Clinical Pharmacist (with EDC)

Job overview

The Trust has implemented electronic prescribing for SACT across the Trust, and at our outreach clinics and peripheral sites. Many of our pharmacists are working as non-medical prescribers with clinical teams in outpatient clinics. An objective this year is to further expand this pharmacist prescribing model, for both outpatient and inpatient services, particularly with the advent of newly registered pharmacists now qualified with independent prescriber status. The Pharmacy Department had the opportunity for the Christie hospital to successfully host Foundation year pharmacists for the very first time in 2025 in addition to supporting a number of ongoing and new collaborative projects alongside several research partners and has strong links with the University of Manchester. Several members of our staff have undertaken post graduate training, research and other secondment opportunities and we are keen to support more. We currently have an opportunity for highly motivated enthusiastic clinical pharmacist band 7 to join the expanding clinical pharmacy team. The post holder will support the pharmacy department in further developing the clinical pharmacy service to patients, with a particular focus on inpatient services, including electronic prescribing initiatives across the Trust. If you are enthusiastic and keen to make a positive contribution to the care of cancer patients, we would like to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

To provide a high quality, patient focused clinical pharmacy and medicines supply service to oncology patients ensuring a safe, effective and efficient use of medicines.

To provide support to the dispensary, aseptic, satellite units and peripheral C@sites if required.

To support the pharmacy EP team and work closely with the Trust’s project team to achieve full roll out and operational provision of the EPMA (Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration) systems on introduction to the Trust.

To maintain and develop specialist knowledge in relation to clinical pharmacy services.

To qualify as an independent prescriber and work as an independent prescriber within a designated disease group or ward area working alongside the MDT team.

To provide advice on medicine related issues and clinical trials to healthcare professionals.

To provide education and training support to nursing, medical staff and patients.

To participate in weekend and Bank Holiday rotas and additional out of hours and emergency duty commitment (EDC) duties as required to meet the needs of the service.

Although this post is based at The Christie Hospital main site, postholders may be required to work at any location across the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network. The Trust has a flexible working policy and, subject to service commitments.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• To actively participate in the departmental training programme and complete competencies for each of the following areas: wards, dispensary, satellite pharmacies, clinical trials and aseptics as appropriate. Duties will include the following:

a. Supporting the provision of clinical pharmacy services within the dispensaries, satellite pharmacies within the Trust and at C@ sites and the aseptic services unit, if required. Responsible for the clinical screening/review of prescriptions, both in-patients and outpatients, and to accurately check and supply medicines to patients, including clinical trials in accordance with all departmental, Trust and national standards, procedures and policies. b. Delivering a clinical pharmacy service to designated patient groups, promoting best practice for all areas of pharmaceutical care in accordance with all local, Trust and national guidelines. To use specialist knowledge to identify and resolve complex pharmaceutical issues, taking into consideration other co-morbidity factors associated with the patient and liaise with medical and nursing staff. c. Developing specialist knowledge and skills relating to oncology practice including Good Clinical Practice in clinical trials and an understanding of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 d. Safe and effective screening / review of prescriptions for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) regimens, clinical trials and treatment strategies in use at the Christie including full awareness of the intrathecal chemotherapy policy. e. Following local, Trust and National guidelines for safe medicines practice. f. To promote and maintain cost-effective prescribing through involvement in the development, implementation and review of evidence-based guidelines and protocols with fellow healthcare professionals, under the management of the Principal Pharmacist for Clinical Services, to establish best practice for the area of clinical responsibility.

• To qualify as an independent prescriber (if qualification not already achieved) 3. To work as an independent prescriber within a designated disease group working alongside the relevant consultant team 4. To support prescribing at the individual patient level, contributing to the optimisation of patients’ drug therapy with due consideration to risk/benefit issues.

Medicines advice

• To provide evidence-based medicine advice where appropriate to ensure safe, effective, economical and timely use of medicines. 6. To provide advice on the storage, administration and therapeutic use of medicines to patients, medical and nursing staff and other healthcare colleagues. 7. To provide specialist medicines information including advice on clinical trials to healthcare professionals within the Greater Manchester network as appropriate.

Electronic prescribing

• To support the maintenance of Electronic Prescribing (EP) and Pharmacy systems in conjunction with the EP project team contributing as necessary to ensure all tasks are completed to deadline. 9. To be responsible for liaising with the pharmacy team, ward nursing & medical teams and the Informatics department in relation to the maintenance of and updates to the Trust’s EPMA systems and contribute to the delivery of the training requirements for individual user groups. 10. To check and validate all medicines and medicine order sets for accuracy, ease of use and patient safety if required. 11. To support issue reporting during the implementation of new initiatives to enable projects to be delivered effectively. 12. To contribute with the Informatics teams, management accountants, medical staff, pharmacy staff and other stakeholders in relation to problem solving, auditing, service development and statistical and financial drug transactions. 13. To contribute to the clinical governance process by undertaking risk assessments and by analysing data provided by the system with regard to safety and prescribing issues. To inform system users across the Trust of any risks or issues arising from use of the system.

Other clinical duties

• To participate and lead in service evaluation, Clinical Audit and/or practice research as required. 15. To maintain, lead (as appropriate) and contribute to the regular review and development of efficient pharmacy services, namely dispensary, satellite pharmacy within the Trust and at C@sites, clinical, aseptic & clinical trial services. 16. To have the opportunity to participate in research internal or external to the Trust in collaboration with disease groups or university faculties in line with the pharmacy department strategy 17. To have the opportunity to work towards further post graduate qualifications in line with service requirements and the pharmacy department strategy including independent prescribing qualification. 18. To assist in the development of patient group directions (PGDs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and disease group drug regimen protocols and guidelines as appropriate. 19. To provide the clinical pharmacy service to additional wards in the absence of colleagues. 20. To provide pharmacist cover at Christie @ sites as required 21. Participate in clinical activities e.g. multidisciplinary ward rounds and deputise as needed e.g. clinical and committee meetings. 22. To provide clinical and professional supervision of junior pharmacists, foundation year trainee pharmacists, technicians and students within the pharmacy department and in clinical areas of the Trust. To participate in the training of other healthcare professionals including nursing and medical staff. 23. To monitor and evaluate medicine usage and to encourage adherence to the hospital formulary. The post holder will be required to participate in formulary management, the financial monitoring of drug budgets to designated patient groups, and protocol and guideline review. 24. To report on new initiatives and/or developments within designated patient groups to the Director of Pharmacy and the Clinical Services Manager and where necessary discuss the impact on pharmacy services and the action to be taken.

Governance/risk

• To demonstrate awareness and commitment to the Trust’s Clinical & Research Governance agenda and to implement agreed clinical & research governance initiatives. 26. To participate in departmental, Trust and National risk management schemes such as error reporting systems and intervention monitoring. 27. To identify and manage risks in relation to medicine use according to local policy and protocols.

General

• To attend departmental pharmacy meetings and any other meetings relevant to their role. 29. To develop time management skills to ensure appropriate prioritisation of workload in all areas of work. 30. Ensure all activities comply with departmental and Trust health and safety, fire, security policies and COSHH regulations. To report any issues at the workplace which may put health and safety at risk. 31. To participate in Continuing Professional Development ensuring relevant knowledge and skills are up to date, meeting the professional requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council. To participate in mandatory training in line with the trust and departmental requirements. 32. To participate in all department rotas including the weekend service, Bank Holiday working and on-call rotas as requested 33. To behave in a manner at all times that is in accordance with the professional standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council. 34. Undertake all other related duties which may be required in accordance with the changing needs and practices of the department and organisation.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.