationally approved coding where necessary
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, able to work autonomously as well as part of a team
Desirable
- Good presentation and training skills
- Behaviour change techniques
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).
