Directorate Lead Pharmacist - Radiology

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 18 May 2025

Job summary

A rare opportunity is available for a fixed term contract or secondment to cover parenting leave in a directorate leadership role supporting medicines management in Radiology.

The role of Directorate Team Lead & Highly Advanced Pharmacist in Radiology & Imaging, encompasses the strategic oversight and direction of clinical pharmacy services and medicines management for all Radiology and Imaging modalities across the organisation.

The post-holder will gain insight into this unique clinical area and be the liaison point between Pharmacy and Radiology to help with understanding of the needs and practices of both services, and to gain closer collaboration.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will provide expert pharmaceutical advice and medicines governance oversight to managers, medical, nursing and other healthcare staff developing services or providing patient care in Radiology modalities and in particular, with regard to radiopharmaceutical medicines.

As a Directorate Lead within the CSS Division, the post-holder will work with the Divisional Pharmacist CSS to develop a vision for pharmacy services required in other Directorates within CSS, such as the Psychological Medicine, Pain and Outpatient (PPO) directorate.

Practicing at a Highly Advanced level in a specialism within the directorate our directorate lead role balances leadership and clinical practice to deliver compassionate excellence. Reporting to the Divisional Lead Pharmacist, they maintain a key relationship between their clinical directorate and the pharmacy directorate to ensure good medicine management and the delivery of patient focussed medicines optimisation.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£62,215 to £72,293 a year Per annum pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

321-CSS-7059665-B8b

Job locations

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Policy & Service Development

To carry out a regular horizon scan to identify all savings opportunities through the optimal introduction of best-value biologic (including biosimilar) medicines.

To liaise with the regional procurement pharmacist to ensure optimal timing for introducing biosimilars based on when they become available on the regional or national medicines contracts.

To estimate or forecast the potential savings from new biologics.

To lead on liaison with the relevant clinicians to ensure engagement with savings on biologics. If necessary, engage with the manufacturers to ensure that the product and any related service can be provided consistently and to the right quality.

Engage with colleagues working in the clinics to identify any information, resources and other tools that may be required (for example, patient information).

To liaise with the pharmacy purchasing team and homecare teams to ensure stock levels are adjusted correctly in preparation for a switch.

Play a central role within the OUHFT Medicines Effectiveness and in the implementation of new biosimilar HCDs.

If necessary, work with the BOB ICB Medicines Optimisation Team to ensure policies and procedures are updated in time to support switching to biosimilar medicines.

Ensure operational processes are followed for specific commissioning requirements related to reimbursement of individual medicines.

Provide support to the specialist, lead clinical pharmacists and pharmacist team leaders, to assist in understanding and implementing biosimilar switches.

Work with the rest of the Medicines Effectiveness team to ensure horizon scanning is completed on time.

Support the management of schemes and services (homecare, drug company patient access schemes) to ensure timely and safe patient access to HCDs.

Build regional links with other pharmacists and technicians to share best practice.

Financial / Resource Management

Provide a periodical horizon scan report on all savings opportunities arising as a result of the patent expiry of biologic originator medicines.

Provide a monthly report on any savings made on biologic switches to the Trust and BOB ICB.

Work with the OUH commissioning management team and Medicines Effectiveness teams, to monitor savings against the HCD plan in the year so that under or over-performance can be identified and addressed.

To support the ICB Medicines Optimisation Pharmacists with systems and processes for the management of high-cost, other rechargeable drugs and homecare (e.g. Blueteq).

Support the ICB Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist by answering queries relating to ICB-commissioned HCDs for the OUH.

Ensure that HCDs are managed within the Trust, in line with commissioning principles and NICETAs.

Lead on the implementation of biosimilar therapeutics substitution initiatives and other savings initiatives relating to biologics.

Work closely with Finance to ensure all required data to support appropriate remuneration for PbR-excluded drugs is collected and submitted to BOB ICS Finance and relevant clinicians along with any agreed gain share schemes.

Support the strategic development and planning of drug expenditure reporting.

Have a high level of expertise in the use of the pharmacy databases used to provide usage information on high-cost and other rechargeable drugs.

Resolve specific queries from commissioners on HCD expenditure information.

Support the provision of specialist drug expenditure information and advice to departmental and Trust staff.

Support effective communication throughout the pharmacy service and the Trust of any developments in reporting of expenditure on HCDs.

Liaise with Divisional Pharmacy Team leaders to ensure drug expenditure and usage information on HCDs is captured and reported regularly.

Develop, maintain and update a database of all patients prescribed HCDs, ensuring thorough and complete records / databases are maintained.

Support the management of specific drug expenditure, usage and monitoring databases, including data input and the production of reports.

Provide other information on drug expenditure and usage as required.

Keep abreast of national, regional and local benchmarking tools (e.g. Model Hospital, GIRFT and Right-Care) to maximise to opportunities for medicines optimisation initiatives.

Be familiar with DEFINE and REFINE and promote its use as tools for promoting effective medicines optimisation in the area of HCDs.

Work with the electronic prescribing team to encourage the capture of activity on biologics prescribing and savings.

Liaise directly with the Trust's Finance and Contracts department to answer queries and provide information to support the recovery of reclaimable HCD expenditure.

Compile reports, as needed, of work undertaken for presentation to relevant groups or meetings.

Project Management

Play a central role in coordinating affairs of the Medicines Value Group.

Contribute to pharmacy strategic and business plans especially those that have a significant impact on the use of biologic high-cost medicines.

Ensure effective implementation of all aspects of agreed medicines optimisation projects, business initiatives and other service changes (this might include: leading a team, and working collaboratively with colleagues in finance, information, procurement, contracting and performance management as well as with providers, clinical and other commissioners, and patients and carers).

Contribute to project team(s) in the creation and delivery of project plans, allocating tasks as appropriate, identifying risks, issues and dependencies, considering best practice and current options and ultimately making decisions in the best interest of the project.

Be responsible for ensuring a high standard of work, supporting the delivery of projects on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner.

Maintain plans and regularly monitor progress and resources.

Ensure the flexibility of the project if required to meet conflicting/changing requirements.

Contribute to the development and monitoring of key performance indicators and other performance management measures that will support effective delivery of medicines optimisation projects and others service changes.

Ensure the portfolio of initiatives provide and demonstrate value for money for the current spend through tracking, managing and delivering agreed benefits.

Evaluate the effectiveness of those changes using a range of audit-based techniques.

Work collaboratively with colleagues in contracting and finance as well as with other stakeholders and other provider services.

Support other project managers as required.

Clinical Practice Role

Provide a clinical pharmacy service according to Trust agreed standards.

Monitor medicines use within the ward area including recording of significant clinical interventions and risk management.

Use available information to influence prescribers and ensure the most cost-effective choice of therapy.

Participate in ward rounds, clinical meetings or out-patient clinics to provide pharmaceutical advice to prescribers and other healthcare professionals.

Liaise with external agencies to ensure safe, timely and appropriate supply to patients e.g. homecare supply companies if needed.

Participate in ward-based clinical audits and the development and implementation of treatment protocols and guidelines for the use of medicines within the clinical area.

Tutor rotational clinical pharmacists undertaking the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, following formal accreditation as a tutor by Cardiff University or other universities and to tutor other pharmacists and pre-registration students in the clinical area.

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Policy & Service Development

To carry out a regular horizon scan to identify all savings opportunities through the optimal introduction of best-value biologic (including biosimilar) medicines.

To liaise with the regional procurement pharmacist to ensure optimal timing for introducing biosimilars based on when they become available on the regional or national medicines contracts.

To estimate or forecast the potential savings from new biologics.

To lead on liaison with the relevant clinicians to ensure engagement with savings on biologics. If necessary, engage with the manufacturers to ensure that the product and any related service can be provided consistently and to the right quality.

Engage with colleagues working in the clinics to identify any information, resources and other tools that may be required (for example, patient information).

To liaise with the pharmacy purchasing team and homecare teams to ensure stock levels are adjusted correctly in preparation for a switch.

Play a central role within the OUHFT Medicines Effectiveness and in the implementation of new biosimilar HCDs.

If necessary, work with the BOB ICB Medicines Optimisation Team to ensure policies and procedures are updated in time to support switching to biosimilar medicines.

Ensure operational processes are followed for specific commissioning requirements related to reimbursement of individual medicines.

Provide support to the specialist, lead clinical pharmacists and pharmacist team leaders, to assist in understanding and implementing biosimilar switches.

Work with the rest of the Medicines Effectiveness team to ensure horizon scanning is completed on time.

Support the management of schemes and services (homecare, drug company patient access schemes) to ensure timely and safe patient access to HCDs.

Build regional links with other pharmacists and technicians to share best practice.

Financial / Resource Management

Provide a periodical horizon scan report on all savings opportunities arising as a result of the patent expiry of biologic originator medicines.

Provide a monthly report on any savings made on biologic switches to the Trust and BOB ICB.

Work with the OUH commissioning management team and Medicines Effectiveness teams, to monitor savings against the HCD plan in the year so that under or over-performance can be identified and addressed.

To support the ICB Medicines Optimisation Pharmacists with systems and processes for the management of high-cost, other rechargeable drugs and homecare (e.g. Blueteq).

Support the ICB Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist by answering queries relating to ICB-commissioned HCDs for the OUH.

Ensure that HCDs are managed within the Trust, in line with commissioning principles and NICETAs.

Lead on the implementation of biosimilar therapeutics substitution initiatives and other savings initiatives relating to biologics.

Work closely with Finance to ensure all required data to support appropriate remuneration for PbR-excluded drugs is collected and submitted to BOB ICS Finance and relevant clinicians along with any agreed gain share schemes.

Support the strategic development and planning of drug expenditure reporting.

Have a high level of expertise in the use of the pharmacy databases used to provide usage information on high-cost and other rechargeable drugs.

Resolve specific queries from commissioners on HCD expenditure information.

Support the provision of specialist drug expenditure information and advice to departmental and Trust staff.

Support effective communication throughout the pharmacy service and the Trust of any developments in reporting of expenditure on HCDs.

Liaise with Divisional Pharmacy Team leaders to ensure drug expenditure and usage information on HCDs is captured and reported regularly.

Develop, maintain and update a database of all patients prescribed HCDs, ensuring thorough and complete records / databases are maintained.

Support the management of specific drug expenditure, usage and monitoring databases, including data input and the production of reports.

Provide other information on drug expenditure and usage as required.

Keep abreast of national, regional and local benchmarking tools (e.g. Model Hospital, GIRFT and Right-Care) to maximise to opportunities for medicines optimisation initiatives.

Be familiar with DEFINE and REFINE and promote its use as tools for promoting effective medicines optimisation in the area of HCDs.

Work with the electronic prescribing team to encourage the capture of activity on biologics prescribing and savings.

Liaise directly with the Trust's Finance and Contracts department to answer queries and provide information to support the recovery of reclaimable HCD expenditure.

Compile reports, as needed, of work undertaken for presentation to relevant groups or meetings.

Project Management

Play a central role in coordinating affairs of the Medicines Value Group.

Contribute to pharmacy strategic and business plans especially those that have a significant impact on the use of biologic high-cost medicines.

Ensure effective implementation of all aspects of agreed medicines optimisation projects, business initiatives and other service changes (this might include: leading a team, and working collaboratively with colleagues in finance, information, procurement, contracting and performance management as well as with providers, clinical and other commissioners, and patients and carers).

Contribute to project team(s) in the creation and delivery of project plans, allocating tasks as appropriate, identifying risks, issues and dependencies, considering best practice and current options and ultimately making decisions in the best interest of the project.

Be responsible for ensuring a high standard of work, supporting the delivery of projects on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner.

Maintain plans and regularly monitor progress and resources.

Ensure the flexibility of the project if required to meet conflicting/changing requirements.

Contribute to the development and monitoring of key performance indicators and other performance management measures that will support effective delivery of medicines optimisation projects and others service changes.

Ensure the portfolio of initiatives provide and demonstrate value for money for the current spend through tracking, managing and delivering agreed benefits.

Evaluate the effectiveness of those changes using a range of audit-based techniques.

Work collaboratively with colleagues in contracting and finance as well as with other stakeholders and other provider services.

Support other project managers as required.

Clinical Practice Role

Provide a clinical pharmacy service according to Trust agreed standards.

Monitor medicines use within the ward area including recording of significant clinical interventions and risk management.

Use available information to influence prescribers and ensure the most cost-effective choice of therapy.

Participate in ward rounds, clinical meetings or out-patient clinics to provide pharmaceutical advice to prescribers and other healthcare professionals.

Liaise with external agencies to ensure safe, timely and appropriate supply to patients e.g. homecare supply companies if needed.

Participate in ward-based clinical audits and the development and implementation of treatment protocols and guidelines for the use of medicines within the clinical area.

Tutor rotational clinical pharmacists undertaking the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, following formal accreditation as a tutor by Cardiff University or other universities and to tutor other pharmacists and pre-registration students in the clinical area.

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications and training

Essential

  • Degree in Pharmacy (Masters) or equivalent
  • Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Post-Graduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or equivalent experience
  • Experience of working as a clinical pharmacist at advanced level
  • Experience and proven ability in managing teams.
  • Independent Prescriber
  • Leadership Qualification or training
  • Evidence of CPD
  • Expereince of Medicines Management Policy development and implementation
Person Specification

Education, Qualifications and training

Essential

  • Degree in Pharmacy (Masters) or equivalent
  • Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Post-Graduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or equivalent experience
  • Experience of working as a clinical pharmacist at advanced level
  • Experience and proven ability in managing teams.
  • Independent Prescriber
  • Leadership Qualification or training
  • Evidence of CPD
  • Expereince of Medicines Management Policy development and implementation

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).

Additional information

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

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

CSS Divisional Lead Pharmacist

Victoria Mott

vicky.mott@ouh.nhs.uk

07830493280

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£62,215 to £72,293 a year Per annum pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

321-CSS-7059665-B8b

Job locations

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way, Headington

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Supporting documents

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