Job Description

Interviews will take place w/c 6th October 2025



We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic pharmacist (Band 8A) to join NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS). This is a fixed term (12 months) and newly established post (1.0 WTE) working across the Medicines Use and Safety (MUS) team. 12 month secondments will also be considered.



This post is hosted by NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, but it is expected that the successful candidate will work fully remotely. This is one of two similar posts that SPS is advertising (the other being a permanent post working across the MUS and Medicines Advice (MA) functions).



We are looking for a pharmacist with substantial experience in a relevant MUS workstream (medicines governance/medicines mechanisms, medication safety, medicines optimisation and network engagement) and who has a passion for supporting the development of safer and optimised use of medicines with the NHS.



You will have a broad and varied role working in collaboration with colleagues across the MUS team, other functions of SPS and key external stakeholders. You will apply your experience and knowledge to deliver high quality SPS resources. You will build strong working networks across organisations to realise the aims of the SPS Medicines Use and Safety programme.

The post holder will:

Work across the MUS workstreams (medicines governance, medicines safety, medicines optimisation and medicines network engagement) producing quality assured resources and ensuring continuity of service.



Contribute to the development, delivery and maintenance of quality assured MUS workstream resources to support commissioners, organisations, and health professionals. Resources may include webinars, podcasts, videos, website articles and workspaces on NHS Futures.



Support the SPS workstream enquiry answering services, including those related to Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and other medicines mechanisms and medication safety.



About SPS



The NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) supports the NHS to develop best practice systems of work-related to buying, making and using medicines. The service provides leadership, instructive and informative specialist input and operational support to the sourcing, supply and use of medicines across the system.



Our strengths are borne out of connecting national expertise with policy teams and arm's length bodies to ensure consistency and high standards. The service supports both regional and local connections to ensure that the service's outputs resonate with and support local NHS organisations which deliver care to patients. The key successes of SPS are through the development and delivery of their "Do Once and Share" methodology.



Medicines Use and Safety (MUS) team



Our Medicines Use and Safety (MUS) team are a well-respected team who work closely with policy makers, regulators and strategic leaders and engage with an extensive range of clinical networks to share experience and expertise. We interpret legislation and deliver practical guidance and support to NHS organisations and practitioners in providing safe patient care across the entire medicines pathway. Our resources support healthcare professionals to assess and improve medication safety culture, strategy and policy within the healthcare system.



Delivers outcomes within agreed timescales, liaising with stakeholders across England.



Exercises professional judgment and makes decisions in complex situations where information is partial or conflicting, or when ethical issues are involved. Provides expert guidance on aspects of content planning, maintenance, and management in specialist medicines related fields. Includes consideration of clinical governance implications, to frontline practitioners, managers and directors in provider and commissioner settings.



Contributes to uniting and integrating SPS outputs to ensure all resources are shared across the country, thus maximising efficiency, and productivity.



Develops and contributes to the outputs of the MUS workstreams e.g. medicines mechanisms template development (including PGDs), medication safety resources and events, medicines optimisation resources and events, networking events.



Develops and maintains appropriate resources on the SPS website, ensuring accuracy of information which is up to date with current policy and best practice and applies all governance requirements.



Is highly proficient in methods of data capture, analysis, and communication and able to deal with large amounts of information on a continuous basis, including internet, email, word-processing, presentation (PowerPoint), database and spreadsheet applications.



Presents reports and data that have been collected or supported by the MUS team at national meetings and conferences and is able to defend controversial findings and justify views and performance in a variety of forums, including large audiences.



Contributes to local and national task groups and workstreams when requested by the MUS Director.



Engages with practitioners and subject matter experts across organisational boundaries to gather intelligence e.g. through regional networks or short life working groups (SLWGs).



Maintains a robust understanding of health policy developments that impact on the delivery of the MUS outputs and informs the business planning and service needs assessments for the team.



Undertakes any other duties as required by the Director of Medicines Use and Safety.