Job responsibilities
Result Areas
To provide a high level, responsive, and developing clinical pharmacy service to Cancer Services in the Trust.
To validate the clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical components of cancer chemotherapy treatment plans, schedules, protocols etc. raising any concerns or issues with the appropriate medical or nursing staff.
To design and deliver packages of pharmaceutical care to individual patients admitted to the cancer chemotherapy wards/units and train and assist other pharmacists to undertake such duties.
To assure the standards of pharmaceutical care provided to cancer chemotherapy patients ensuring that a satisfactory level of pharmacy service is provided within the staffing resources available.
To attend and contribute to multidisciplinary ward rounds/meetings, where appropriate, in relation to cancer chemotherapy patients and patients requiring parenteral nutrition.
To advise the Head of Pharmacy on any developments that the postholder becomes aware of that may have implications for the Pharmacy Service.
To assist in the strategic development of cancer services of the Trust, by contributing to the work of appropriate groups and attending relevant meetings within the Trust or with outside agencies.
To be responsible for and oversee the training programmes for staff working in the areas of Cancer Services and Aseptic Services and to assure the competence of pharmacists allocated to work in the Unit.
To be responsible for assuring the standards of facilities and equipment used within the Aseptic Unit and solve problems that may exist or develop, bringing unresolved issues to the attention of the Accountable Pharmacist.
In the absence of the Lead Technician Cancer and Aseptic Services, to provide support and help manage the Aseptic Unit on a day-by-day basis deputising for the statutory role of Accountable Pharmacist.
To be responsible for assuring the standards of facilities and equipment used within the Aseptic Unit and solve problems that may exist or develop, bringing unresolved issues to the attention of the Accountable Pharmacist.
To assist with the QC/QA contract that exists and take a lead role in resolving issues that may arise as a result of the Farwell Audit (whilst the Unit is unlicensed) or MHRA audit (when the Unit is licensed).
To collect, prepare and provide timely financial and activity data on aseptic service activity, particularly relating to chemotherapy activity and expenditure, to the appropriate financial advisors as agreed.
To contribute to the development of pharmacy services and standards, the preparation of bids and business cases and the implementation of agreed developments.
To liaise with other senior staff who are responsible for the allocation of pharmacist staff and allocation of technician staff, to negotiate staffing resource to provide the necessary services, if required.
To maintain an awareness of current developments in pharmacy practice pertinent to aseptic services in general, and cancer and parenteral nutrition services in particular, by liaising with relevant bodies, outside agencies, special interest groups and other specialist pharmacists. To inform and advise senior pharmacy staff as appropriate.
To assist the relevant drug budget holders in managing their drugs budget and advising on potential improvements in the cost-effective use of drugs.
To ensure any new drugs prescribed, relating to cancer services, have been approved for use via the appropriate routes.
To ensure Consultant medical staff and their teams are fully aware of procedures relating to new drug requests, particularly in relation to high cost drugs (PbR excluded drugs) and to advise and assist when necessary.
To ensure Consultant medical staff and their teams are aware of and comply with any risk management procedures relating to cancer chemotherapy products and provide training where necessary.
When required, to advise the Associate Medical Director for Medicine and the Operational General Manager for Medicine on issues relating to the use of drugs in their Division including potential improvements in the clinical and cost-effective use of drugs.
To horizon scan and advise on budget implications of new and developing drug therapies in the specialist areas, particularly in respect of NICE technology appraisals.
To advise on/recommend/produce/adapt clinical treatment guidelines and prescriptions for use in the specialist areas of the post-holder that have been produced locally or by national bodies.
To contribute to and undertake audit projects in the specialty area particularly those concerned with compliance with safer prescribing and drug administration policies, procedures and guidelines and implementation of pharmacy service developments. To provide reports and present the audit findings within the Trust or to outside organisations, where appropriate.
To ensure clinical trials work can be incorporated into the work schedule and Aseptic Unit capacity.
To lead on and be responsible for audit work carried out in the Aseptic Unit, in line with the annual audit program required by the external Inspector.
To advise and support the Lead Technician for Clinical Trials on dispensary trials.
To ensure all staff working with clinical trials have had appropriate training.
To ensure clinical trials work for Dispensary and the Aseptic Unit is carried out in accordance with Good Clinical Practice GCP.
To attend and participate, where required, in the chemotherapy Cross Cutting Group and in Nurses and Pharmacists Group meetings.
To be involved in producing/checking/commenting on polices and guidelines for the Cross Cutting Group and Nurses and Pharmacists Group.
To assist with ensuring the Pharmacy department complies with standards set out in the Manual for Cancer Services (Peer review).
To ensure all dispensary staff (pharmacists, technicians and senior ATOs) are trained appropriately when clinically checking/dispensing and accuracy checking any chemotherapy dispensed in the dispensary.
To advise and offer support to the Outpatient Pharmacy with regards to oral Chemotherapy and supportive medications.
To undertake the duties of a pre-registration pharmacist tutor and/or a clinical pharmacy diploma clinical co-ordinator and / or tutor to Medicines Management Technician where necessary.
To provide clinical pharmacy training for undergraduate pharmacy students, vacation students, pre-registration pharmacists (hospital and community-based) and hospital clinical pharmacists.
To contribute to the induction and in-service training of nursing staff and junior medical staff as appropriate.
To advise senior nursing staff on appropriate use of patient group directions in order to improve the efficiency of healthcare provision in cancer services.
To undertake duties as a clinical pharmacist to other wards in the Trust when necessary, including occasional work at other pharmacies from which a pharmacy service is provided.
To advise medical, nursing, other professional staff, managers and patients on any aspect of drug therapy or drug control as required or when considered necessary.
To contribute to the audit work of the pharmacy service and developments in service quality.
To undertake routine duties within the dispensary as required, supervising the work of junior pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and (senior) ATOs.
To undertake Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday and Statutory Day working on rota and to contribute rarely on a one off basis to the Emergency Duty on call from home service where required.
To deputise for senior pharmacy managers as required.
To demonstrate and maintain a commitment to continuing professional development and encourage members of the team to do likewise.
Hours of Work
One post-holder will work full time on weekdays (37.5 hours per week) but will be expected to work flexibly to meet the specific needs of the post.
One post-holder will work roughly half time on weekdays (based on fulltime hours of 37.5 per week) but will be expected to work flexibly to meet the specific needs of the post.
The focus of the two Lead Pharmacists may vary from time to time.
Also to work Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays on a Rota for which compensation is given.
The post-holder does not participate in the emergency on call pool, but in the very rare case where an on call slot cannot be filled from within the pool itself, band 8 Pharmacists commit to stepping in to cover the slot from home, and compensation is given.
Line Manages
Senior Pharmacists Cancer and Aseptic Services as deemed appropriate by the Principal Pharmacist Cancer and Aseptic Services.
Supervises
Allocated pharmacy staff.
Professional / Clinical Responsibilities
To be an Independent non-medical prescriber.
To prescribe within scope of practise/area of competency in line with the Trust Service needs.
To follow locally approved clinical guidelines and NICE and prescribe within the SWFT formulary.
To Provide cost effective prescribing activity.
To regularly review prescribing activity and implement change as necessary.
To have prescribing activity audited regularly in line with the Trust agreed standards.
To work with the framework of the Trust Non-Medical Prescribing Protocol.
