About this role
Job summary
The Principal Pharmacist - Medicines Optimisation & Governance provides strategic leadership for medicines optimisation, safety, governance, and digital pharmacy services across the Trust.
Working as part of the senior pharmacy leadership team, the postholder oversees the safe and effective delivery of clinical pharmacy services, leads medicines safety and governance initiatives, and drives innovation.
They are responsible for ensuring high-quality, cost-effective use of medicines, managing risk, supporting workforce development, and providing expert pharmaceutical guidance to multidisciplinary teams while maintaining a clinical role, including prescribing where appropriate.
Main duties of the job
As a senior member of the Pharmacy Leadership Team, you will:
Lead the strategic development and delivery of medicines optimisation, medicines safety, governance Provide expert professional leadership and advice across the Trust Oversee medication safety initiatives and manage the Medication Safety Officer function Lead on EPMA, digital pharmacy developments, and formulary management Act as professional secretary to the Medicines Governance Committee, ensuring robust governance and decision-making Drive cost-effective prescribing, financial stewardship, and medicines optimisation programmes Manage and support senior pharmacy staff, fostering a high-performing, innovative team culture Contribute to Trust-wide strategy, policy development, and service transformation You will also maintain a clinical presence and play a key role in ensuring safe, effective pharmaceutical care across wards and services.
About us
Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM). They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation
Our mission is to be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other
Our vision is to be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn
Our approach to healthcare is founded on our four core values:
Kind - we are caring, supporting and respectful to everyone
Open - we are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
Fair - we listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
One team - we work well together and with our communities
We employ almost 6,500 people from more than 80 nationalities and are fully committed to being an equal, diverse and inclusive employer. Our culture and values ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and that no job applicant or employee is disadvantaged at any stage of their journey.
We are also proud to be an Armed Forces Friendly organisation and welcome applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists and families.
Working at NCM means becoming part of a dedicated team of clinical and support staff who are passionate about keeping people well and supporting wellbeing. If you share our values and are motivated by making a difference for our patients, we'd be delighted to receive your application
Job description Job responsibilities Please read the job description for full details of responsibilities and role requirements. Full Job Description Attached
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
4-year Vocational Master's Degree in Pharmacy Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (or demonstrable equivalent experience) Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable
Non-medical prescribing qualification Leadership or management qualification
Experience Essential
Extensive experience as a qualified pharmacist Relevant supervisory/management and change management experience Experience of medicines Governance / medicines management work
Desirable
Experience of lecturing/giving presentations to other healthcare professionals Experience of peer review Experience in formulary updates and compliance work
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Broad knowledge and experience of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics Excellent management and leadership skills and able to motivate staff Able to critically appraise medical literature
Desirable
PSIRF (Patient Safety Incident Response Framework) trained and able to apply principles in practice Strong understanding of clinical governance frameworks and regulatory requirements (e.g. CQC, NICE Ability to develop and implement policies, SOPs, and guidelines
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 North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (WHH)
Address Warrington, Halton, Community
Warrington and Halton NHS Trust
Warrington
WA5 1QG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://northcheshireandmersey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)