About this role
Job summary
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare or working on the Staff Bank within these organisations. Nursing and AHP vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses/AHPs.
Are you an experienced pharmacist with a passion for medicines optimisation, quality improvement and transforming patient care? Do you thrive on working across organisational boundaries to influence prescribing practice, improve medicines safety and deliver meaningful change at scale?
If so, we have an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and innovative Band 8a Senior Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist to join our dynamic Locality Medicines Optimisation Team (LMO).
This influential role offers the chance to shape medicines optimisation across Primary Care Networks (PCNs), GP practices and the wider health and care system throughout Kent and Medway, helping to ensure patients receive safe, effective and evidence-based medicines that deliver the best possible outcomes.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities
o Responsible for leading and delivering a specialist pharmacy service to a directorate or equivalent area, or in the community.o Provide expert advice on pharmaceutical matters in a specialist field.o Lead and develop clinical audit; undertake research.o Provide support on defined Kent and Medway MO work streams to ensure safe and cost-effective use of medicines within clinical pathways.o Undertake tasks as deemed appropriate by the line manager. o Support the delivery of Medicines Optimisationprojects in locality, including primary and secondary care.o Prepare and deliver practice prescribing reports via face-to-face or online meetings. o Provide medicines optimisation expertise and advice to the system-wide stakeholders including primary and secondary care healthcare teams.o Support the portfolio of initiatives in demonstrating value for money for current spend through tracking, managing and delivering agreedbenefits.o Support the identification and sharing of best practice.o Operate effectively in a highly political and sensitive environment.
About us
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is currently undertaking a significant programme of transformation to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.
Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values:Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.
We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.
We know life outside work matters.As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.
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Job description Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via [email protected], quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.
Find out more about the community difference here.
Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.
It is important to us that all our staff are aligned to our Values and in particular the behaviours we expect from KCHFT managers. With this in mind as part of the selection process for this position you will be asked to complete two other activities in addition to the competency-based interview that you will invited to. This extended selection process is designed to assess your management style and the specific details of the exercises will be given if you are successfully shortlisted. The provisional date of the selection event is 12th October 2026, although this may be subject to change.
Person Specification
Qualifications, training and experience Essential
Master of Pharmacy (or equivalent qualification sufficient to permit current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council) Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a pharmacist Postgraduate qualification, e.g. certificate/diploma/MSc in clinical pharmacy, or equivalent demonstrable experience Recent, significant post-qualification experience at this level in the NHS or other relevant healthcare organisation, with a proven track record of using professional knowledge to bring about change Evidence of post-qualifying and continuing professional development Understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy (e.g. NICE, NHSE and MHRA) and the implications of this on engagement Experience/knowledge of both community and secondary care pharmaceutical services, including identifying and interpreting national policy and researching best practice to inform system reform
Knowledge and skills Essential
Analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear, concise manner. Ability to develop, maintain and monitor information systems to support innovation initiatives. Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
Working environment Essential
A full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) and the ability to travel independently are essential for this role. Should you require workplace adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to supporting you to meet the mobility requirements of the role wherever possible.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address Trinity House
110-120 Upper Pemberton Kennington Ashford TN25 4AZ
Kennington Ashford
TN25 4AZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)