Chief Pharmacist

Job overview

We are now seeking a Chief Pharmacist to provide strategic and professional leadership for pharmacy and medicines management services across the Trust. The pharmacy team comprises more than 240 staff delivering highly specialised services across Clinical Pharmacy, Clinical Trials, Aseptics and Radiopharmacy. This is a particularly exciting time to join the organisation, with the opening of a new state‑of‑the‑art aseptics unit at our Sutton site, innovative radiopharmacy and research activity, vaccine delivery projects supporting cancer patients, and a growing cohort of over 35 non‑medical prescribers practising across the Trust.

The Chief Pharmacist will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of pharmacy services, ensuring safe, effective and innovative medicines optimisation in line with our ambition to remain at the forefront of cancer care. Applications are welcomed from both experienced Chief Pharmacists and ambitious senior leaders ready to take the next step in their career.

• The Chief Pharmacist is a member of the Clinical Services Divisional Management Team and is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of Pharmacy Service across all Trust sites (Chelsea, Sutton, Kingston, Cavendish Square). The post holder has full delegated budgetary responsibility for the department and is responsible for the service performance, workforce strategy, transformation and risk management.
• The Chief Pharmacist is also responsible for all Medicines Optimisation aspects for the Trust. This role encompasses medicine selection, procurement, supply chain resilience, safe prescribing, advanced practice / non‑medical prescribing oversight, administration and review.
• The post holder is directly accountable to the Chief Executive for all aspects of medicines management and the management of risks associated with medicines across the Trust including compliance with associated national standards e.g. Care Quality Commission (CQC), Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA), and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• The Chief Pharmacist holds corporate responsibility for provision of strategic, clinical and professional leadership on the safe, effective and cost‑effective use of medicines and pharmacy services. This includes working closely with health care partners to support the needs of patients and stakeholders across the wider health economy.

• The key roles and responsibilities of the Chief Pharmacist are as described in the GPhC document "Standards for Chief Pharmacist - Standards for Chief Pharmacists | General Pharmaceutical Council" This link is external and opens in a new tab
• To provide professional leadership to the pharmacy service to ensure that it meets all statutory obligations. To deliver through the senior pharmacy team the active management of pharmacy services, making optimal use of resources available and implementing service improvements in support of the modernisation agenda.
• To lead and manage all operational and strategic aspects and development of the pharmaceutical services at all Trust sites, reporting directly to the Director of Operations, Clinical Services Division (CSD) and Medical Director. Providing professional leadership to the pharmacy workforce, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, to ensure compliance with the GPhC professional standards and Code of Ethics, and provides leadership that supports their personal development and the advancement of their roles to improve patient care.
• Provides senior leadership as a member of the Divisional Management Team, shaping strategic priorities, influencing decision making, and driving delivery of the Trust and Divisional objectives through effective collaboration and cross‑functional partnership working.

• To hold corporate responsibility for Medicines Optimisation and Medicines Management (including Homecare involving medicines) strategies and policy development.
• To undertake the statutory role of Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs for the Trust, providing executive assurance to the…