Overview
Go back West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust
Trust Pharmacist
The closing date is 11 May 2026
An exciting opportunity has become available for a Pharmacist to join the Trust working 15 hours per week.
The post holder will be expected to lead on the review and auditing of the Trusts medicines management systems and assist in the implementation of its recommendations as we all provide expert advice on pharmaceutical matters to the Trust and senior managers ensuring compliance with the legal and statutory requirements in relation to Pharmacy and medicines management. (please refer to the job description for full details of the role & responsibilities)
Applicants must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC) and hold an appropriate Pharmacist qualification at Master\'s Degree.
A full UK driving licence is essential for this post as travel across Trust sites will form part of the role
Interviews for this post will be held on Friday 22nd May in person at our HQ in Brierley Hill
This post is available either as a substantive or secondment opportunity (please note, if applying for this as a secondment that you ensure you have your current Trusts approval to do so in the first instance)
Please note, artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting ideas and experiences of others or generated by AI as your own) applications may be withdrawn.
Main duties of the job
West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and accessible workplace for everyone where our colleagues feel empowered to succeed
Each person plays a vital part to ensuring our organisation meets the differing needs of our communities ultimately enabling us to save lives. We acknowledge that a workforce that reflects the communities that it serves provide better patient care and we are therefore looking for self-motivated, enthusiastic people from all backgrounds that care about making a difference to our patients.
We are committed to diversity and inclusivity at all levels. We are proud to have maintained Disability Confident Leader status and as part of our commitments to this we guarantee to invite all applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role to attend assessment or interview. If you have a disability or learning difficulty, and prefer to disclose it, please feel free to do so in your application. You can also contact the Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@wmas.nhs.uk if you wish to have a confidential discussion. We use this information, with your permission, to ensure you are fully supported during the recruitment process.
The Trust is proud to hold the Silver Award for a Dyslexia Friendly workplace and are committed to supporting our Armed Forces community and have signed up to the Step Into Health initiative. We welcome applications from Armed Forces Veterans and Service leavers.
About us
If this position involves a regulated activity it will require an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. The disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children, adults or both
Where a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for the post, all applicants are required to cover the cost of the check.
The cost of an enhanced check is £55.76 and is payable to our online provider at the time that the DBS application is submitted. Upon receipt of your DBS you will then be required to sign up to the DBS online update service.
We do endeavour to respond to all candidates on an individual basis. Therefore we do ask for your co-operation and patience whilst the short listing process takes place. After the closing date please ensure you check your emails (including junk mail) regularly as contact is usually made via this method.
We are proud to offer flexible working options to support our colleagues to have a greater choice in when, where and how they work. During your interview we will explore this with you and discuss your individual needs and how this could be facilitated for this role to benefit patient experience, service delivery and the work-life balance of colleagues.
Job responsibilities
The principal duties and responsibilities for this role include
To provide expert and specialist advice and guidance to senior Trust managers in relation to medicines management systems.
Liaising with clinicians, managers and other health care professionals to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and economic medicines management systems.
Developing systems to ensure medicinal products are stored appropriately and securely on all trust premises and vehicles.
With Support from the Clinical Audit Team, the Consultant Paramedic for Pre Hospital Care, & the Medicine Safety Officer undertake medicine audits and checks within the service responding to drug related queries from trust staff;
Keeping up to date with, and contributing to, research and development, often in collaboration with trust managers and clinicians and colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry.
Providing information to the Trust relating to budgets and expenditure on drugs.
To review requests for drug protocols for clinical trials, evaluating new medications and making recommendations relating to new medicines that are the safest and most effective for patients.
Work with the Consultant Paramedic for Pre Hospital Care to ensure medicines compliance.
Ensuring that the Trust is compliant with all legislative and regulatory requirements for medicines management and appropriate licenses.
Organising their work plan to ensure that they meet the Trusts requirements within agreed timescales.
To analyse and provide advice in relation to any adverse incident relating to medicines and their use.
To review patient group directions for the trust.
To complete regulatory licence applications on behalf of the trust.
To oversee the clinical risk management assurance and ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.
To lead on the development of trust wide policies for prescribing, drug administration, monitoring of medication and the medicines components of resuscitation, wound care and other medical policies.
To ensure that the supply of medication complies with legislation e.g. Misuse of Drugs Act, national guidance and local procedures.
To incorporate new legislation and professional guidelines into individual practice
To ensure cost-effective use of medicines across the trust and local healthcare economy and wider medicines management activities within the trust.
In addition, the following requirements with specific relation to the duties of a
responsible person (RP) apply as the Trust is required under GDP to have an appointed RP.
The individual shall ensure that a quality management system proportionate to the distributors activities is implemented and maintained including:
Quality risk management
Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) to address deviations
Change control
Measurement of performance indicators and management review
The Responsible Person is required to:
Understand their own responsibilities
Carry out all duties in such a way as to ensure that the wholesale distributor can demonstrate GDP compliance
Define personal and staff roles, responsibilities and accountabilities and record all delegated duties
Ensure that initial and continuous training programmes are implemented and maintained
Ensure all personnel are trained in GDP, their own duties, product identification, the risks of falsified medicines and specific training for products requiring more stringent handling
Maintain training records for self and others and ensure training is periodically assessed
Provide and receive highly complex information, agreement or co-operation required. Communicates service related information to decision makers e.g. Groups, Committees and or board, senior managers and other staff at all levels.
Ensure that self-inspections are performed at appropriate regular intervals following a prearranged programme and necessary corrective measures are put in place
Ensure that appropriate standards of GDP are maintained for own premises and contracted storage premises
Identify medicinal products, legal categories, storage conditions and different Marketing Authorisation types
Maintain the safety and security of medicinal products within the appropriate environments, including product integrity and product storage
Use the appropriate systems to segregate, store and distribute medicinal products
Maintain records for the repair, maintenance, calibration and validation of equipment including computerised systems
Ensure storage areas are temperature mapped, qualified and validated
Documentation the individual shall focus on
The accuracy and quality of records
Records storage
Maintaining comprehensive written procedures that are understood and followed
Ensure procedures are valid and version controlled
Operations
Carry out due diligence checks and ensure that suppliers and customers are qualified
Ensure all necessary checks are carried out and that medicinal products are authorised for sale
Manage authorised activities to ensure operations do not compromise the quality of medicines and can demonstrate compliance with GDP
Demonstrate the application of activities and provisions in accordance with the wholesale distribution authorisation and of company processes and procedures
Ensure that any additional requirements imposed on certain products by national law are adhered to e.g. specials, unlicensed imports & controlled drugs
Complaints, returns, suspected falsified medicinal products and medicinal product recalls
* Ensure relevant customer complaints are dealt with effectively, informing the manufacturer and/or marketing authorisation holder of any product quality/product defect issues
* Decide on the final disposition of returned, rejected, recalled or falsified products
* Approve any returns to saleable stock
* Coordinate and promptly perform any recall operations for medicinal products
* Co-operate with marketing authorisation holders and national competent authorities in the event of recalls
* Have an awareness of the issues surrounding falsified medicines
Outsourced Activities
Approve any subcontracted activities which may impact on GDP
Self-Inspection
Ensure that self inspections are performed at appropriate regular intervals following a pre-arranged programme and necessary corrective measures are put in place
Transportation
* Apply the appropriate transport requirements and methods for cold chain, ambient and hazardous product
Ensure all transport equipment is appropriately qualified
Brokers
* Ensure that transactions are only made with brokers who are registered
* Ensure that any broker activities performed are registered
Person Requirements
The prior relevant knowledge and experience related to the distribution of medicinal products
Access to pharmaceutical knowledge and advice when it is required
Knowledge of the products traded under the licence
General
Supervision Received
The post holder will report to the Head of Compliance however will be expected to use autonomy and manage their work load and objectives accordingly. There will be monthly update meetings to monitor progress.
Special Conditions
The post holder will be expected to attend meetings at various locations within and on occasions outside the Trust, therefore a current and valid driving license is required.
Work Complexity
The post holder will be expected to undertake a full review of the current medicines management legislation and the Trusts medicines management processes and controls including budget and financial decisions relating to medicines.
The job consists of varied tasks requiring some flexibility and personal organisation to determine priorities and handle more than one issue at a time. Plan and organise broad range of complex activities, formulate, adjust plans or strategies/ formulate long term, strategic plans involving uncertainty, may impact across whole organisation
Contacts
The post holder will liaise with staff and managers at all levels of the organisation, and with external representatives. Contact may be face-to-face, but is more likely to be over the telephone or by email/correspondence)
Policy
Responsible for the implementation and development of pharmacy/medicines policies and procedures and contributes to Trust medicines/drugs management policies. Responsible for policy interpretation for department relating to medicines
Staff Management
Undertake Personal Development Reviews (PDRs) for Managers and staff within own area of responsibility
Liaise with Human Resources, appropriate support functions including Occupational Health, and other stakeholders to address staff related issues including recruitment and selection, sickness management, communication, grievance and discipline, health & safety and welfare.
Participate in staff recruitment in line with organisational needs.
Authorised signatory for travel expenses, overtime payments and staff timesheets
Creative Work
The post holder is required to prepare correspondence and reports. You will assist with the development of a new medicines management procedure and assist in their implementation and monitoring. The post holder will be expected to provide specialist advice and guidance on the introduction of new medicines to the Trust, including developing the clinical protocols
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Current registered member of General Pharmaceutical Council
* Professional knowledge acquired through degree, supplemented by specialist training to doctorate or equivalent level, management qualification or equivalent experience.
* Specialist or Advanced practice qualification relevant to Primary/Urgent/Emergency care pharmacy practice.
* WDA Responsible Persons Trained
* Management/leadership qualification or working towards
Skills and Knowledge
* Full UK Driving Licence / Car Owner (willing to travel across Trust sites)
* Qualified pharmacist with current registration
* Skills for analysing service related issues, clinical governance, medicines issues, dealing with complaints
* Ability to work at a senior level within an organisation
* Knowledge of legislative and regulatory requirements for medicines managements
* Evidence of recent CPD
Experience
* Professional knowledge acquired through pharmacy degree (4 years} plus 1 year pre-registration training and experience plus specialist knowledge acquired through diploma level training plus further specialist / management knowledge in area of practice
* Experience a MHRA WDA Responsible Person (RP)
* Line management for department and individuals
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.
West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust
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