County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Chief Pharmacist
The closing date is 20 August 2025
Please note interviews for this post will be held on 5th September 2025
We are seeking a highly motivated Pharmacist to join oursenior pharmacy leadership team as Deputy Chief Pharmacist. This pivotal rolesupports the Chief Pharmacist in delivering safe, effective, and responsivepharmacy services across the organisation. As Deputy, you will lead on thedevelopment and implementation of clinical pharmacy strategies, contribute toservice transformation, and ensure regulatory compliance in line with nationalstandards.
You will oversee the delivery of clinical pharmacy services,directly manage Care Group lead pharmacists, play a key role in workforcedevelopment and quality improvement. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinaryteams, you will support patient-centred care and contribute to financialstewardship by promoting cost-effective prescribing practices.
The ideal candidate will be a GPhC-registeredpharmacist with extensive clinical and managerial experience, strong leadershipskills, and a track record of innovation and service improvement. You will be aconfident communicator, capable of inspiring teams and influencing change atall levels. This is an excellent opportunity for a forward-thinking leader toshape our future service.
Main duties of the job
In conjunction with the Trust Chief Pharmacist, you will beresponsible for the leadership, management and strategic development ofoperational and clinical pharmacy services across the Trust.
Our Pharmacy departments are situated on three main hospitalsites providing extensive clinical pharmacy services at ward level and inoutpatient clinics. Operational serviceshave been centralised where possible with UHND hosting the centralised Storethat handles over 145,000 transactions annually while the DMH site hosts theAseptic Service that prepares almost 8000 chemotherapy doses per year.
To plan, develop and implement novel servicesworking alongside partners in the local health economy which deliver improvedoutcomes for patients.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities
Strategic Development
The post holder will:
Provideleadership for Medicines Optimisation within CDDFT and collaboratively acrossthe region.
Develop,implement and monitor the pharmacy business plan and strategy for medicinesmanagement and associated policies and procedures that fully reflectsdevelopments within the Trust, the wider NHS and current government guidanceand legislation. This will require theDCP to interpret broad professional policies and, through the business plan andstrategy, to advise the Trust on how these should be interpreted.
Ensurethat effective relationships are developed and maintained in relation tomedicines management between Pharmacy, Patient Safety and Governance teams andall other key internal and external stakeholders.
Identifyand develop opportunities that link medicines management modernisation toTrust, CCG and NHS priorities and work with clinicians and managers to deliverthese.
Professional Leadership and Advice
The post holder will:
Provideprofessional leadership and advice to all pharmacy staff working in the Trust.
Interpretbroad clinical and professional policies, NHS guidance and relevant legislationand provide strategic and professional support to the Trust Chief Pharmacist.
Ensure alldepartmental staff have appropriate opportunities and support for training anddevelopment.
Operational Management
The post holder will:
Provideprofessional leadership to the Pharmacy department to meet current statutoryobligations.
Ensuredelivery of effective and efficient clinical pharmacy services within availableresources.
Responsiblefor the leadership, management and strategic development of the variousdepartments within the Pharmacy service including the clinical service andinformatics in line with regional and national strategy.
Develop,agree and monitor key performance indicators for all aspects of medicinesoptimisation services.
Ensurethat all appropriate information is captured and recorded accurately.
Ensure theoptimal deployment and use of departmental staff within budgetary constraints.
Ensuregood communication between all areas of the department and with wards and thewider Care Groups to whom pharmacy services are provided.
Ensurethat all risks are identified and assessed and work in collaboration with theTrust Chief Pharmacist to maintain the departmental risk register and ensureall identified risks are mitigated where possible.
Ensurethere is an appropriate skill mix within the department and promote theextended roles of technicians and pharmacy assistants.
Ensurethat there are current procedures governing the selection, procurement,prescription, supply, storage and administration of medicines within the Trustand that these promote the safe and effective use of medicines.
Finance and Business Management
The post holder will:
Ensureadherence to Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders,Financial Procedures, and standards of business conduct.
Responsiblefor authorising expenditure and accountable to the Trust Chief Pharmacist forexpenditure within the allocated budget.Accountable for the financial position of the services that the DCPmanages.
Implementand monitor a system of delegated budget management within the department andensure that leaders within each service area are aware of their delegatedfinancial plans and targets.
Ensure ITis used in all aspects of the pharmacy service to maximise efficient and timelyservice and appropriate use of staff.
Human Resources Management
The post holder will:
Ensureeffective communications and staff involvement across the service area.
Establishnew ways of working in conjunction with clinicians, other healthcareprofessionals, support and HR staff.This includes skill mix reviews and other staffing strategies.
Accountablefor the direct management of the Lead Care Group Pharmacists and Informaticsteams. Through Care Group Lead Pharmacists, accountable for management of allstaff within the clinical services as outlined in the organisational chart.
Manageworkforce planning, recruitment and staff training, and ensuring objectives,personal development plans and appraisal is conducted for all staff. Promote and encourage training, development,and educational opportunities for all staff.
Ensurethat systems are in place to identify poor performance, conduct issues and thatany individuals identified are appropriately supported and managed within trustpolicies.
Ensureappropriate processes for assessing competency of departmental staff and beresponsible for professional endorsement of that competency.
Work withthe Trust Chief Pharmacist to foster an environment that involves pharmacystaff in decision making within the department and supports staff in deliveringkey departmental objectives.
Foster anenvironment within CDDFT that encourages multi-professional reporting, reviewand analysis of medication incidents and facilitates sharing, communication andimplementation of learning from local, trust wide national review of medicationincidents.
The post holder will:
Ensureappropriate linkage of medicines management to patient safety / governancewithin the Trust and care groups.
Work withkey clinicians and managers to implement the trust-wide medicines managementpolicy and work programmes to deliver the medicines management strategy.
Ensure theprovision of information and advice relating to all aspects of medicinesoptimisation to medical, nursing and other clinical staff. This will involve the analysis of highlycomplex prescribing information and the interpretation of regional and nationalguidance to provide clear advice where there is a range of options and opinionsmay differ.
Implementa programme of practice research within Pharmacy with the allocated LeadPharmacist. This will require the DCP toundertake one-off, complex audits using research methodology to ensure that thepharmacy directorate delivers a responsive service to the different patientgroups.
Promoteand implement modernisation of medicines optimisation practices.
Ensurecompliance with local and national standards of practice and legislationthrough audit processes, including external audits, quality initiatives andreports to the relevant Trust personnel, committees or boards.
Quality & Safety
The post holder will:
Incollaboration with the Trust Chief Pharmacist, ensure all aspects of pharmacyservices meet national and trust standards including CQC, NHSI, RPS and DHstandards. Where this is not the case,ensure the identified risks are added to the appropriate risk register withrecommended actions to resolve the issue.
Implementand monitor national initiatives and directives, such as NICE guidance.
Working aspart of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, control the risk of medication errors byensuring that safe systems are in place for prescription, dispensing andadministration of medicines and the investigation of medicine errors. Ensurethat errors, complaints and incidents involving medicines are managed withinthe Trusts guidelines and that information concerning resultant action plans featuresin Trust reports as appropriate.
Ensurethat all incident reviews led by Pharmacy are undertaken in a timely manner andthat resultant action plans are completed on time. Lead on the most complex of medicines-relatedreviews where expert medicines management knowledge is required. Incident reviews involve the analysis ofhighly complex information from a number of sources where there maybe differingopinions.
Ensurethat all clinical trials involving medicines within the trust are fullycompliant with currently accepted best practice. In collaboration with the Trusts Research& Development department ensure full involvement of appropriately trainedpharmacy staff in all aspects of clinical trials.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
* Relevant postgraduate pharmacy qualification, preferably at Masters level
* Relevant Management Qualification or equivalent experience, preferably at Masters level
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Member of, or willing to join, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Statutory Registration
* Registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
* Faculty Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
Experience
* Extensive relevant experience as a senior pharmacy manager with proven ability to manage significant human and financial resource in a complex environment
* Significant experience of leading a team of staff to deliver improved patient outcomes
* Experience of working across boundaries within and/or external to the NHS
* Experience of service, policy and strategy development.
* Experience of providing innovative services
* Experience of managing and successful delivery of projects using a formal project management methodology
* Clinical pharmacy experience
* Experience as a regional / national expert in a specific field
Special Requirements
* Be able to travel between and work at different locations, locally, regionally and nationally as required
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Strategic and operational leadership skills to lead change through people
* Demonstrable high level management skills (including change management)
* Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to establish and maintain effective working relationships
* Proven visionary leadership with the ability to set a clear vision for services, to persuade others of the benefits and requirements of the plan and to overcome potential obstacles
* Excellent understanding of current pharmacy/medicine management issues
* Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to provide information using a variety of IT solutions
* Able to make effective, prompt decisions when faced with variable, complex information and situations
* Evidence of collaboration with primary care.
* Involvement in practice research and policy development.
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.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£76,965 to £88,682 a yearper annum, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,Flexible working,Compressed hours
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