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Principal Pharmacist Dental, Radiology and Therapies
The closing date is 29 July 2025
We are looking for a dynamic pharmacist to lead the pharmacy service to Dental, Radiology and Therapies which are within Division A in our newly established divisional management structure.
This post, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the pharmacy service to these specialities across Denmark Hill, South Sites and Community Dental Services sites. They will also support the Trust Non-Medical Prescribing Group and support projects relating to the development of pharmacy independent prescribing practice.
The successful candidate must have excellent communication, organisation and leadership skills and while a strong clinical background is essential, it is not expected that candidates will have experience of each clinical speciality.
The post holder will:
- lead and develop clinical pharmacy services for patients treated within the Care Groups in accordance with priorities, in order to ensure safe, clinically effective and cost efficient use of drugs in these patients.
- support the development of independent prescribing pharmacy practice in response to changes to the education and training standards of pharmacists alongside the Associate/Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services.
Main duties of the job
The post holder leads, delivers, develops, manages and evaluates clinical pharmacy services. The focus of the post is on ensuring the provision of high quality, safe, comprehensive (clinical, supply, financial and operational) pharmaceutical services at KCH, in accordance with the priorities set by the Deputy and Associate Chief Pharmacists, Clinical Services.
- Developing and implementing guidelines, procedures and policies to support medicines management within the Care Groups.
- Regular financial reporting, drug usage and expenditure forecasting
- Identifying a vision for the delivery of pharmaceutical services to the Care Groups.
- Identifying and promoting best practice
- Teaching and training within the Trust and externally.
- To deliver the clinical governance agenda in relation to drug use in the Care Groups.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job responsibilities
Leadership
- To lead clinical pharmacy services for patients treated within the Care Groups in accordance withthe priorities set by the post holder, Associate/Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services, General Manager and Clinical Director(s) in order to ensure safe, clinically effective and cost efficient use of drugs in these patients
- To develop clinical pharmacy services for patients in the Care Groups in accordance with objectives set by the post holder and Associate/Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services in order to advance the safe, clinically effective and cost efficient use of drugs in these patients.
- To identify a vision for the delivery of pharmaceutical services to the Care Groups.
- To deliver this vision within the boundaries of national and local priorities.
- To identify a vision to support the development of independent pharmacist prescribing practice following changes to the initial education and training standards of Pharmacist alongside theAssociate/Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services.
- To deliver the clinical governance agenda in relation to drug use in the Care Groups.
- To motivate and inspire others (both within pharmacy and the Care Groups).
- To proactively develop clinical pharmacy services in line with local and national objectives.
- To extend the boundaries of the profession.
- To ensure that issues relating to pharmaceutical care are appropriately represented within the Care Groups.
- To work collaboratively with senior pharmacy and medical staff, the multidisciplinary team and management and to participate in the development of pharmacy services in accordance with theagreed objectives.
- Responsible for policy implementation and service development of the specialist pharmacy services within the Care Groups.
- To manage and develop the provision of clinical pharmacy services to all wards, units and departments in the Care Group in accordance with the priorities set by the post holder, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services, General Manager and Clinical Director.
- To develop, implement and monitor policies, guidelines, protocols and procedures at Trust and regional level, as required.
- To propose and comment on policy and service changes and plans within the clinical pharmacy service, with particular reference to (but not limited to) those relating to the development of pharmacy independent prescribing practice.
- To contribute to, and participate in, pharmacy service developments, and co-ordinate and implement them within the Care Groups, in line with departmental and Trust policy.
- To ensure services provided are in line with national agendas, policies, guidelines and frameworks.
- To actively participate in and contribute to the development, promotion and local implementation of local and regional prescribing and clinical services guidance.
- To establish processes for the setting of standards of care
- To work with the Associate and Deputy Chief Pharmacists, Clinical Services to strategically develop clinical pharmacy services across the Trust.
- To lead on specific projects or initiatives across all of the Clinical Pharmacy Service.
- To work with clinicians, nurses and other Trust staff to develop Trust-wide policies relevant to role.
- To be a member of and actively participate in Trust-wide committees relevant to role, including but not limited to the non-medical prescribing group.
- To develop clinical pathways in the Care Groups.
- To work with the Principal Pharmacist, Clinical Services, Formulary Lead and Consultants to support applications for drugs to be added to the Joint Formulary.
- To ensure the compilation and maintenance of a comprehensive resource file for use by on-call staff and other pharmacists .Clinical Responsibilities
- To be responsible for the provision of a highly specialised pharmacy service (clinical, dispensing and supply) to patients within the Care Groups.
- To provide highly specialised evidence-based clinical advice and information (doses, interaction, adverse effects, drug availability, complex dose calculations) to nursing and medical staff (within theTrust and externally) on the management of individual patients, in accordance with legislation.
- To act as a pharmacist independent prescriber to optimise the care of patients.
- To participate in consultant ward rounds, including, but not limited to, antimicrobial ward rounds.
- To manage and make appropriate referrals.
- To provide direct high quality of care to outpatients in clinic(s) within specialist area, as required.
- To follow legal ethical professional and employers codes of conduct.
- To enhance the quality of patient care.
- To manage difficult and ambiguous problems.
- To make decisions with limited information.
- To act as a clinical role model for staff providing clinical pharmacy services to the Care Groups.
- To demonstrate advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgement.
- To liaise with other pharmacists, services and Trusts to ensure efficient transfer of clinical and medicines management issues.
- To promote and deliver pharmaceutical care specifically for patients within the Care Groups and generally for all patients.
- To contribute to and participate in the clinical/ward pharmacy service.
- To minimise risk to patients through effective supervision of clinicians, nurses and patients relating to medicine use.
- To update and maintain patient medication records in accordance with Trust policy.
- To demonstrate awareness and commitment to the Trust Clinical governance agenda.
- To identify trends in drug errors and develop strategies to minimise these.
- To demonstrate a whole-system patient-focused approach.
- To contribute to, adhere to, monitor and assess clinical pharmacy service standards.
- To provide formal or informal patient / carer education and counselling.Financial Management
- To work with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Clinical Services to develop appropriate business cases for the development of clinical pharmacy services to the Care Groups.
- To monitor drug expenditure within the Care Group and provide accurate expenditure information, with appropriate analysis, to the Care Groups, in line with departmental policies.
- To contribute to the budget setting process within the Care Groups as appropriate and support appropriate drug income generation for the Care Groups.
- To attend Care Group financial meetings to provide highly complex advice and information on the Care Group's drugs budget, drug expenditure and cost-control measures.
- To forecast the cost impact of new drugs on the Care Groups drugs budget and manage their introduction into clinical practice using horizon scanning techniques.
- To develop and implement policies to control drug expenditure and ensure cost-effective prescribing.
- To ensure effective purchasing strategies for drugs used within the Care Groups, in conjunction with pharmacy and Trust procurement staff.
- To maintain drug expenditure information systems including high cost drugs so that expenditure can be reclaimed from the commissioners as required.
- To identify changes in prescribing practices that may impact on the drugs budget.
- To identify resources required to improve clinical pharmacy services to the Care Groups.
- To work across traditional boundaries e.g. Primary/Secondary care and across Kings HealthPartners.
Person SpecificationQualifications,
- Registered Pharmacist MRPharmS (Significant competency assessed and examined professional registration)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or Pharmacy Practice
- Registered Supplementary or Independent Prescriber
Skills and Experience
- Expert clinical knowledge and skills relevant to area of practice
- Demonstrate high organisational skills - identifying, planning, organising and developing systems to improve service delivery
- Experience of supervising others, including for research and audit projects
- Experience of protocol/guideline development
- Be able to provide highly complex information on both clinical pharmacy and finance issues and impart knowledge to other healthcare professionals (up to and including senior consultant level / regional and national level)
- Ability to work well under pressure by prioritising and managing time effectively
- Ability to identify and manage risks
- Ability to implement and manage change
- Ability to motivate self and others
- Be able to use available evidence to make sound judgments in relation to patient-or drug-specific issues
- Understands national and local priorities
- Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to the clinical governance agenda
- Advanced critical appraisal skills
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.
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£72,921 to £83,362 a yearper annum, including HCA
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,Part-time,Flexible working,Compressed hours
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