Senior Pharmacist - Cancer & Aseptic Services - Oncology

Job description

Job overview

Are you an experienced Band 8a Pharmacist seeking a new challenge, or a motivated Band 7 Pharmacist ready to take the next step in your career? We have an exciting opportunity to join the Clinical Cancer and Aseptic Pharmacy Team at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

As a designated Cancer Centre, we provide comprehensive cancer services to patients across Wolverhampton and the surrounding region. Following significant investment, our Aseptic Services Unit will soon relocate to a new state-of-the-art facility incorporating aseptic preparation, clinical trials and radiopharmacy services.

Working closely with the Oncology, Clinical Haematology and Specialist Palliative Care Directorate, you will support patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapies and other complex treatments. The role combines advanced clinical practice with opportunities to contribute to medicines optimisation, service development, education, quality improvement, and the governance and operational delivery of aseptic services.

We are seeking a pharmacist with cancer services experience, excellent communication and leadership skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality patient-centred care. An Independent Prescribing qualification is desirable.

Applications from experienced Band 7 pharmacists are welcomed, and appointment at Band 7 with a structured development pathway to Band 8a may be considered for candidates who do not yet meet all Band 8a criteria.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the leadership, delivery, development, evaluation and coordination of specialist clinical pharmacy services for oncology, ensuring service provision aligns with the objectives of the Directorate, Divisional priorities, and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Pharmacy Strategy.

Support the Principal Pharmacist for Cancer Services in the strategic and operational delivery of a comprehensive, high-quality specialist pharmacy service across the directorate, promoting safe, effective and evidence-based use of medicines.

Provide an advanced level of clinical pharmacy practice to patients receiving cancer treatment and act as a key member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing specialist pharmaceutical expertise to optimise patient outcomes, support complex clinical decision-making, and ensure the safe prescribing, preparation, dispensing and administration of systemic anti-cancer therapies and supportive care medicines.

Support the governance, quality assurance and operational management of aseptic services, ensuring compliance with national standards, regulatory requirements and Trust policies relating to the preparation and supply of chemotherapy and other aseptically prepared medicines.

Provide professional leadership, mentorship and training to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals, promoting excellence in clinical practice and workforce development across Cancer and Aseptic Services.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post will provide the following services to the Oncology, Clinical Haematology and Specialist Palliative Care Directorate (not exhaustive):

Provide an advanced specialist clinical pharmacy service to patients within the directorate, ensuring the safe, effective and cost-effective use of medicines.

Deliver expert clinical and pharmaceutical support to the directorate, acting as a key member of the multidisciplinary team to optimise patient outcomes and enhance the quality of patient care.

Act as an Independent Prescriber (where qualified), assessing, prescribing and monitoring therapy for patients within agreed scopes of practice, while supporting medicines optimisation, safe prescribing and robust medication governance.

Monitor and review medicines expenditure across Oncology supporting effective budget management, medicines optimisation and the delivery of value-based healthcare.

Develop, review and implement treatment protocols, clinical guidelines, Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and prescribing policies, ensuring alignment with national guidance, best practice and local service requirements.

Lead and contribute to service development, quality improvement, audit and innovation projects across Cancer and Aseptic Services, supporting the continual enhancement of patient care and service delivery.

Work as an Authorised Pharmacist within the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit, contributing to the safe and compliant preparation, release and governance of chemotherapy and other aseptically prepared medicines in accordance with regulatory and quality standards.

Support clinical governance, risk management and medication safety initiatives within Cancer and Aseptic Services, ensuring compliance with Trust policies, national standards and regulatory requirements.

Contribute to the education, training and professional development of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, medical staff, nurses and undergraduate students, promoting excellence in cancer and aseptic pharmacy practice.

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person Specification available on the Trust website for further details regarding this vacancy - subject to AFC matching

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria

• Masters Degree in Pharmacy (or equivalent)
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Completed Year 1 of postgraduate Clinical Diploma or equivalent qualification

Desirable criteria

• Additional postgraduate qualification in Cancer or Aseptic Services
• Independent prescribing qualification
• Completed postgraduate Clinical Diploma or equivalent qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post-registration experience working recently in an acute Trust setting
• experience of providing clinical pharmacy services to patients receiving SACT i.e medicines optimisation, toxicity management & MDT
• Ability to demonstrate a wider understanding of pharmacy practice and the workings of the NHS, including prescribing and medicines management.
• Ability to understand the importance of interactions with the directorate and with directorate managers with respect to medicines budget management
• Ability to work in an aseptic environment
• Commitment to, and evidence of, formal continuous professional development (CPD).

Desirable criteria

• Experience of undertaking audits and participating in clinical research
• Ability to adapt behaviour to changing circumstances and work under pressure
• Experience of developing and implementing standard operating procedures & clinical guidance
• Experience in supervising, training and assessing staff
• Experience of leading service improvement, quality improvement or service development projects
• experience of managing high-cost drugs, medicines expenditure or formulary management within a specialist clinical area

Flexible Working - As a major employer in the Black Country and West Birmingham region we are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. We want the Black Country and West Birmingham region to be the best place to work and as such will consider all requests to work flexibly taking into account personal and individual circumstances alongside the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the Recruiting Manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Qualifications - Please be advised that if the post that you are applying for requires any level of qualification (e.g. A-Levels, Degree etc) or Professional Registration (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council etc) you will be required to provide proof as part of the pre-employment process. By submitting your application you are giving the Trust permission to check the qualification certificates provided back to the source provider. Please note that a sample of all applicant's qualifications will be checked with the educational institution or provider. Furthermore, a sample of all applicants' qualifications will be checked back to the educational institution or provider to interview letters to further deter fraud.

Visa/Sponsorship Information

In line with UKVI requirements, the Trust is unable to sponsor any applicants for Skilled Woker Visas who do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements including applicable salary thresholds and concessions. Before applying, please ensure that you have the right to work in the UK, or that the role is eligible for sponsorship. For more information, please visit: