Medication Safety Pharmacy jobs

About us:

We’re preparing to open a new specialist private pharmacy in London, bringing together professional expertise, thoughtful design and a personal approach to care.

We’re looking for a Pharmacy Manager to join us from the beginning. Working closely with our Superintendent Pharmacist, you’ll lead the day-to-day running of the pharmacy, support a small team and help shape an experience where people feel informed, respected and welcome.

Job Description:

The post holder reports to the Superintendent Pharmacist, who is the pharmacy’s professional lead and holds organisational oversight and professional responsibility for the retail pharmacy business. The post holder will manage the registered pharmacy day to day and act as Responsible Pharmacist when appointed. While signed in as Responsible Pharmacist, they are personally accountable for securing the safe and effective operation of the pharmacy and for their own clinical and legal decisions.

The post holder will work within the governance framework, policies, SOPs and objectives approved by the Superintendent Pharmacist, implement agreed decisions and escalate risks promptly. They must exercise independent professional judgement and pause or decline any activity they believe to be unsafe or unlawful.

Key Responsibilites:

-Responsible Pharmacist:

• Sign in as RP and display the RP notice in line with the Medicines Regulations 2008.
• Keep the Pharmacy Record accurate and complete at all times, including any period of absence from the premises.
• Secure the safe and effective running of the pharmacy while signed in, making sure SOPs are followed and that staff work only within their training and competence.
• Uphold the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Standards for pharmacy professionals in all aspects of practice.

-Dispensing & Clinical practice:

• Carry out an independent clinical and legal screen of every prescription and decline to supply where it is not safe or appropriate, recording the reason and informing the prescriber.
• Dispense and accuracy-check specialist and other prescription items, confirming that controlled drug prescriptions meet all legal requirements before supply.
• Confirm patient identity at the point of supply in line with the pharmacy’s identity verification procedures.
• Counsel patients clearly and discreetly on their medicines, including administration, storage, side effects, and relevant driving and travel considerations.
• Identify and manage interactions, contraindications and clinical risks, and communicate with prescribers and other care providers where needed.
• Where the post holder is an Independent Prescriber, prescribe within their scope of competence and in line with organisational policy.
• Report suspected adverse drug reactions through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, and act promptly on drug safety alerts and recalls.

-Controlled Drug Governance:

• Manage the receipt, storage, supply and record-keeping of controlled drugs.
• Maintain accurate CD registers, carry out and document regular balance checks, and investigate and escalate any discrepancy.
• Control access to the CD room and CD cupboards, including key and keycode security, in line with the pharmacy’s CD SOPs.
• Manage expired and patient-returned CDs, arranging destruction in line with legal requirements, including in the presence of an authorised witness where this is required.
• Submit private CD prescriptions to the NHS Business Services Authority as required.
• Support the Superintendent Pharmacist with CD governance.
• Stay alert to prescription fraud, forgery and diversion, and act on any concern in line with the relevant SOPs.

-Pharmacy Management and Operations:

• Manage the day-to-day running of the pharmacy, including opening and closing procedures, workflow, staff rotas, and cover for leave and absence.
• Order and manage stock, making sure medicines are obtained only from suppliers holding the appropriate MHRA licences and authorisations.
• Make sure medicines are stored in appropriate conditions, maintain temperature monitoring records, and manage expiry dates and pharmaceutical waste.
• Manage the collection point so that conversations and supplies, particularly of CDs, remain private, including when retail customers are present.
• Oversee the retail wellness range so that products are displayed, sold and advised on appropriately, no medicinal claims are made for food supplements, and retail activity stays clearly separate from the supply of medicines.
• Keep patient records accurate and complete on the pharmacy’s patient medication record and dispensing systems.
• Monitor and audit medicines expenditure and stock holding, and introduce improvements to purchasing and working practices that support the efficient running of the pharmacy.

-Governance, quality & risk:

• Review and update SOPs with the Superintendent Pharmacist, and make sure changes are implemented, trained and signed off by the team.
• Record, investigate and learn from incidents, near misses and dispensing errors, and contribute to the pharmacy risk register.
• Support the Superintendent to always keep the pharmacy inspection-ready, with evidence available against the GPhC Standards for registered pharmacies, and support GPhC inspections.
• Carry out audits and take part in clinical governance meetings.
• Handle concerns and complaints at pharmacy level in line with the complaints procedure, escalating where required.
• Support the Superintendent Pharmacist with due diligence and ongoing monitoring of third-party clinics and prescribers, including their registration, scope of practice and the availability of sufficient clinical information to complete meaningful clinical checks.
• Comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Recognise and act on safeguarding concerns relating to children and adults at risk, including signs of misuse, dependence or exploitation, following local referral procedures.

-People & Leadership:

• Line manage the pharmacy support team, including induction, training, competency assessment, one-to-ones and annual appraisals.
• Participate in regular one-to-ones, objective-setting, appraisal and performance management led by the Superintendent Pharmacist.
• Make sure support staff are enrolled on, and complete, training appropriate to their roles within the required timescales.
• Provide clinical and professional leadership, and build an open culture in which the team feels able to raise concerns and report errors.
• Mentor and support team members in achieving shared objectives.

-Professional & General:

• Maintain GPhC registration and meet revalidation requirements, including continuing professional development.
• Maintain and develop the specialist knowledge and skills required for the pharmacy’s clinical services and keep up to date with relevant legal, regulatory and clinical developments. The specialist area will be discussed further at interview.
• Communicate professionally with prescribers, other healthcare providers and external agencies on medication-related matters.
• Complete all mandatory training specified by the organisation.
• Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, co-operate with the organisation in meeting its legal duties, and report hazards or defective equipment.
• Maintain the confidentiality of patients, the public and colleagues in accordance with organisational policies.
• Provide flexible cover during periods of sickness and leave, and assist with gathering information and statistics when required.

This job description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and will be reviewed periodically with the post holder. The post holder may be asked to undertake other reasonable duties to maintain a high standard of service.

Pay: £65,000.00-£75,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

• Do you have experience supervising or managing a pharmacy team, including day-to-day workflow, staff development and maintaining regulatory standards?
• Do you have practical experience working with specialist medicines and/or controlled drugs, including their clinical, legal, governance and record-keeping requirements?
• Are you comfortable working in a specialist pharmacy role that requires you to develop and apply advanced knowledge of a specific clinical area and its medicines, with the specialty and associated requirements discussed further at interview?

Work Location: In person