Specialist Pharmacist, Cancer Services

Job description

Job responsibilities

To deliver a high level Specialist Clinical Pharmacist Service to Adult and Paediatric Oncology & Haematology, including the provision of a daily Clinical Designated Pharmacy Service to inpatients on the ward, emergency assessment unit, outpatient clinics and day case chemotherapy.

To use specialist knowledge and expertise to provide clinical advice.

To provide information, advice and guidance on the safe, effective and economical use of medicines and to challenge poor practice.

To support the provision and development of the outpatient and day case Chemotherapy Service.

To counsel patients regarding oral anti-cancer medicines.

To participate in the Pharmacy-led Oncology Clinics (assuming registration with GPhC and authorised via the Trust NMP register), reviewing patients systemic anti- cancer medicines, blood test results, chemotherapy toxicities, radiology scans and prescribing as appropriate.

To optimise medicines through prescribing role operating within areas of competence (where appropriately qualified).

To liaise with medical staff, nurses and patients to provide an effective service to day case and outpatients receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment.

To develop cost effective and efficient processes for day case and outpatient services.

To be responsible for the maintenance of TTO pre-packs for the Oncology Directorate.

To deliver a specialist daily Clinical Pharmacist Service to Adult Oncology and Adult Clinical Haematology inpatients on the oncology/haematology ward and emergency assessment unit.

To attend Consultant ward rounds and multi-disciplinary ward meetings.

To optimise medicines management by reconciling drug histories, performing structured medication reviews and using patients own medicines.

To detect, record and report adverse drug reactions to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and via Datix as per Trust Policy.

To provide support to the Clinical Service to Paediatric oncology/haematology.

To participate in the validation of all other prescriptions received in Aseptic Services, including chemotherapy for private patients.

To participate in the Clinical/Advisory Pharmacy Service to patients with Cancer.

To implement changes in the current working practices within Pharmacy and chemotherapy prescribing and encourage new ways of working.

To supervise, check and, if necessary, undertake the supply of medicines.

To provide information, advice and guidance on the safe, effective and economical use of medicines; and maintain a knowledge of developments in pharmacy practice.

To record your clinical activity, to monitor the outcome of your interventions and identify training needs.

To participate in CQUINs and QIPPs at NGH.

To implement national, countywide and local prescribing strategies within the Trust and area of practice.

To be involved with, prepare and advise on policies and guidelines relating to systemic anti-cancer treatments.

To assist in the development of new protocols and pathways for oral anti-cancer medicines.

To plan and lead appropriate audit and practice research and implement appropriate service changes for outpatient and day case chemotherapy.

To assist with the training and development of diploma pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and technical staff for out-patient oral and day case anti-cancer medicines Services.

To prepare new or off-protocol prescription documentation as required.

To prepare and check clinical information for new prescriptions on the Electronic Prescribing System

To fulfil the professional requirements of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Good Professional Practice.

To help maintain appropriate standards of service and safety of patients with cancer; to provide and enforce guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure the standards are met.

To adhere to local and national guidance and policies.

Provide a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist role to Clinical Trials

Support the Advanced Specialist Pharmacist for Oncology and Haematology Clinical Trials.

Develop specialist expertise for the Pharmacy aspects of clinical trials.

Ensure that Pharmacy activity in relation to clinical trials complies with Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Develop and maintain necessary procedures.

Prepare new electronic prescriptions and procedural documentation for cancer clinical trials as required.

Assist with the training of Pharmacy staff in this area.

Liaise with Clinical Research Assistants and Clinical Trials Nurses.

To support the Specialist Clinical Pharmacist in the set-up and maintenance of clinical trials.

Support the Pharmacy Technicians in developing trial-specific stand operating procedures.

Support Principal Pharmacist, Cancer Services, for Directorate Work

To participate in the development of services, peer review and internal/external audit for Adult Oncology, Clinical Haematology and Paediatric Oncology.

To assist in the Formulary management process.

To undertake risk assessment within your areas of responsibility and propose ways of managing the risk.

To assist with the provision and development of the chemotherapy service.

To assist with the review and introduction of new policies, procedures and guidelines.

To undertake audits and practice research for Adult Oncology, Clinical and Haematology.

To identify new opportunities for the development of Pharmacy Services.

Please see job description for further details.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Information appraisal

Desirable

• IT skills - database/spreadsheets.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Clinical Pharmacy Experience including Oncology/Haematology.
• NHS arrangements eg. NICE, CQC, NHS digital.
• Undertaken service improvement/quality improvement/audit/practice research.
• Teaching, supervising and training staff
• Awareness of interface issues

Desirable

• Directorate Experience.
• Independent pharmacist prescriber.
• Change management.
• Risk management.
• Electronic Prescribing for Chemotherapy.
• GCP knowledge.
• GMP knowledge.

Education, Training and Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree in Pharmacy.
• Member of General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Achieved (or working towards) a postgraduate clinical qualification (or equivalent knowledge and experience).
• CPD portfolio.

Desirable

• Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
• Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing.
• Member of BOPA.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Northampton General Hospital

Address

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Cliftonville

Northampton

NN1 5BD

Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)