A Vacancy at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
We are looking for a motivated, dynamic, and innovative individual capable of leading a team and representing pharmacy internally and externally to become our Deputy (to the) Chief Pharmacist for Pharmacy Business and Operational Services.
Qualifications: must be a registrant with the General Pharmaceutical Council (pharmacist or pharmacy technician) and will need excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to organise and prioritise your work as well as that of others within your team.
The successful candidate will be based at either our Southport or Whiston sites and will be expected to participate in seven‑day working, late duty rotas and an on‑call service provision.
Assessment Centre will take place on Wednesday 22nd April, 2026.
Responsibilities
* Assist the Chief Pharmacist in their duties including providing input to strategic and operational management of Pharmacy Services including:
o budgetary control of Pharmacy Services
o business case preparation
o provision of management information to managers, clinicians and the Finance Department
o objective and key performance indicator setting across all activities within portfolio
o delivering cost improvement/income generation strategies
* Provide professional leadership and management of Pharmacy Business and Operational services including:
o Dispensary (including Outpatient Services)
o Stores, procurement and ward supply
o Aseptics
o ePharmacy & related technology systems, including informatics, & automation
o Medicines Optimisation (including Homecare and High‑Cost Drugs)
o Managing and developing the Pharmacy Accommodation and its assets (including environmental control (e.g. temperature monitoring))
* Deputise for the Chief Pharmacist in their absence at local, regional and national meetings.
* Represent the Chief Pharmacist within and outside the Trust.
* Be a member of the Senior Pharmacy Leadership Team.
* Be an active member of the Pharmacy Operational Group and function as Chair in the Chief Pharmacist’s absence.
* Assist in developing pharmacy services in line with Integrated Care Systems, Regional and National Guidance.
* Assist in the production of business plans, development & capital bids for the pharmacy service and support medicines management within the Trust.
* Work with Trust Directors and Assistant Directors to ensure that the Pharmacy service contributes to achievement of the Trust’s strategic objectives.
* Lead major Pharmacy‑related informatics projects e.g. automation of dispensing processes.
* Provide managerial advice, mentoring and support to the leadership team and ensure departmental and Trust objectives are achieved.
* Act as pharmacy representative on Divisional and Trust‑wide groups e.g. CIP Council, Procurement Council, Capital Council.
* Be an authorised financial signatory for the Pharmacy Department (up to £50k, or in Chief Pharmacist’s absence £100k).
* Lead on the creation of the annual Pharmacy CIP plan and its delivery.
* Be responsible and accountable for the MWL Pharmacy budget lines; develop and manage budgets alongside the Pharmacy Senior Leadership team to meet strategic and operational business plans.
* Lead on health & safety issues within the Pharmacy Departments and consult with managers of other service users, e.g. porters, to ensure safety.
* Monitor and review ePACT data providing assurance that FP10 prescribing data is clinically and financially appropriate.
* Function as a primary contact for MWL regarding maintenance of Organisation Data Service (ODS).
* Participate in Northwest Deputy Chief Pharmacist network and any sub‑groups as needed.
* Be an active member of the MWL and Integrated Care System Place Leads Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention meeting ensuring delivery of shared workplan.
* Develop, implement and assess policies and procedures for medicines management relevant to areas of Pharmacy Service within portfolio and as requested by the Chief Pharmacist for other areas, leading on policies that impact across the Trust and Regionally.
* Manage the safe & secure handling of medicines within the Trust to ensure legal standards and CQC requirements are met.
* Through managing the Pharmacy Systems Manager ensure that information needs to support effective medicines management are met.
* Report and investigate dispensing/drug errors on the incident reporting system arising from your portfolio.
* Respond to complaints relating to pharmacy services within portfolio.
* Provide guidance to senior clinicians (medical, nursing, pharmacy) on issues relating to medicines management.
About the Trust
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9,000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care. Our Services include Acute Care, Primary Care, Community Services, and Specialist Regional Services.
This advert closes on Friday 3 Apr 2026.
#J-18808-Ljbffr