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Principal Pharmacist - Surgery, Theatres, Anaesthetics and Endoscopy
The closing date is 09 December 2025
The post holder leads, delivers, develops, manages and evaluates the clinical pharmacy services to the Care Groups - Surgery including Orthopaedics, Theatres, Anaesthetics and Endoscopy. The focus of the post is on ensuring the provision of high quality, safe, comprehensive (clinical, supply, financial and operational) pharmaceutical services to the care groups, in accordance with the priorities set by the post holder, Deputy and Associate Chief Pharmacists, Clinical Services, General Manager and Clinical Director(s). The post holder provides a specialist level clinical commitment to the care groups.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is expected to act as a role model and is responsible for:
* Acting as a specialist role model and as an expert in the clinical field and demonstrating an advanced level of knowledge
Ensuring the safe, efficacious and cost-effective use of drugs within the Care Groups
Ensuring a high level of clinical input across the Care Groups
Development and implementation of guidelines and policies for the use of drugs
Regular financial reporting, drug usage and expenditure forecasting
Developing the pharmacy service to the Care Groups
Teaching and training within the Trust and externally
Initiating and coordinating research and development activity within the specialist areas
Identifying a vision for the delivery of pharmaceutical services to the Care Groups
Identifying and promoting best practice
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job responsibilities
See attached job description for further information.
Leadership
* To lead clinical pharmacy services for patients treated within the Care Groups in accordance with the priorities set by the post holder, Associate/Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services, General Manager and Clinical Director(s) to ensure safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of drugs in these patients
To develop clinical pharmacy services for patients in the Care Groups in accordance with objectives set by the post holder and Consultant Pharmacist to advance the safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of drugs in these patients.
To identify a vision for the delivery of pharmaceutical services to the Care Groups.
To deliver this vision within the boundaries of national and local priorities.
To identify a vision to support the development of independent pharmacist prescribing practice following changes to the initial education and training standards of Pharmacists alongside the Associate/Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services.
To deliver the clinical governance agenda in relation to drug use in the Care Groups.
Clinical Responsibilities
To be responsible for the provision of highly specialised pharmacy services (clinical, dispensing and supply) to patients within the Care Groups.
To provide highly specialised evidence-based clinical advice and information (doses, interaction, adverse effects, drug availability, complex dose calculations) to nursing and medical staff (within the Trust and externally) on the management of individual patients, in accordance with legislation.
To act as a pharmacist independent prescriber to optimise the care of patients.
To participate in consultant ward rounds.
To manage and make appropriate referrals.
To provide direct high quality of care to outpatients in clinic(s) within specialist area, as required.
To follow legal ethical professional and employers codes of conduct.
To work with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services to develop appropriate business cases for the development of clinical pharmacy services to the Care Groups.
To monitor drug expenditure within the Care Groups and provide accurate expenditure information, with appropriate analysis, to the Care Groups, in line with departmental policies.
To contribute to the budget setting process within the Care Groups as appropriate, and support appropriate drug income generation for the Care Groups.
To attend Care Group financial meetings to provide highly complex advice and information on the Care Group's drugs budget, drug expenditure and cost-control measures.
To forecast the cost impact of new drugs on the Care Groups drugs budget and manage their introduction into clinical practice using horizon scanning techniques.
People Management/Performance
Lead, coach and manage the performance in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure staff have a clear set of objectives and development plans.
Ensure staff are compliant with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements.
Manage staff absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e‑roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
Identify and fill any vacancies that arise in line with the Trusts recruitment policy and process.
Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for our people.
Research and Service Development
To demonstrate a critical approach towards pharmacy practice in the Care Groups.
To evaluate pharmacy practice in the Care Groups, and more broadly as it relates to prescribing practice.
To integrate research and audit evidence into practice.
To identify gaps in the evidence‑base and where possible develop strategies to bridge the gap.
To initiate, coordinate and develop research and audit programmes within own specialist area.
To undertake own research and audit and participate in other research and audit programmes in the Trust and at regional level, as required.
To guide and support others undertaking research.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* BPharm or MPharm in Pharmacy and registered with GPhC
* Diploma in clinical pharmacy or pharmacy practice
* short courses equivalent to postgraduate certificate
* Specialist competencies in area relevant to practice or relevant short courses taught at postgraduate level
* IP or SP
Knowledge and Experience
* Expert clinical knowledge in specialties and experience of providing pharmaceutical care to patients in specialties
* Experience of managing and supervising individuals and a team and education and training at postgraduate level
* Knowledge of clinical governance, local and national priorities and relevant legislation and regulations and experience of implementing these
* Experience of directorate work such as finance management, guidelines and procedures, practice research and audit, service development and QI
Skills and Competencies
* Able to provide highly complex information and impart knowledge to a range of staff internally and externally
* Able to communicate effectively, delegate, influence, organise, motivate and manage time of self and others, problem solve, prioritise and be flexible
* Demonstrates basic critical appraisal skills and uses evidence to make sound judgements and identifies and manages risk
* Experience in disciplinary matters
* Advanced critical appraisal skills
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.
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£70,396 to £80,837 a yearper annum, including high cost allowance
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