Specialist Clinical Pharmacist - Haematology

Job overview

The Christie is one of the UK’s largest oncology trusts, with an international reputation for clinical excellence, research & development. This newly established Band 8a role offers a unique opportunity to work across two expanding teams and contribute to the challenging & rewarding specialties of both haematology and clinical trials.

As an integral member of both multidisciplinary teams, you will support haemato-oncology services across inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory care, HSCT, CAR-T therapy, the TYA unit and peripheral sites The postholder will also work closely with research teams to support the set-up and delivery of haematology clinical trials, helping to provide patients with access to cutting-edge treatments and emerging therapies. With over 600 clinical trials, across all cancer specialities, supported by our dedicated Clinical Trials Pharmacy team, this role offers exceptional opportunities to develop expertise in advanced and investigational therapies. We are also developing links with the University of Manchester and other research partners provide opportunities for collaborative working.

We seek a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic specialist pharmacist. An independent prescribing qualification is desirable, with scope to support multidisciplinary outpatient clinics.

If you are ready for a new challenge and want to improve care for haemato-oncology patients, including those taking part in cutting-edge clinical trials, we would like to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

To deliver and evaluate clinical pharmacy services to haematology cancer patients and teenage/young adult cancer patients and support the conduct of clinical trials in these areas, in conjunction with the Lead Haematology Pharmacist and the Lead Pharmacist for Clinical Trials Operations.

To develop and maintain highly specialist knowledge in medicines used within the Trust especially in relation to haemato-oncology, lymphoma, haematopoietic stem cell transplant and CAR-T/immune-effector cell therapies.

To support and deputise for the Lead Haematology Pharmacist for the safe, efficient and cost-effective use of medicine resources by the provision of education and training, procedures, policies and guidelines, and medicine usage information.

To support the pharmacy department and R+I in the conduct of clinical trials, providing professional input and knowledge into the management of clinical trial material and ensuring that all trials are conducted in compliance with the principles of good clinical practice, good dispensing practice and good manufacturing practice.

Although the pharmacy service 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, it may also be possible to support an element of working from home

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Trials Responsibilities

• Act as nominated pharmacy lead for trials occurring within haematology disease groups and be accountable for the pharmacy services related to these designated clinical trials. 2. Provide highly complex pharmaceutical advice on the conduct of CTIMP (Clinical Trials Investigation Medicinal Products) and assess study requirements and resolve pharmaceutical issues with the research teams. 3. Lead on the evaluation of study protocols for haematology and lymphoma clinical trials and consider implications within pharmacy with regard to capacity, safety and resources, with appropriate delegation of tasks to other members of the team. 4. Liaise and collaborate, with autonomy, with the relevant stakeholders both internal and external to the pharmacy department, and the Trust regarding pharmacy related roles and responsibilities in the study set up and delivery of haematology and lymphoma clinical trials. To provide expert medicines advice and facilitate shared decision-making including verbal and written communication of highly complex drug or medicine related information. 5. Represent pharmacy services at appropriate strategic meetings and take accountability for relevant pharmacy related actions.
• To lead the development of highly complex prescription proformas for any new clinical trial regimens being set-up and checking any pharmacy specific relevant paperwork before a trial opens for recruitment within the haematology and lymphoma disease groups.in close collaboration with the haematology team and relevant consultants. 7. To collaborate with Aseptic Services unit on the review, preparation and development of standard operating procedures, worksheets, labels, guidelines and master documents as appropriate to ensure safe and efficient delivery of clinical trials is maintained 8. To monitor, document and advise on the financial implications of designated studies to Lead Pharmacists for Clinical Trials, R&I, finance and the Director of Pharmacy. 9. To identify potential new prescribing practices from relevant clinical trial data that may impact on the drugs budget (horizon scanning) and future service delivery models utilizing prior knowledge or experience if relevant. Promote regulatory compliance across clinical research services within pharmacy in accordance with the current UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research ICH GCP guidelines, GMP principles, Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations and the EU directive along with any other local legal/regulatory requirements. 10. Prepare comprehensive risk assessments related to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and advise key staff accordingly in relation to handling, labelling and product evaluation for all new products used in clinical trials. 11. Report to the lead pharmacist for clinical trials on relevant issues relating to clinical trial activity within the department. 12. Provide written reports on activity, regulatory compliance and financial positions to pharmacy and R&I staff as required. 13. Act as a resource for staff within R&I division. To be responsible for providing formal advice and specialist training sessions for Christie staff on all pharmaceutical aspects of new and existing trials, including updating of all pharmacy staff on issues related to clinical trials. 14. To be responsible for the line management and professional leadership of designated pharmacist ensuring high standards of performance, professional practice and service delivery. 15. Responsible for staff recruitment, induction, appraisal, objective setting, workforce planning, attendance management, and supporting learning and development. 16. Promotes a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture through coaching, mentoring and fostering continuous improvement, while ensuring compliance with organisational policies, professional standards and regulatory requirements.

Clinical service responsibilities

• To provide specialist clinical pharmacy services to patients within the haematology and lymphoma division including service provision to haematology / lymphoma patient ward areas, teenage/young adult unit (TYA), ambulatory care unit, proton beam therapy unit and day case areas, supporting and deputising for the Lead Haematology and lymphoma pharmacists. 18. To be work as an independent prescriber (or to qualify as an independent prescriber if qualification not already achieved) and prescribe to appropriate patients, managing own caseload, within their scope of practice, in agreement with the relevant consultants.
• Exercises a high level of professional autonomy and accountability, making complex clinical and operational decisions within agreed professional and organisational frameworks.
• Utilises advanced specialist knowledge, clinical expertise, and professional judgement to independently assess, prioritise, and manage patient care and service-related issues.
• Acts as an authoritative source of advice for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and multidisciplinary colleagues, and patients, providing specialist guidance on the safe and effective use of medicines.
• To support patient-centred care by providing expert medicines advice, promoting adherence, and facilitating shared decision-making including verbal and written communication of highly complex drug or medicine related information to patients and relatives or carers including patients who may have language difficulties, physical or mental disabilities. 23. To contribute to the development and lead service initiatives of the satellite pharmacy provision on the haematology day case and ambulatory care units in conjunction with the Lead Technician and the Lead Haematology Pharmacist. 24. To develop and maintain drug protocols, treatment guidelines and standard operating procedures within the clinical pharmacy service, lymphoma unit and the haematology unit. Reviewing evidence-based guidelines and protocols in conjunction with fellow healthcare professionals, in order to advance the safe, clinical effective and cost-efficient use of medicines for patients. 25. To contribute to the maintenance of local and national databases surrounding medication use related to the haematology and lymphoma services, including immunoglobulins. 26. To ensure appropriate use of antimicrobial agents and contribute to relevant audits as required. 27. To liaise with the Lead Haematology Pharmacist, the Principal Pharmacist for Medicines Optimisation, the Director of Pharmacy and the haematology and lymphoma consultants, to forecast drug expenditure and to identify any changes in prescribing practices that may potentially impact on the drugs budget (drug forecasting). 28. To monitor and analyse medicine expenditure usage patterns and prescribing trends to advise on current budgetary issues, informing future business-planning processes to support the management of medicines expenditure across the Trust
• To attend relevant MDT meetings, relevant specialist pharmacy groups and contribute to meetings relevant to the designated disease group as appropriate. 30. To monitor and interpret published evidence and computer reports of drug usage, to use this data to report to the lead clinicians and Director of Pharmacy, implementing agreed policies aimed at improving patient outcomes and containing drug expenditure. 31. To provide evaluated pharmaceutical information to the Drugs and Therapeutic Committee as requested. 32. To support prescribing at the individual patient level, contributing to the optimisation of patients’ drug therapy with due consideration to risk/benefit issues. 33. To provide pharmaceutical care, contributing to the multi-professional team through ward pharmacy services and attendance on appropriate clinician’s ward rounds and meetings. 34. Facilitate and lead effective communication about relevant pharmacy issues to clinicians and senior managers and the identification of opportunities for development of pharmacy services to match identified services and care needs. 35. To demonstrate awareness and commitment to the Trust’s Clinical Governance Plan. 36. In conjunction with the Lead Haematology Pharmacist and Principal Pharmacist in Clinical Services, to establish processes for the setting of standards of care, identifying the risks involved and implement changes that need to occur to achieve these. 37. To identify and report any systemic or preventable errors associated with medicines within the Cancer Centre Services division and facilitate learning. 38. To contribute to the oversight of CAR-T therapy delivery for haematology and lymphoma patients 39. To contribute to maintaining the FACT-JACIE accreditation and working within these standards. General 40. To assist and actively participate in service improvement initiatives and the development, implementation and management of training initiatives and competency frameworks within both the clinical trial and clinical pharmacy service. 41. To participate in departmental, Trust and National risk management schemes such as error reporting systems and intervention monitoring. 42. To ensure compliance with company-based patient safety schemes including post clinical trial schemes. 43. To undertake direct supervision of foundation year pharmacist or newly qualified pharmacist and act as the designated practice practitioner if required,
• To actively participate in the clinical training of pharmacists and foundation year pharmacists.
• To be responsible for the clinical screening/review of chemotherapy prescriptions for designated patient groups, including clinical trial prescriptions and to clinically screen/ review in-patient and outpatient prescriptions. 46. To work closely with and provide pharmaceutical advice and education and training to medical staff, other members of the multi-disciplinary team and patients. 47. To manage and resolve any clinical or dispensing queries to provide a high standard of pharmaceutical care to the multi-disciplinary team. 48. Represent the pharmacy service at appropriate clinical trial, unit/ divisional meetings, relevant specialist pharmacy groups and contribute to meetings relevant to the designated disease group as appropriate. 49. To undertake clinical audit and practice research as part of the multi-disciplinary audit process within the designated disease group and pharmacy service. 50. To participate in mandatory training in line with the trust and departmental requirements. 51. To participate in all departmental rotas (including the aseptic services final product checking rota if required), weekend service and Bank Holiday working and the emergency on-call pharmacy service (clinical services / aseptic service) as required. 52. To always behave in a manner that is in accordance with the professional standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council. 53. To participate in Continuing Professional Development ensuring relevant knowledge and skills are up to date, meeting the professional requirement of the General Pharmaceutical Council 54. Undertake all other related duties which may be required in accordance with the changing needs and practices of the department and organisation. 55. Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour

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.