Inspection Officer – Controlled Drugs Governance Team
NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service - West Port
(including travel across NHS Lothian sites and occasional out-of-hours commitment)
Are you an organised, motivated professional with a passion for medicines governance and patient safety? Are you looking for a unique opportunity to contribute to the safe and effective use of Controlled Drugs across NHS Lothian?
We’re seeking a dynamic individual to join our Controlled Drug Governance Team as an Inspection Officer for a 9-month maternity cover. This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of medicines legislation and governance, supporting the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) in ensuring compliance, safety, and continuous improvement across a wide range of healthcare settings.
About the Role
As an Inspection Officer, you’ll:
* Lead and support formal inspections across NHS Lothian and contracted sites (hospitals, pharmacies, prisons, substance misuse clinics).
* Act as an Authorised Witness for the safe destruction of Controlled Drugs.
* Provide expert advice and training to healthcare professionals on CD legislation, storage, record keeping, and safety.
* Maintain and analyse inspection data, contribute to audit and reporting, and support investigations into CD-related incidents.
* Work autonomously within a defined geographical area, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders.
Why Join Us?
The Controlled Drug Governance Team plays a vital role in ensuring legal compliance and patient safety across NHS Lothian. You’ll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team that values professionalism, integrity, and continuous learning. In this role, you’ll benefit from:
* A varied and impactful workload across diverse clinical environments.
* Opportunities to develop expertise in medicines legislation and governance.
* A chance to contribute to national networks and influence best practice.
* A collaborative team culture with strong leadership and mentorship.
About you
We’re looking for someone with:
* A degree or equivalent experience relevant to medicines governance.
* Knowledge of Controlled Drug legislation (e.g. Misuse of Drugs Act 1971).
* Experience in inspection, audit, or regulatory compliance.
* Excellent communication, organisational, and IT skills.
* Ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
* A full clean driving licence and willingness to travel extensively across NHS Lothian.
About NHS Lothian
At NHS Lothian, we are committed to fostering equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workforce. Serving a population of 900,000, we are the second-largest health system in Scotland and home to one of its four teaching boards. Join a dynamic organisation that values innovation, research, and excellence in healthcare delivery.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For further information on what is included in the role and the skills/experience we’re looking for, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. However, we understand that there's only so much a job pack can convey.
If you’d like to learn more about this exciting role, the team you’ll be joining, or the opportunities available, we warmly encourage you to get in touch with the hiring manager. This is a great chance to have an informal discussion, ask questions, and explore how this role aligns with your career goals.
Reach out to
Debbie Alexander, Lead Pharmacist – Controlled Drug Governance Team
📧 debbie.alexander@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
📞07771 390 024
We’d love to hear from you!
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.
This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes .
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.