Clinical Pharmacist - Governance and Compliance Specialist

• Map and review end-to-end medicines management processes across out-of-hours and dental services, including prescribing, supply, storage, administration, reconciliation, disposal and escalation.
• Assess arrangements against legislation, regulatory and professional standards, licence conditions, organisational policies and governance requirements, identifying compliance gaps and good practice.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls and procedures, identifying patient-safety risks, unwarranted variation, duplication and opportunities to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Review the safe management of high-risk medicines, controlled drugs, emergency medicines and cold-chain products, escalating immediate safety or significant compliance concerns through appropriate governance routes.
• Assess prescribing quality, antimicrobial stewardship, medicines optimisation and access to pharmacy advice, identifying opportunities to strengthen safe and effective practice.
• Review incidents, near misses, complaints, audits, policies, documentation and training arrangements to identify systemic risks, recurring themes and areas requiring improvement.
• Engage with the Lead Pharmacist, clinicians, operational teams and partners; produce a documented risk and gap analysis, prioritised recommendations, improvement plan, audit criteria and a final report for relevant governance forums.

Essential

• Master's degree in pharmacy or equivalent qualification.
• Current registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Substantial post-registration clinical pharmacy experience, including practice at senior or advanced level.
• Strong knowledge of medicines governance, patient safety, prescribing and medicines optimisation.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant medicines legislation, regulatory requirements, professional standards and the governance arrangements applicable to medicines management.
• Experience of audit, service review, compliance assessment, quality improvement or clinical governance.
• Ability to review complex processes, gather and evaluate evidence, identify compliance gaps and assess clinical and operational risks.
• Ability to analyse findings and develop clear, evidence-based and proportionate recommendations for improvement.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex findings and constructively challenge and influence stakeholders at different levels.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities and deliver agreed outputs within a defined timeframe.
• Understanding of multidisciplinary clinical services and the operational pressures associated with out-of-hours care.

Desirable

• Independent prescribing qualification.
• Postgraduate clinical pharmacy qualification or evidence of equivalent advanced practice.
• Experience in urgent care, primary care, community services, emergency care or another out-of-hours setting.
• Experience reviewing controlled-drug governance, antimicrobial stewardship, medicine storage and handling or digital prescribing systems.
• Formal training in quality improvement, human factors, clinical audit or project management.
• Experience of developing or supporting the implementation of recommendations arising from a clinical governance, compliance or service review.