Chief Pharmacist

Job summaryWe are looking for an experienced and visionary Chief Pharmacist to lead pharmacy services, medicines optimisation and medicines governance across West London NHS Trust. This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to shape strategic direction, champion high-quality patient care and support the continued development of services across a diverse organisation delivering mental health, community and specialist care.Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, you will lead a team of around 100 pharmacy staff, drive strategic developments across the Trust and wider health system, and act as the Trust's Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer.This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished pharmacy leader to have a significant impact on service quality, workforce development and the future delivery of pharmacy services.Main duties of the jobAs Chief Pharmacist, you will provide strategic and professional leadership for all pharmacy services across the Trust. You will be accountable for medicines optimisation, medicines governance, controlled drugs management, financial and workforce leadership, and compliance with relevant legislation and national standards.Working closely with executive colleagues, Integrated Care Board partners and external stakeholders, you will lead service improvement, quality improvement and research initiatives, ensure the safe and effective use of medicines, manage significant budgets and resources, and contribute to the development of pharmacy services.About usWest London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over 500m.The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.DetailsDate posted06 November 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 9Salary
118,919 to 135,920 a year

per annum inclusive

ContractPermanentWorking pattern

Full-time

Reference number222-PHA-086Job locationsWest London NHS TrustLondonUB2 4SDUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attachedThe person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesThe Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attachedThe person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential4 year vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy + pre-registration trainingRegistered with the General Pharmaceutical CouncilMember of the Royal Pharmaceutical SocietyPostgraduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy clinical practiceManagement qualification relevant to the NHS or equivalent experience.Evidence of commitment to continuing professional developmentDesirableRecognised training in education or professional tutoring.RPS Faculty accreditation

Experience

EssentialConsiderable post registration experience in hospital pharmacy or equivalent relevant area of practiceSignificant experience as a Chief Pharmacist or equivalentManagement of risk with respect to the clinical use of medicinesRecord of achieving results against set targetsExperience in budget setting and managementBusiness planning with project and financial managementExperience of managing teamsExperience of working with other senior healthcare professionals outside of pharmacy to achieve trust wide initiatives.Experience of working across organisations and systemsExperience of disciplinary and other HR matters and be able to impart results from them to staff in an appropriate and considered manner

Knowledge

EssentialKnowledge of all regulations and legislation relevant to pharmacy and medicines optimisationKnowledge of the requirements of national organisations involved with pharmacy and medicines optimisationExtensive knowledge of financial reporting, analysis and budgetary management
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential4 year vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy + pre-registration trainingRegistered with the General Pharmaceutical CouncilMember of the Royal Pharmaceutical SocietyPostgraduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy clinical practiceManagement qualification relevant to the NHS or equivalent experience.Evidence of commitment to continuing professional developmentDesirableRecognised training in education or professional tutoring.RPS Faculty accreditation

Experience

EssentialConsiderable post registration experience in hospital pharmacy or equivalent relevant area of practiceSignificant experience as a Chief Pharmacist or equivalentManagement of risk with respect to the clinical use of medicinesRecord of achieving results against set targetsExperience in budget setting and managementBusiness planning with project and financial managementExperience of managing teamsExperience of working with other senior healthcare professionals outside of pharmacy to achieve trust wide initiatives.Experience of working across organisations and systemsExperience of disciplinary and other HR matters and be able to impart results from them to staff in an appropriate and considered manner

Knowledge

EssentialKnowledge of all regulations and legislation relevant to pharmacy and medicines optimisationKnowledge of the requirements of national organisations involved with pharmacy and medicines optimisationExtensive knowledge of financial reporting, analysis and budgetary managementDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameWest London NHS TrustAddressWest London NHS TrustLondonUB2 4SDUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameWest London NHS TrustAddressWest London NHS TrustLondonUB2 4SDUnited KingdomEmployer's website