The Department of Health is seeking to appoint an experienced pharmacist to chair the Pharmaceutical Committee of the Business Services Organisation (BSO).
The BSO was established in 2009 to provide a broad range of regional business support functions and specialist professional services to the whole of the Health & Social Care sector in Northern Ireland. Under the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997, the BSO is required to constitute a Committee, known as the Pharmaceutical Committee. Its purpose is to advise and assist the BSO in the duties assigned to it in connection with:
- the testing of drugs and appliances
- monitoring the accuracy of dispensing
- approval of payments to chemists
The Pharmaceutical Committee usually meets four times per year although, in addition, the Chair may be required to attend other meetings with the BSO or the Health & Social Care Board.
The total time commitment both inside and outside normal working hours is unlikely to exceed a maximum of eight days per annum. Remuneration for the post will be in line with rates as set out in the Departmental Circular HSC (F) 10/2014 - Payment of Travelling and Other Allowances To Members Determination (Northern Ireland) 2014. A copy is available from the Department of Health website.
The daily attendance rate for the Chair of the Pharmaceutical Committee is currently £220 (or £110 for meetings up to four hours long) with travel and other allowances payable at the rates in the Circular.
Essential Criteria
The Chair must be a pharmacist registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland with at least five years’ experience of the provision of community pharmacy services and must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the Terms of Service for chemists.
General Criteria
The Chair must be committed to the principles and objectives of the health service and would be expected to meet the following criteria:
- Leadership - Acting as Committee leader to ensure focus, direction and results
- Making an impact with others – Developing and maintaining co-operative relationships to achieve results
- Committing to the non-executive role – Understanding the working environment in which you are making a contribution
- Analytical thinking – Making decisions and solving problems in a team and organisational environment
- Learning and self-development – Able and willing to further develop as a Committee Chair
Expressions of Interest
If you feel you meet the criteria could make a positive contribution to the work of the Pharmaceutical Committee, please write, email or telephone for a nomination form and further details about the appointment, quoting reference number BSO 1/18 to:
Mr Edmund McCosh
Medicines Policy Branch
Department of Health
Room D3.22, Castle Buildings
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 3SQ
Telephone: (028) 9076 5602
Fax: (028) 9052 2335
E-mail: communitypharmacy@health-ni.gov.uk
Completed nomination forms must be received at the above address by 4:00 pm on Monday 26 February 2018.
Nominations received after the closing date will not be accepted by the Department.