Chief Pharmacist

Position: Chief Pharmacist

Location: London (with national travel)

Salary: Competitive + executive benefits

About HCA Healthcare UK:

Originally founded over 50 years ago, HCA has gone on to become one of the world’s leading healthcare providers. In the UK, we’re one of the largest providers of privately funded healthcare and have invested over £500 million in the latest treatments, technology, techniques, medication and facilities. Being part of a large multisite, established healthcare group we can offer you unrivalled opportunities for career progression as well as working conditions that prioritise both your mental and physical wellbeing.

About the position:

The Chief Pharmacist is the Medication Safety Officer for HCA Healthcare UK and plays a vital leadership role in ensuring pharmacy services across HCA UK are delivered safely, efficiently and effectively. This position is directly responsible for all aspects of medicines optimization and management of risks associated with medicines across HCA Healthcare UK. This includes compliance with associated national standards, eg CQC, MHRA, NICE and GPhC. This position will be responsible for providing leadership, expertise, oversight and management of pharmacy services across HCA Healthcare UK being strategic in developing innovative services.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Hold corporate responsibility for provision of strategic, clinical and professional leadership on the safe, effective use of medicines and pharmacy services.

• Take responsibility for the provision of clinical leadership for medicines optimisation across HCA UK, including the entire multidisciplinary team providing professional advice on all pharmacy related matters to HCA UK leadership team and colleagues across the organisation

• Review how pharmacy and medication service operates throughout HCA UK and transform services through strategic innovation whilst upholding statutory requirements related to the safe and effective running of pharmacy services

• Develop strategic innovative services, through horizon scanning, developing and maintaining key external networks, whilst upholding statutory requirements

• Provide advice to the HCA UK executive, including CMO, CNE, Facility CNO’s and CEOs and governance colleagues on matters of pharmacy and medicines optimisation policy and practice

• Lead on Non-Medical Prescribing across Nursing, AHP’s and Pharmacy ensuring the practice is supported and developed in-line with legislation and policy

• Provide leadership, mentorship and guidance to the Pharmacy Managers and on-site teams, working collaboratively with the site Senior Management Teams through a matrix management style

• Chair and/or be a key stakeholder attending Pharmacy, Medication and Governance related meetings

• Develop a pharmacy workforce that is fit for purpose and adaptable to the changing needs of the organisation and profession

• Implement and constantly monitor recruitment and retention processes and improvements for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

• Taking responsibility and accountability for pharmacy and medication issues across HCA UK. This involves circa 150 pharmacists working nationally and services across HCA UK hospitals, outpatient centers, oncology departments and primary care, ensuring HCA Healthcare UK complies with latest legislation and guidance.

Skills and experience:

• Masters degree in Pharmacy (MPharm) or equivalent

• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and Membership of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (MRPhamsS)

• Extensive Senior level pharmacy management experience               

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, verbal, written and presentation style

• Effective at working cross-boundaries autonomously and senior decision making             

• Evidence of successfully leading significant organizational change in developing new models of healthcare delivery                 

• Experience and in-depth knowledge and understanding of legal frameworks, regulatory compliance and governance processes

• Sound knowledge and execution of national standards, legislation, good practice around medication supply, storage and usage

• Experience in the roll-out of an Electronic Health Record, encompassing pharmacy and medication supply is desirable but not essential

• Private healthcare experience is desirable but not essential