Rotational Pharmacist for Cancer & Technical Services

Job overview

The pharmacy department at Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust is looking for a passionate and driven pharmacist to join our thriving Cancer & Technical Services team. As a senior member, you will gain valuable experience in the clinical management of Oncology and Haematology patients, as well as Technical Services. With diverse rotations covering palliative care, parenteral nutrition, and haematology & oncology, this role offers intellectually stimulating challenges which will enhance your clinical expertise in specialised services and contribute to your professional development. You will also have the chance to hone your managerial and leadership capabilities through various training and support programmes, all with the backing of our exceptional team.

PLEASE NOTE: We may not be able to offer sponsorship for this post

Main duties of the job

This is a rotational post requiring you to work at both Lewisham Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital on a rotational basis, in which you will build on your existing experience in hospital pharmacy, gaining specialist knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Pharmacy Technical Services (aseptic manufacturing)
• SACT day units (oncology & haem-onc outpatients) liaising directly with the medical and nursing team to deliver a clinical service to patients attending the hospital as day case treatments
• Haemato-oncology wards (inpatients) – We currently have inpatient beds at both sites where you will provide clinical ward duties as well as participating in the multi-disciplinary haematology ward rounds working with the medical and nursing teams
• Adult parenteral nutrition – We participate in parenteral nutrition ward rounds liaising with both dieticians and the medical team to provide parenteral nutrition to our adult patients.  You will gain experience in the provision of clinical parenteral nutrition
• Community hospice and palliative care – We work in partnership with the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice providing them with a clinical pharmacist service.  The role provides an opportunity to gain experience in palliative care and management of patients liaising directly with our Consultant Palliative Care clinicians and specialist palliative care nurses

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

• 1.    To provide a high quality, evidence-based clinical pharmacy service for cancer services, parenteral nutrition and palliative care.
• 2.    To work as part of the technical services team ensuring the provision of a responsive, high quality, safe and effective service to the customers of the unit.
• 3.    To be named on the Trust register of pharmacists accredited to clinically screen chemotherapy prescriptions.
• 4.    To supervise and train pre-registration and junior pharmacists and other less experienced pharmacy staff.
• 5.    To assist in the training of nurses, doctors and other healthcare staff.
• 6.    To undertake audits and research as necessary.
• 7.    To promote the safe, rational and cost effective use of medicines across the care group.
• 8.    To plan own workload and project work in order to develop the service to the specialities.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

Junior and senior medical staff; Pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy assistants, clerical officers and porters within the pharmacy department; Nursing staff; Dietitians; Other health care professionals as appropriate; Patients.

External

Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice;  GPs; Community Pharmacists; Patient’s families and carers.

Key Result Areas & Performance:

Aseptics with Parenteral Nutrition Rotation

• 1.    With the senior technician, to plan and organise the day to day running of the aseptic unit.
• 2.    To be an Authorised Pharmacist for the final check and release of products prepared in the aseptic unit, ensuring that all facilities, equipment, activities, procedures and documentation meet the requirements of current legislation and best practice.
• 3.    To contribute to the preparation of documentation in accordance with the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice.
• 4.    Apply the principles of Good Clinical Practice in the professional supervision and release of IMPs for clinical trials.
• 5.    Work as part of the multidisciplinary nutrition team for prescribing, monitoring and the clinical management of adult patients on parenteral nutrition.
• 6.    Liaise with the chemotherapy day unit to ensure that the service meets the needs of the patients within the capacity of the unit.
• 7.    To clinically screen chemotherapy prescriptions.
• 8.    To deputise for the Lead Pharmacist Aseptic Services, in their absence.

Aseptics with Palliative Care Rotation

• With the senior technician, to plan and organise the day to day running of the aseptic unit.
• To be an Authorised Pharmacist for the final check and release of products prepared in the aseptic unit, ensuring that all facilities, equipment, activities, procedures and documentation meet the requirements of current legislation and best practice.
• To contribute to the preparation of documentation in accordance with the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice.
• Apply the principles of Good Clinical Practice in the professional supervision and release of IMPs and nIMPs for clinical trials.
• To clinically screen chemotherapy prescriptions.
• To provide a clinical pharmacy service to Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice in accordance with the service level agreement.
• To deputise for the Lead Pharmacist Aseptic Services, in their absence.

Chemotherapy Day Unit Rotation

• To clinically screen chemotherapy prescriptions.
• Contribute to the clinical care of oncology and haemato-oncology patients treated as outpatients, day cases or inpatients within the Trust.
• Liaise with the chemotherapy day unit to ensure that the service meets the needs of the patients within the capacity of the unit.
• To assist in the development of prescribing guidelines, chemotherapy proformas and new treatment evaluations.
• To monitor drug usage against the drug budgets set for directorates, providing financial reports and advice on cost saving measures.
• To deputise for the Lead Pharmacist Cancer Services and Palliative Care, in their absence.

Key Result Areas & Performance:

Leadership & Service Development

• To support the development, implementation and adherence to local and national guidelines/policies to ensure cost-effective and safe prescribing within the division.

• To collaborate in the development on Integrated Care Pathways and Patient Group Directions within Cancer & Long Term Conditions as necessary.

• To liaise with senior pharmacy staff to ensure the effective provision of Pharmacy Services.

Division support

• To actively contribute to the management of the drug budget for the division through effective drug use to ensure the most effective use of resources.
• To identify areas of potential cost-savings within Cancer and Technical Services.
• To educate healthcare professionals on the costs associated with drug therapy and promote the use of evidence based, cost effective prescribing within the division.
• To actively participate in departmental and divisional meetings where appropriate

Governance, Information & Data Management

• To support the investigation of medication related safety incidents and formulation/delivery of action plans across the Trust to address problems identified where appropriate.

• To promote effective prescribing in the Trust following formulary and NICE guidance

Staff Management & Training

• To support the education and training of other healthcare professionals.

• To participate and contribute to clinical training programmes at a local and national level e.g. summer students, pharmacy undergraduates.

• To evaluate and develop own management and professional knowledge competencies by attendance to in house/external training programmes self-education and practice research
• To undertake CPD to ensure that knowledge is continually updated.

• To be a postgraduate tutor (pre-registration) for Pharmacy staff as appropriate and required.

Research & Development

• To participate in audit and practice research to investigate, and where appropriate improve the quality of service for patients in the trust.

Communications and Relationships

• To communicate with the multidisciplinary healthcare team (doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, ward managers, and site practitioners), to intermediate care, general practice support and community pharmacists in the provision of medicine related information and assessment of patients treatment.
• To work with appropriate staff to support development of services and facilitate the implementation of strategies for education and training of staff throughout the Trust.
• To demonstrate good communication skills as the role liaises with a wide variety of people within the Trust. This will include service and general managers across all directorates, trust risk managers, directorate governance leads, multidisciplinary team members and all Pharmacy staff.
• To liaise with external bodies including local CCGs, regional pharmacy services, and necessary pharmacy networks.
• The post-holder will be required to communicate clearly and sensitively about patient medication issue both internally and externally
• To provide training on medication related issues, policies, guidelines and service developments to pharmacy colleagues, nursing and medical staff, ranging from one on one communication to more formal presentations.
• To participate in any other duties as requested by the senior pharmacy managers in keeping within expectations of the grade.