Specialist Clinical Pharmacist - Oncology / ChemoCare

Job overview

We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity to join the well–established cancer pharmacy team in one of the UK’s largest and busiest Cancer centres.

This post will offer you a fantastic opportunity to working jointly with the Oncology and Chemocare teams.

In conjunction with the Lead ChemoCare pharmacist you will provide leadership to a team of pharmacy technicians and the System Manager to ensure the safe running of the e-prescribing system (ChemoCare).

The post-holder will be a specialist in oncology and will be joint lead for the provision of oncology cancer services at NUH.

You will also ensure the safe and appropriate use of anticancer medicines in-line with national and regional guidelines e.g. by writing treatment protocols for new anticancer medicines and regimens, and monitoring cancer incident reports.

The role will involve providing support, education, and training of pharmacy staff and healthcare professionals, contributing to clinical audits and service evaluations. To in order to provide the ‘best possible clinical pharmacy service’.

Applications are invited from qualified pharmacists with evidence of significant clinical experience in cancer services and the desire to make a real difference to our patients' lives. You should have excellent communications skills, a patient-centred attitude, the ability to work independently & also as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

Provide leadership and operational support for the governance and day-to-day management of the SACT e-prescribing system, working with the Advanced Pharmacy Practitioner for Haematology to ensure safe and effective chemotherapy prescribing. You will deliver specialist advice on prescribing and therapeutics within oncology applying national and local guidance to support high-quality patient care.

Working alongside Pharmacy Practitioners, you will lead and develop clinical pharmacy services for Oncology, promoting the safe, effective and cost-efficient use of medicines. The role includes resolving prescribing issues and supporting multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of cancer services.

You will monitor oncology pharmacy services against departmental priorities, contribute to service evaluation and benchmarking, and work with pharmacists across regional cancer networks to implement best practice and service improvements. You will support the delivery of the Cancer Services clinical governance agenda, helping to maintain high standards of quality and patient safety.

The post includes line management, mentoring and training of junior, rotational and trainee pharmacists. You will also serve as a Trust-wide source of expertise in chemotherapy and cancer medicines, providing advice and support to advanced practitioners, non-medical prescribers and medical colleagues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide leadership support for the governance and day to day operation of the SACT e-prescribing system (ChemoCare), under the auspices of the advanced pharmacy practitioner for haematology.

To audit incidents either involving the SACT e-prescribing system or where “ChemoCare” is in the incident report, to identify trends or risks that require discussion at the ChemoCare Governance Group meeting.

To provide clinical leadership and support to the technical ChemoCare team as required.

Act as joint lead for the provision of oncology cancer services at NUH.

To undertake and support project work. This includes writing risk assessments and developing, implementing and auditing guidelines, where necessary

• . To partake in specialised clinical pharmacy duties ensuring core clinical pharmacy activities are undertaken.

Specialised clinical pharmacy activities

To provide clinical input (at specialist level) to the Oncology Department.

Provide highly complex advice and guidance requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of options on all issues relating to prescribing and therapeutics within Cancer, where possible in line with national and local guidelines.

Maintain a working knowledge relating to prescribing and therapeutics within Cancer Services.

Core clinical pharmacy activities

To work in accordance with relevant pharmacy and Trust policies and procedures relating to medicines management.

To ensure safe rational and effective prescribing by undertaking medication reconciliation, assessing suitability of prescribed medication, counselling (to optimise medicines use), and ensuring continuity of patient care into the community.

Providing medicines including SACT for individual patients during their stay in hospital, at discharge and also for out-patient visits.

Interpreting and requesting clinical tests to monitor and make recommendations to improve effectiveness of drug therapy.

Pro-actively liaising with other members of the multidisciplinary team (medical staff, nurses, microbiologists, physiotherapists, dieticians) in order to ensure safe use of medicines.

Making recommendations about medicines to improve patient outcomes and to encourage adherence to hospital formulary and national guidelines.

Providing advice and guidance in relation to unlicensed medicines use and clinical trial medicines under the direction of the senior pharmacist for clinical trials.

Other

To contribute to, facilitate or conduct clinical audits which are part of the Pharmacy audit plan.

To undertake and document continuing professional development.

To contribute to the teaching and training of undergraduate, postgraduate students and other healthcare professionals.

To undertake research relevant to pharmacy practice within Cancer.

To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required as agreed by senior staff.

Leadership, management and directorate/service support roles

Provide leadership support for the governance and day to day operation of the SACT e-prescribing system (ChemoCare), under the auspices of the advanced pharmacy practitioner acting as clinical lead for the SACT e-prescribing system.

Liaise and work alongside relevant pharmacy colleagues and directorate staff and managers in ensuring continuity and development of clinical pharmacy services within the specialty. Maintain contact with and actively participate in regional and national specialty groups, advising these groups as appropriate, and in also identifying best practice and incorporating it into NUH practice.

Support the Assistant clinical services lead

to deliver the ‘best possible clinical pharmacy service’

by developing KPIs that clearly demonstrate the contribution rotational pharmacists, other support staff and the post holder make to the care of patients within the specialty.

by reporting KPIs (delivered by the clinical pharmacy service) at regular intervals, as directed by the Assistant Head of Pharmacy – clinical services lead e.g. activity data, contributions, service development contributions etc.

by deputising for them in relation to issues linked to the cluster

Attending relevant specialty meetings including governance meetings as appropriate – this will require effective communication of messages to and from such forums and ensuring necessary actions are enacted.

Act as a role model

To line manage and support more junior pharmacists in the Cancer and Associated Specialties Services Divisional team

Act as a direct contact point to provide support to the more junior pharmacists and other members of the team.

Ensure objectives for junior and senior rotational pharmacists who are assigned to this specialty are always up-to-date / current.

Ensure that these pharmacists are making progress with objectives that have been set – ‘clearing the path’ where there are barriers to achieving these.

Ensure effective performance management of pharmacy staff working in own specialty and other junior pharmacy staff, including 1:1s, diploma assessments and conducting appraisals using the Trust appraisal process

Ensure completion of all relevant documentation relating to performance management and objectives / PDPs of these pharmacists within the agreed time frames.

Education and training of staff (rotational and diploma pharmacists, technicians, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy students) that are linked to the specialty.

To take full part in the 7 day shifted rota and bank holidays duties