Chief Pharmacy Information Officer

Overview

Frimley Health NHS Trust is seeking a Chief Pharmacy Information Officer for a fixed-term 12-month maternity cover. The postholder will lead the strategic development and management of pharmacy information systems, including Electronic Patient Record Epic, Automated Dispensing Cabinets, and other pharmacy systems, ensuring these systems support safe, effective, and efficient pharmacy services. This role involves close collaboration with Digital Services to deliver system implementation and Electronic Patient Record (EPR) optimisation tailored to pharmacy needs. The Chief Pharmacy Information Officer will act as the vital link between pharmacy and clinical teams, as well as external stakeholders across the Trust and Integrated Care Board (ICB), to drive interoperability and integrated digital solutions that enhance patient care pathways. This is a key leadership opportunity for a pharmacy informatics expert committed to advancing digital transformation within NHS pharmacy.

Main duties

Provide specialized advice on digital transformation systems and the Trust''s EPR, focusing on prescribing and medicine usage. Ensure alignment of digital pharmacy strategy with business plans. Develop a digital workforce for pharmacy, ensuring EPR and logistics system training and certification for all team members. Advise on procurement, implementation, and benefits realization in clinical and non-clinical digital system projects from a pharmacy perspective. Act as the main contact between the Trust EPR team and Pharmacy Team, liaising with external stakeholders, including ICB and other pharmacy networks, to provide specialist advice on new systems, changes, data, and reports. Ensure tasks and operations related to prescribing are responsive, safe, effective, and efficient, including logging, monitoring, and escalating EPR system incidents. Accountable for clinical governance in electronic prescribing, ensuring safe, cost-efficient, and effective use of the prescribing system and medicines. Ensure EPR system adherence to local and national guidelines. Advise and support the Senior Pharmacy Team and lead pharmacists on digital decisions, including electronic prescribing, to incorporate into the pharmacy development plan. Lead the Trust pharmacy digital strategy.

Lead and coordinate pharmacy digital strategy implementation and oversee plans for systems such as WellSky and Omnicell, ensuring integration with the EPR and clinical documentation across FHFT sites.

Modernise and transform Pharmacy Services by working with external suppliers to streamline automated processes and support the design, development, and maintenance of bespoke software solutions for data capture and reporting within the Pharmacy.

Support the strategy for pharmacy automation including robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). Maintain oversight of all application development for pharmacy to offer digital solutions that improve efficiencies in consideration of the EPR programme.

Support research activity of senior clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians by advising and developing information reporting as required. Advise the Trust on electronic solutions to improve patient safety, efficiencies and savings including electronic ward cabinets, secure storage and optimising use of the EPR.

Ensure alignment of multiple sites and harmonisation of practice where appropriate. Contribute to patient experience initiatives using digital technology to improve outcomes including patient surveys, drone delivery systems, remote pharmacy consults, etc.

Operational/Digital responsibilities

Develop, implement and monitor policies and procedures relating to the use and maintenance of the pharmacy digital component of the EPR, ensuring compatibility with Trust IT standards and national IT direction.

Resolve technical and operational issues related to pharmacy computer systems; configure and maintain EPR drug files, order sets, and electronic guidance links.

Extract and analyse complex sensitive information from IT sources to support clinical activities within pharmacy and other Trust departments.

Manage and implement business continuity plans for all pharmacy IT systems, information flows and equipment.

Be an expert in EPR functionality, configuration, and day-to-day practice. Ensure onsite presence of the EPR team during new workflow implementations and provide on-the-ground expert support where needed.

Lead and coordinate pharmacy responses to installations of software and updates; ensure changes including medications builds are quality assured and approved, with final sign-off after testing before live migration.

Oversee requesting and approving medications to be built into EPR, liaising with lead pharmacists, formulary and clinicians. Work closely with clinical teams to design, test, and sign off medication management workflows.

Provide managerial support to continuously improve the FHFT pharmacy intranet and internet as a comprehensive database of guidelines and policies, and promote pharmacy services.

Keep up to date with national best practices relating to EPR, attend national EPR events, and support governance relating to electronic prescribing, in collaboration with the Trust digital team. Ensure good record keeping of all decisions.

Advise on prioritisation of issues and manage interfaces with internal and external stakeholders; develop system data and reporting for dashboards for pharmacies, including quality and efficiency metrics.

Develop systems to identify data quality issues within FHFT pharmacy systems and resolve issues before incidents, stock, system or financial problems arise.

Financial

Manage costs for training and related expenses for EPR certification. Support reporting of all drug transactions to meet the Trust’s information needs on drug usage and expenditure. Support the Pharmacy Cost Improvement Programme (CIP).

Management and leadership

Prioritise workload and direction of the pharmacy EPR team. Act as a positive role model for pharmacy staff. Demonstrate leadership through coaching and mentoring, developing the team and enhancing department performance. Promote evidence-based practice through prescription monitoring. Supervise staff as needed to support and develop related to EPR and other digital systems. Deputise for the line manager when instructed or delegated.

QualificationsEssential criteria

Pharmacy degree

Independent Prescriber

GPhC Registered

Desirable criteria

MSC/ Diploma Digital Health Leadership

Digital Clinical Practitioner

ExperienceEssential criteria

Experience of managing teams

Significant post-qualification experience in clinical environment

Experience in designing and developing Pharmacy Services

Experience in working with Pharmacy EPR

Desirable criteria

Demonstrate experience and ability to project manage EPR projects

Specific Competencies

Essential criteria: Excellent verbal and written communication

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire. Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – aims to be the best place to receive care and to work in the NHS, underpinned by our values: Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future. We are investing in services and facilities, including digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, enables safer and more connected care while supporting staff. Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.

ApplicationApply online now. If you have problems applying, contact Heatherwood Hospital, London Road, SL5 8AA. Telephone ..... full job details .....