NhsJobs Chelmsford

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY

The Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a new organisation

formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs

ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of

health commissioning. The ICB will oversee

the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in

Essex. Operating within a reduced

running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England,

the ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and

smarter resource allocation.

The postholder will provide technical support within the

Medicines Innovation and Pathways workstream of the Integrated Care Board. The

role underpins the safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of high-cost

medicines by managing key processes such as prior approval, invoice validation,

and data reporting. This includes ensuring that funding requests are processed

accurately and in line with commissioning criteria, maintaining robust approval

systems and templates, and supporting governance through accurate documentation

and compliance checks. The postholder will apply knowledge of medicines policy

and commissioning requirements to assess applications, resolve queries, and

escalate cases requiring clinical input. They will also contribute to

monitoring and reporting activities that inform audits, performance reviews,

and commissioning decisions. By maintaining robust processes and clear

communication, this role supports patient safety, ensures compliance with

commissioning requirements, and facilitates the efficient management of

high-cost medicines across the system.

As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused

strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to

support the Director of Pharmacy, Medicines and Clinical Policies in delivering

on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:

• From

Treatment to Prevention: Embedding

preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.

• From

Hospital to Community: Championing care

model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.

• From

Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital

innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To deliver on the job description set out above, the job

holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:

High-cost drug management

• Process

prior approval requests for high-cost medicines within agreed timescales,

applying professional pharmacy knowledge to ensure compliance with

commissioning criteria and local policies

• Develop

and maintain prior approval templates and documentation, ensuring clarity and

consistency for users

• Review

incomplete funding applications, assess against commissioning requirements, and

use judgment to escalate cases requiring clinical input to the pharmacist

Technical support for commissioning

• Validate

invoices against approved requests and identify discrepancies for escalation,

ensuring accuracy and compliance with local policies

• Maintain

accurate records of approvals and funding decisions in digital systems,

supporting audit and assurance processes

• Supervise

the Invoice Assistant by providing guidance, training, and quality checks on

invoice processing tasks to ensure timely and accurate completion

• Prepare

technical summaries and data packs to support commissioning decisions, audits,

and performance monitoring

Data and digital processes

• Use

professional pharmacy knowledge to manage prior approval workflows in digital

systems, ensuring accuracy and compliance with commissioning criteria

• Support

the implementation and improvement of digital tools for medicines governance

and approval processes, ensuring they meet audit and assurance requirements

• Interpret

data outputs to identify trends and anomalies, providing clear insights for

audits and performance reviews, and escalate complex cases to the pharmacist

when clinical input is required

Clinical governance and safety

• Apply

professional pharmacy knowledge to ensure governance principles are embedded in

all approval processes and funding decisions, including assessing requests

against formulary and commissioning criteria

• Use

understanding of medicines legislation, NICE guidance, and local policies to

verify compliance and identify potential risks, escalating complex or

clinically sensitive cases to the pharmacist when required

• Support

compliance with formulary and contractual requirements for high-cost medicines

by reviewing documentation for accuracy and completeness, ensuring decisions

are evidence-based and aligned with governance standards

Financial and reporting support

• Apply

professional pharmacy knowledge to assist in monitoring expenditure on

high-cost medicines, ensuring data accuracy and alignment with commissioning

criteria. Use understanding of medicines policy and funding pathways to

interpret trends and highlight potential risks for escalation

• Prepare

accurate reports for audits and performance reviews, ensuring data is clearly

presented and aligned with established templates

• Provide

clear, accurate data summaries to support business cases and commissioning

plans, ensuring that information is relevant, evidence-based, and suitable for

decision-making at system level

Collaboration and support

• Respond to

queries from clinicians, finance teams, and providers regarding high-cost drug

approvals, using professional pharmacy knowledge to interpret commissioning

criteria and provide accurate, evidence-based information

• Apply

understanding of formulary compliance, NICE guidance, and funding pathways when

resolving queries, ensuring responses are aligned with governance and

contractual requirements

• Work

collaboratively with pharmacists and commissioning teams to troubleshoot

complex cases, identify gaps in documentation, and recommend appropriate

actions, escalating to the pharmacist when clinical judgment is required

• Contribute

to continuous improvement by highlighting recurring issues and supporting the

development of clearer processes and templates for prior approvals and funding

requests

Team management and capability building

• Supporting

directorate oversight of workforce reporting, including reporting on key HR

metrics

• Supports

wider understanding of projects across the ICB and system

• Able to

influence in order to deliver effectively through others

• Support

the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or

beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the

requirements of the Model ICB Blueprint

• Work

collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangements

• Maintain a

focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition

• Supporting

effective Information Asset Management for the team

Other

• Able to

use initiative and work independently as needed to deliver on requirements of

the role

• Primarily

desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused

concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetings

• Able to

use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high

quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel)

Flexibility and evolving responsibilities

As the ICB continues to evolve, portfolios may be subject to

change to reflect the needs of the organisation, the health and care system and

national policy direction. This may

include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting

structures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will need to build constructive

relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:

• Senior

…

What is the salary for this pharmacy technician role in Chelmsford?

The advertised salary for this pharmacy technician role at NHS Essex Integrated Care Board is £32073.00 to £39043.00 p.a.. Typical pharmacy technician pay in Chelmsford varies by experience, sector (NHS versus community), and employer; see the PharmSee UK pharmacy salary guide for benchmarks.

How many pharmacy jobs are currently open in Chelmsford?

PharmSee is currently tracking 8 active pharmacy vacancies in Chelmsford across 11 major UK chains and NHS sources. Browse every open Chelmsford pharmacy role on PharmSee's jobs search.

How do I apply for this role?

Applications are handled directly by the employer via NhsJobs. Use the Apply button above — you will be taken to the original listing to complete your application. PharmSee is not involved in the hiring decision.