Pharmacy Leadership Fundamentals for Community Pharmacy Owners & Managers
A practical, framework-aligned leadership course for community pharmacy owners, pharmacists, technicians and team leaders in Great Britain. Covers GPhC Principle 2 leadership duties, the nine RPS Leadership Development Framework domains, day-to-day team and service leadership, change management, personal resilience and building a 12-month leadership development plan — grounded in real community pharmacy situations.
Audio overview of this course — great for commuting or a quick preview 🎧
Running a community pharmacy is not just a clinical responsibility — it is a leadership one. The pharmacist or manager who sets the tone for how errors are handled, how new services are introduced, how staff are developed and how patients experience the pharmacy is exercising leadership, whether they think of themselves as a leader or not. The question is whether that leadership is intentional, informed and effective — or reactive and inconsistent.
This course gives community pharmacy owners, pharmacists, technicians and team leaders the framework, knowledge and practical tools to lead more deliberately. It is grounded in the GPhC's October 2025 guidance on safe and effective pharmacy teams, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Leadership Development Framework, and the NHS leadership programmes specifically designed for community pharmacy — including the Mary Seacole Leadership Programme and CPPE's Leading for Change. It translates framework language into community pharmacy reality: what good leadership actually looks like on a busy dispensary floor, in a difficult staff conversation, or when rolling out a new clinical service that not everyone wants.
What you'll learn
- ✓Your GPhC Principle 2 leadership duties as a pharmacy owner or manager
- ✓The nine RPS Leadership Development Framework domains — with community pharmacy examples for each
- ✓How to lead teams day-to-day: setting expectations, delegating, giving feedback and building a safety culture
- ✓How to lead clinical services — Pharmacy First, Hypertension Case-Finding, HLP campaigns — with clear team roles
- ✓Change management essentials for community pharmacy: engaging stakeholders and managing resistance
- ✓Personal resilience and reflective practice as foundations of sustainable leadership
- ✓How to build a 12-month leadership development plan using NHS, CPPE and RPS programmes
"The owner of a registered pharmacy must ensure there are enough staff with the right skills, knowledge and expertise to deliver the services provided safely." — GPhC Guidance on Safe and Effective Pharmacy Teams, October 2025
Aligned with current standards
This course is aligned with GPhC Guidance to Ensure a Safe and Effective Pharmacy Team (October 2025), the RPS Leadership Development Framework (2015, based on the NHS Healthcare Leadership Model), and NHS/CPPE leadership programmes including Mary Seacole, Leading for Change and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer's Pharmacy Leaders Development Programme. Programme availability and eligibility criteria change regularly —always check the current CPPE, NHS England and local LPC/ICB guidance before applying.
👤Who this is for
Community pharmacy owners and contractors, pharmacists with management responsibility, pharmacy technicians in leadership or supervisory roles, HLP Leaders, Pharmacy First service leads, and any team member stepping into a leadership position in a community pharmacy in Great Britain. Ideal as a standalone introduction to pharmacy leadership, as preparation for applying to formal leadership programmes (Mary Seacole, Leading for Change), or as a refresher for experienced managers.
⚠️ Programme availability changes — always verify before applying. The Mary Seacole Leadership Programme, CPPE Leading for Change, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer's Pharmacy Leaders Development Programme and other NHS/HEE leadership offers are subject to changes in eligibility, availability and funding. Always check the current CPPE website, NHS England pharmacy workforce pages and your local ICB or LPC for up-to-date information before applying to any programme referenced in this course.
This course includes
Course Curriculum
Frequently asked questions
This course includes
- 📚 5 modules · 13 lessons
- ⏱ 2h self-paced learning
- 🎧 Audio course introduction
- 📥 3 downloadable templates & checklists
- 📝 Knowledge assessment quiz
- 🔁 Unlimited quiz re-attempts
- 🏆 Verified certificate on completion
- ♾️ Lifetime access to content
Downloadable templates
- Leadership Self-Assessment Checklist (RPS Domains & GPhC Expectations)
- Pharmacy Service & Change Project Leadership Plan Template
- 12-Month Leadership Development Plan Template
Templates unlock after enrolment
Standards & currency
Written by UK pharmacy experts. Always verify against current official guidance before clinical use.
Certificate of Achievement
Complete this course and earn a personalised, printable certificate — with your name, course title and a unique certificate number. Suitable as CPD evidence for GPhC revalidation and GPhC inspection records.