Southwest Deputy Regional Quality Assurance Pharmacy Specialist

Southwest Deputy Regional Quality Assurance Pharmacy Specialist Band 8c

Main area: Pharmacy Grade, Band 8c, Contract, Permanent. Working hours: 37.5 hours per week.

• Full time
• Home or remote working

Location: Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

Salary: £79,504 - £91,609 per annum (pro rata for part time roles).

Job overview

Supports the National Quality Assurance Service in providing expert advisory support and ensuring medicines optimisation and continuous improvement across NHS pharmacy services.

Main duties of the job

Providing quality assurance advice to improve the safety of medicines preparation, manufacture and distribution (licensed and unlicensed activity) in NHS organisations; developing, contributing to, implementing and monitoring compliance of quality standards for the safe use of medicines; providing highly complex specialist QA advice and support to NHS organisations and networks on a range of specialist topics; developing best practice guidance and resources; conducting aseptic preparation audits; supporting the SW Regional QA Lead in workforce leadership; providing procurement support to national and regional contracting of medicines; engaging in research, innovation and service development; offering deputy professional oversight and line management within the Regional QA Team.

Detailed responsibilities

• Contribute to the patient safety agenda through QA expertise and support to procurement, preparation and manufacture of medicines and medicine provider services to the NHS.
• Deliver a programme of audit of NHS aseptic units across the region and provide support and oversight of high risk units through a compliance management programme.
• Provide QA advice to improve the safety of all medicines preparation, manufacture and distribution (licensed and unlicensed activity) in NHS organisations.
• Develop, contribute to, implement and monitor compliance of quality standards for the safe use of medicines.
• Provide highly complex specialist QA advice to NHS organisations and networks on a range of specialist topics.
• Support the SW Regional QA Pharmacy Lead in workforce leadership and development.
• Support professional networks and national specialist committees (RCP, aseptic, production, radiopharmacy, nutrition, homecare, procurement, clinical trials, advanced therapy medicinal products).
• Provide deputy professional oversight and line management to the RQA specialist post holder.

Person specification Education / Training / Qualification

• Accreditation by the General Pharmaceutical Council to register as a Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician, or a relevant science degree to Masters level or equivalent.
• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council or a relevant professional body as a Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician, or a relevant Healthcare Scientist registration (e.g., Royal Society of Chemistry).
• Post graduate Diploma or equivalent in a relevant aspect of pharmaceutical sciences.
• Qualified Person (QP).

Work Experience

• Significant experience providing QA and QMS services to MHRA licensed units and/or Section 10 exempt units.
• Strategic planning, organisation and service management experience of pharmacy QA or technical services within the NHS.
• Proven experience working at a strategic level with senior clinicians and managers across the wider health community.
• Experience and understanding of NHS finances.
• Experience and knowledge of current pharmaceutical analysis (chemical, physical and microbiological) of both innovative and routine methods.
• Experience auditing hospitals, manufacturers and suppliers, and ensuring implementation of agreed action plans.
• Experience developing and delivering education and training programmes.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• In depth knowledge of the quality factors affecting medicines and their impact on safety and efficacy for patients.
• In depth knowledge of quality systems, GMP, GDP, MHRA standards, the Medicines Act and other relevant legislation and guidance.
• Ability to resolve complex problems related to product quality and patient safety.
• Ability to act independently, take initiative and work effectively as part of a team across multiple teams.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills at national (DHSC, pharmaceutical industry, MHRA, etc.), regional and local levels.
• Ability to motivate, coordinate, advise and monitor teams regionally and nationally.
• Capability to lead, promote and achieve change within hospital pharmacy departments to meet national guidelines and regional advice.
• Computer literacy and ability to interpret results and statistics.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites across the SW region and nationally.
• Knowledge and experience of quality control testing of medical gases from cylinders and pipeline systems.

Personal Qualities / Special Circumstances

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proven facilitative leadership skills, including chairing meetings at regional and national levels.
• Professional and personal integrity with a recognised equitable approach.
• Visionary and ability to motivate others.

Equalities and diversity statement

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals, is an anti discriminatory organisation committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups and encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce at Band 8a and above, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Pre employment checks

These stringent pre employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.