Lead Pharmacist - Cancer Services (Oncology)

Job description

Job summary

• Act as Specialist Pharmacist Lead for Oncology Services, providing professional leadership and acting as the key pharmacy contact for service developments, supported by the Principal Pharmacist for Cancer Services.
• Provide a comprehensive clinical pharmacy and medicines optimisation service to Oncology and Haematology patients across inpatient wards, day units and outpatient settings.
• Clinically screen and verify SACT prescriptions for adult and paediatric patients, ensuring safe, appropriate and protocol-compliant treatment.
• Lead, develop and evaluate pharmaceutical care for Oncology and Haematology patients across the Trust.
• Provide specialist medicines advice and support to the Cancer Services multidisciplinary team.
• Teach, train and supervise pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and students in Oncology and Haematology practice.
• Line manage allocated pharmacists, including appraisals, sickness management, development and ongoing professional support.
• Ensure staff are appropriately trained and competent, maintaining compliance with legislation, professional standards, Trust policies and local SOPs.
• Undertake clinical and professional checking of dispensed prescriptions, ensuring compliance with the Trust Formulary and High-Cost Drug procedures.
• Support the ongoing development and improvement of Oncology and Haematology pharmacy services.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a specialist clinical pharmacy and medicines management service to Haematology and Oncology patients, including pharmaceutical risk management within ward-based settings.
• Ensure compliance with medicines legislation, Trust Medicines Policy and relevant national and local guidance.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Cancer Services SOPs and policies, ensuring medicines management systems are safe, robust, evidence-based and quality assured.
• Review and optimise prescribing in accordance with evidence-based practice, national and regional guidance, and clinical governance requirements, including during consultant ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Assess individual pharmaceutical care needs, identify actual and potential medicines-related problems and recommend appropriate treatment interventions.
• Provide evidence-based pharmaceutical advice and recommendations to medical and nursing staff, clearly communicating and supporting any required actions.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a largeacute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acuteservices to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to alarger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services fromthree sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and ourcaring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centredcare. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people towork with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin oureveryday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewiseaccreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible workingwithin our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring aDBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in SupportingInformation section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

Act asthe specialist pharmacist lead for oncology services, serving as the primarypoint of contact for oncology-related service developments and providingprofessional leadership for the service, with support from the PrincipalPharmacist for Cancer Services

Provide a clinical pharmacy service to the Oncology and Haematology working alongside the cancer services team delivering and extensive medicines management service to patients in ward and day unit areas.

Clinically screening SACT for adult, paediatric patient for day unit, outpatient

Undertaketeaching and supervision of less experienced pharmacists, technicians, andstudents providing Cancer for haematology and oncology patients.

Line managing pharmacists as allocated including managing sickness, appraisals, general support and development

To ensure that all staff are appropriately trained, ensuring compliance to all legal and best practice standards and local SOP's.

Provide the clinical professional check on prescriptions dispensed within the dispensary, ensuring that the Trust high cost drug procedure and Trust Formulary is adhered t

Lead, develop, evaluate and deliver pharmaceuticalcare to patients managed by the Haematology and Oncology within the Trust.

Usespecialist knowledge to advise consultants, medical, nursing and pharmacy staffon all pharmaceutical aspects of care in these areas

Recommend,substantiate and communicate best therapeutic options for patients routinelyand via attendance at MDT to implement changes in prescribing practice toensure evidence-based medicine is followed as appropriate and followingcommissioning avenue

I Introduce measures to keep the directorate drugexpenditure within agreed budgets including pro-active involvement atdirectorate board level to achieve this.

Key Duties

Thepost holder will

Providea specialist clinical pharmacy and medicines management service to patients andundertake pharmaceutical risk management for haematology and oncology patientin a ward-based setting.

Ensurecompliance with medicines legislation, the Trust Medicines Policy, andmedicines related national and local guidelines.

Contributeto the development and implementation of appropriate cancer services SOPs andassociated policies to ensure that the haematology/oncology medicinesmanagement systems are safe, robust, guided by national directives, standards,guidelines, and the post-holders own specialist knowledge, and are qualityassured.

Evaluateprescribing practices and amend according to evidence-based practice,national/regional directives and clinical governance targets on a daily basis,during consultant ward-rounds, and at multidisciplinary team meetingsincluding:

Analysing patients individualpharmaceutical care needs

Identifying actual and potentialiatrogenic admissions for medical staff

Recommending best treatment

Substantiatepharmaceutical recommendations and advice to medical and nursing staff andcommunicate effectively any necessary actions to medical and nursing staff.

Constructpharmaceutical care plans for patients, assess and monitor clinical progressand outcome with regard to their medication and actively intervene to ensurethat patients receive optimal care with minimal side effects.

Providespecialist advice to healthcare professionals on all pharmaceutical issuesarising within the post holders specialist clinical area.

Beresponsible for the therapeutic blood monitoring of identified drugs within thepost-holders clinical area including:

Initial patient assessment andinitiation of appropriate loading or starting doses

Interpretation of blood level resultsand subsequent adjustment of the patients dose of medicine and amendment ofthe patients prescription in order to optimise the beneficial results oftherapy whilst minimising any potential toxicity.

Ensuringindividual patients entered into clinical trials are treated according to thetrial protocol, that their medicines are prepared as specified in the protocol,that any randomisation codes are allocate appropriately, and that all recordsare maintained correctly and stored suitably.

Substantiating clinical pharmacyrecommendations at the highest level and against challenge from Consultants,where necessary, and effectively communicate any required actions to othermedical and nursing staff.

Providing specialist clinical advice toother health care professionals on all pharmaceutical issues arising within thespecialist area of cancer services. This will include the extrapolation ofclinical and complex medicines information where data may be lacking andanalysing, interpreting and comparing differing opinion or facts to determinethe best prescribing strategy for an individual patient or patient group.

Assisting with the delivery of the WAHTpharmacy cancer services to achieve Trust and departmental medicines managementtargets including

Managingthe accurate and timely dispensing and supply of medicines to cancer patients.

Adherenceto NHS England standard operating procedures in relation to drugs supplythrough the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) and other commissioning arrangements.

Adherenceto the Trust Formulary, unlicensed medicines policy and high-cost drugprocedures.

Assistingwith the creation of clinical guidelines relating to all areas of medicines usewithin the cancer services.

Assistingin the delivery of key pharmacy modernisation initiatives within cancerservices and assisting in the assessment of the impact of such servicedevelopment initiatives on medical and nursing staff within the post-holdersarea and the WAHT pharmacy department as a whole.

MedicationHistory Taking, Provision of Patient Information and Counselling

Ensure that information and patient counsellingsystems are implemented within their specialist area according to patient needto ensure that patients obtain the most benefit from their medicines.

Set standards and manage the counselling ofpatients on their medicines within the Haematology directorate to improveconcordance and knowledge of their therapy

Ensure all newly admitted patients are interviewedto construct an accurate medication history and assess compliance/concordanceissues.

Review the medication history against the admissiondetails and prescription chart

Pro-actively identify to medical staff anypotential or actual medicines-related hospital admissions or associated issuesand outline any required action to resolve identified discrepancies

Assess patients discharge medicines informationrequirements as early as possible in the admission stay to be able to prepareinformation on medicines for patients based on individual need.

Complete Patient Need Assessments to assesspatients information requirements and suitability for delegation ofcounselling to a junior pharmacist or lead medicines management technician.

Counsel patients with highly complex needs suchas a physical disability which may affect information requirements (sight orhearing), language difficulties, those with life-threatening or terminaldiagnoses and highly distressed patients.

ManagerialResponsibilities

Manage pharmacists as allocated including deliveryof PDR and management of sickness based around trust policies.

Undertake the day to day supervision ofpharmacists, technicians, assistants and students

Develop and maintain good internal communicationswithin the department.

Ensure that the capability, conduct and performanceof every member of staff within their responsibility are continually assessedand appropriate action is taken to address shortfalls and resolve issues

Ensure that all Trust policies are complied with,brought to the attention if all staff and are readily and easily accessible

Planning of day to day work, annual objectives andnegotiation of personal development plans and in-year performance management.

Use the Pharmacy Computer System and MS Word,Excel, Access, and Powerpoint to produce reports, SOPs, analyses and trainingmaterials for others to support the delivery of the post holders key roles andresponsibilities.

Financial Responsibilities

Produce monthly reports, analyse prescribing trendsand provide guidance and advice on drug expenditure, prescribing patterns andhigh cost drug use for the Haematology and oncology specialities at WRH.

Advise and guide Consultants on proposed newmedicines for use within the post-holders clinical area and assist withcompiling new product assessments and evidence-based reviews for submission tothe Area Prescribing Committee for formulary and funding approval

Identify cost containment programmes and introduceappropriate measures to keep the Haematology and Oncology Directorates drugexpenditure within agreed budgets. Discuss and influence drug expenditure andits management with key medical staff, directorate managers and Modern Matronswithin the post-holders specialist area.

Service Development and Business Planning

Develop formal links with the Clinical Director,Business Manager, Modern Matron and Ward managers in relation to thepharmaceutical needs.

Lead on key pharmacy modernisation initiativeswithin the Haematology team, ward and patients, and assess the impact of suchservice development initiatives on medical and nursing staff within thepost-holders area and the pharmacy department as a whole.

Contribute to the senior clinical pharmacy teamstrategy group in planning and organising the delivery, standard andmodernisation of clinical pharmacy services.

Research andClinical Audit

Ensure all pharmaceutical aspects of research inthe post-holders clinical area complies with relevant legislation

Ensure that all clinical trials of medicines in thepost holders area comply with National Guidelines, the Trust medicines policy,and the Trial Protocols.

Plan, organise and conduct own areas forpractice-based research, including audit and benefits of clinical pharmacist /independent prescriber role to support departmental development

Job description
Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

Act asthe specialist pharmacist lead for oncology services, serving as the primarypoint of contact for oncology-related service developments and providingprofessional leadership for the service, with support from the PrincipalPharmacist for Cancer Services

Provide a clinical pharmacy service to the Oncology and Haematology working alongside the cancer services team delivering and extensive medicines management service to patients in ward and day unit areas.

Clinically screening SACT for adult, paediatric patient for day unit, outpatient

Undertaketeaching and supervision of less experienced pharmacists, technicians, andstudents providing Cancer for haematology and oncology patients.

Line managing pharmacists as allocated including managing sickness, appraisals, general support and development

To ensure that all staff are appropriately trained, ensuring compliance to all legal and best practice standards and local SOP's.

Provide the clinical professional check on prescriptions dispensed within the dispensary, ensuring that the Trust high cost drug procedure and Trust Formulary is adhered t

Lead, develop, evaluate and deliver pharmaceuticalcare to patients managed by the Haematology and Oncology within the Trust.

Usespecialist knowledge to advise consultants, medical, nursing and pharmacy staffon all pharmaceutical aspects of care in these areas

Recommend,substantiate and communicate best therapeutic options for patients routinelyand via attendance at MDT to implement changes in prescribing practice toensure evidence-based medicine is followed as appropriate and followingcommissioning avenue

I Introduce measures to keep the directorate drugexpenditure within agreed budgets including pro-active involvement atdirectorate board level to achieve this.

Key Duties

Thepost holder will

Providea specialist clinical pharmacy and medicines management service to patients andundertake pharmaceutical risk management for haematology and oncology patientin a ward-based setting.

Ensurecompliance with medicines legislation, the Trust Medicines Policy, andmedicines related national and local guidelines.

Contributeto the development and implementation of appropriate cancer services SOPs andassociated policies to ensure that the haematology/oncology medicinesmanagement systems are safe, robust, guided by national directives, standards,guidelines, and the post-holders own specialist knowledge, and are qualityassured.

Evaluateprescribing practices and amend according to evidence-based practice,national/regional directives and clinical governance targets on a daily basis,during consultant ward-rounds, and at multidisciplinary team meetingsincluding:

Analysing patients individualpharmaceutical care needs

Identifying actual and potentialiatrogenic admissions for medical staff

Recommending best treatment

Substantiatepharmaceutical recommendations and advice to medical and nursing staff andcommunicate effectively any necessary actions to medical and nursing staff.

Constructpharmaceutical care plans for patients, assess and monitor clinical progressand outcome with regard to their medication and actively intervene to ensurethat patients receive optimal care with minimal side effects.

Providespecialist advice to healthcare professionals on all pharmaceutical issuesarising within the post holders specialist clinical area.

Beresponsible for the therapeutic blood monitoring of identified drugs within thepost-holders clinical area including:

Initial patient assessment andinitiation of appropriate loading or starting doses

Interpretation of blood level resultsand subsequent adjustment of the patients dose of medicine and amendment ofthe patients prescription in order to optimise the beneficial results oftherapy whilst minimising any potential toxicity.

Ensuringindividual patients entered into clinical trials are treated according to thetrial protocol, that their medicines are prepared as specified in the protocol,that any randomisation codes are allocate appropriately, and that all recordsare maintained correctly and stored suitably.

Substantiating clinical pharmacyrecommendations at the highest level and against challenge from Consultants,where necessary, and effectively communicate any required actions to othermedical and nursing staff.

Providing specialist clinical advice toother health care professionals on all pharmaceutical issues arising within thespecialist area of cancer services. This will include the extrapolation ofclinical and complex medicines information where data may be lacking andanalysing, interpreting and comparing differing opinion or facts to determinethe best prescribing strategy for an individual patient or patient group.

Assisting with the delivery of the WAHTpharmacy cancer services to achieve Trust and departmental medicines managementtargets including

Managingthe accurate and timely dispensing and supply of medicines to cancer patients.

Adherenceto NHS England standard operating procedures in relation to drugs supplythrough the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) and other commissioning arrangements.

Adherenceto the Trust Formulary, unlicensed medicines policy and high-cost drugprocedures.

Assistingwith the creation of clinical guidelines relating to all areas of medicines usewithin the cancer services.

Assistingin the delivery of key pharmacy modernisation initiatives within cancerservices and assisting in the assessment of the impact of such servicedevelopment initiatives on medical and nursing staff within the post-holdersarea and the WAHT pharmacy department as a whole.

MedicationHistory Taking, Provision of Patient Information and Counselling

Ensure that information and patient counsellingsystems are implemented within their specialist area according to patient needto ensure that patients obtain the most benefit from their medicines.

Set standards and manage the counselling ofpatients on their medicines within the Haematology directorate to improveconcordance and knowledge of their therapy

Ensure all newly admitted patients are interviewedto construct an accurate medication history and assess compliance/concordanceissues.

Review the medication history against the admissiondetails and prescription chart

Pro-actively identify to medical staff anypotential or actual medicines-related hospital admissions or associated issuesand outline any required action to resolve identified discrepancies

Assess patients discharge medicines informationrequirements as early as possible in the admission stay to be able to prepareinformation on medicines for patients based on individual need.

Complete Patient Need Assessments to assesspatients information requirements and suitability for delegation ofcounselling to a junior pharmacist or lead medicines management technician.

Counsel patients with highly complex needs suchas a physical disability which may affect information requirements (sight orhearing), language difficulties, those with life-threatening or terminaldiagnoses and highly distressed patients.

ManagerialResponsibilities

Manage pharmacists as allocated including deliveryof PDR and management of sickness based around trust policies.

Undertake the day to day supervision ofpharmacists, technicians, assistants and students

Develop and maintain good internal communicationswithin the department.

Ensure that the capability, conduct and performanceof every member of staff within their responsibility are continually assessedand appropriate action is taken to address shortfalls and resolve issues

Ensure that all Trust policies are complied with,brought to the attention if all staff and are readily and easily accessible

Planning of day to day work, annual objectives andnegotiation of personal development plans and in-year performance management.

Use the Pharmacy Computer System and MS Word,Excel, Access, and Powerpoint to produce reports, SOPs, analyses and trainingmaterials for others to support the delivery of the post holders key roles andresponsibilities.

Financial Responsibilities

Produce monthly reports, analyse prescribing trendsand provide guidance and advice on drug expenditure, prescribing patterns andhigh cost drug use for the Haematology and oncology specialities at WRH.

Advise and guide Consultants on proposed newmedicines for use within the post-holders clinical area and assist withcompiling new product assessments and evidence-based reviews for submission tothe Area Prescribing Committee for formulary and funding approval

Identify cost containment programmes and introduceappropriate measures to keep the Haematology and Oncology Directorates drugexpenditure within agreed budgets. Discuss and influence drug expenditure andits management with key medical staff, directorate managers and Modern Matronswithin the post-holders specialist area.

Service Development and Business Planning

Develop formal links with the Clinical Director,Business Manager, Modern Matron and Ward managers in relation to thepharmaceutical needs.

Lead on key pharmacy modernisation initiativeswithin the Haematology team, ward and patients, and assess the impact of suchservice development initiatives on medical and nursing staff within thepost-holders area and the pharmacy department as a whole.

Contribute to the senior clinical pharmacy teamstrategy group in planning and organising the delivery, standard andmodernisation of clinical pharmacy services.

Research andClinical Audit

Ensure all pharmaceutical aspects of research inthe post-holders clinical area complies with relevant legislation

Ensure that all clinical trials of medicines in thepost holders area comply with National Guidelines, the Trust medicines policy,and the Trial Protocols.

Plan, organise and conduct own areas forpractice-based research, including audit and benefits of clinical pharmacist /independent prescriber role to support departmental development

Person Specification

Additional information

Essential

• Skilled at preparing and implementing pharmaceutical care plans to best meet patient needs within the ward multidisciplinary team.
• Skilled at using reference sources, journals, the internet and on-line information sources to prepare evaluated medicines information for consultants and other health-care professionals.
• Skills for providing relevant specialist pharmacy services (e.g. clinical pharmacy, medicines information, sterile dispensing).
• Able to interpret national guidelines within specialist area(s), and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines related to specialist area(s) including clinical governance and risk management.
• Skills for teaching and supervising junior pharmacists and technical staff
• Skills for utilising resources cost-effectively and highlighting where improvements could be made.
• Knowledge about chemotherapy drugs and regimens in current use.
• Knowledge about the technical aspects underpinning the working of an aseptic unit.
• Knowledge on clinical issues relating to the treatment of Haematology and oncology in-patients
• Able to supervise a team of pharmacists and technical staff
• Capable of analysing highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Able to work with initiative and innovation.
• Able to set priorities, meet deadlines and manage time effectively.
• A good team worker and a role model for pharmacists and technicians.
• Able to communicate information about medicines when there are barriers to understanding.
• Able to empathise with patients, carers, visitors and staff.

Experience

Essential

• Current post diploma experience in delivering specialist clinical services to a medical speciality or directorate
• Experience of delivering a clinical pharmacy service to patients requiring SACT
• Experience of working in a licensed or un-licensed aseptic unit.
• Experience of working with an electronic prescribing system
• Experience of delivering chemotherapy services (inpatient and outpatient) Experience of successfully supervising and contributing to the training of pharmacists, technicians, nurses and doctors

Desirable

• Experience as a practicing Independent prescriber in Haematology or oncology

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional knowledge acquired through a vocational degree in pharmacy
• Currently Registered as a pharmacist in UK: Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Significant Postgraduate clinical specialist knowledge acquired through diploma level training i.e. Hold a Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Currently meeting the GPhC standard for continuing professional development.
• Have qualified and be registered with the GPhC as an Independent Prescriber or working towards.

Desirable

• Undertaken a Masters or equivalent in Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP)
• Undertaken the RPS core advanced portfolio

Person Specification
Additional information

Essential

• Skilled at preparing and implementing pharmaceutical care plans to best meet patient needs within the ward multidisciplinary team.
• Skilled at using reference sources, journals, the internet and on-line information sources to prepare evaluated medicines information for consultants and other health-care professionals.
• Skills for providing relevant specialist pharmacy services (e.g. clinical pharmacy, medicines information, sterile dispensing).
• Able to interpret national guidelines within specialist area(s), and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines related to specialist area(s) including clinical governance and risk management.
• Skills for teaching and supervising junior pharmacists and technical staff
• Skills for utilising resources cost-effectively and highlighting where improvements could be made.
• Knowledge about chemotherapy drugs and regimens in current use.
• Knowledge about the technical aspects underpinning the working of an aseptic unit.
• Knowledge on clinical issues relating to the treatment of Haematology and oncology in-patients
• Able to supervise a team of pharmacists and technical staff
• Capable of analysing highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Able to work with initiative and innovation.
• Able to set priorities, meet deadlines and manage time effectively.
• A good team worker and a role model for pharmacists and technicians.
• Able to communicate information about medicines when there are barriers to understanding.
• Able to empathise with patients, carers, visitors and staff.

Experience

Essential

• Current post diploma experience in delivering specialist clinical services to a medical speciality or directorate
• Experience of delivering a clinical pharmacy service to patients requiring SACT
• Experience of working in a licensed or un-licensed aseptic unit.
• Experience of working with an electronic prescribing system
• Experience of delivering chemotherapy services (inpatient and outpatient) Experience of successfully supervising and contributing to the training of pharmacists, technicians, nurses and doctors

Desirable

• Experience as a practicing Independent prescriber in Haematology or oncology

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional knowledge acquired through a vocational degree in pharmacy
• Currently Registered as a pharmacist in UK: Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Significant Postgraduate clinical specialist knowledge acquired through diploma level training i.e. Hold a Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Currently meeting the GPhC standard for continuing professional development.
• Have qualified and be registered with the GPhC as an Independent Prescriber or working towards.

Desirable

• Undertaken a Masters or equivalent in Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP)
• Undertaken the RPS core advanced portfolio

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.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

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.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address

Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B987UB

United Kingdom

Employer's website