Job Description

Are you seeking a new and exciting leadership challenge in pharmacy?



Do you want to join a team committed to delivering cutting-edge pharmacy services and practices with high end-user satisfaction?



We're looking for an experienced aspiring Chief Pharmacist to join our forward-thinking Trust. We've a quality improvement culture, " better never stops" is at the heart of everything we do.



Berkshire Healthcare is a CQC Outstanding trust and a Global Digital Exemplar. We are proud to be one of only eight trusts nominated as an Advanced Trust, ranked third nationally among Mental Health & Community Trusts in the new NHS league tables, and have the highest score in staff surveys for staff recommending us as a great place to work.



As Chief Pharmacist for services across Berkshire in mental health, community, and primary care, you'll:



Lead a team of 47 WTE staff, managing a 3M budget



Oversee Operational Services, including medicines procurement, supply, transport, & Clozapine clinics



Lead Medicines Optimisation Services, covering safety, education & training, digital prescribing, advanced clinical pharmacy, medicines information, & governance



Work closely with acute providers, commissioners, external partners & academic collaborators



Deliver innovative, system-wide medicines optimisation enhancing patient care



If you're passionate about patient care & staff development, we'd love to welcome you to our team.



Provide strategic leadership on all aspects of medicines optimisation across the Trust.



Advise the Chief Executive, Medical Director, Trust Board, and clinical services on pharmaceutical policy and practice.



Lead pharmacy staff, including operational, clinical, and medicines information teams, ensuring high-quality service delivery.



Oversee safe and effective management of controlled drugs as the Trust's Accountable Officer.



Support the Clozapine Service, clinical trials, and implementation of NICE technology appraisals.



Develop partnerships with ICBs, acute trusts, commissioners, and academic institutions to improve system-wide prescribing.



Manage the pharmacy budget, procurement, and medicines information services, ensuring cost-effectiveness and patient safety.



Ensure clinical governance, audit, and risk management standards are met across all pharmacy services.



Drive digital innovation, quality improvement initiatives, and workforce development across the pharmacy team.



We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and 'Other' Ethnic Groups.



Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

Caring for and about you is our top priority



Committed to providing good quality, safe services



Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions



Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:



Flexible working options to support work-life balance



27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell



Generous NHS pension scheme



Excellent learning and career development opportunities



'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles



Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services



Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants



Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality



Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave



Free parking across Trust sites

The ideal candidate will:

Be a r egistered UK pharmacist with post-graduate clinical/mental health pharmacy qualification.



Have s ubstantial post-registration experience, including multi-disciplinary leadership and service development.



Expertise in medicines optimisation, budget management, and NHS governance frameworks.



Strong strategic, analytical, and interpersonal skills with ability to influence across complex organisations.



For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.



We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point - by - point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted .



We're c ommitted to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditation s: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed .



We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact Tolu Olusoga , Medical Director, by emailing: Michelle.Jones@berkshire.nhs.uk . We' ll be delighted to help.



Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.