Specialist Cancer Pharmacist

Job responsibilities

Clinical and Professional Practice

1. To provide a ward-based clinical pharmacy service according to Trust agreed standards including:

Individual prescription review to optimise therapy

Confirmation of the patients medication history

Advice on dosage, side-effects, cautions and monitoring required

Advise on administration of medicines

Appropriate and clear endorsing of prescriptions to ensure safe practice

Monitor the effect and appropriateness of medication

Education of patients on their medication

Involvement in discharge planning and provision of discharge medication

2. To provide clinical pharmacy cover to other ward areas within the team on a reciprocal basis.

3. To ensure medicines are used appropriately, safely and cost-effectively in accordance with Trust policy, standard operating procedures and medicines legislation.

4. To monitor medicines use within the ward area. This includes recording of significant clinical interventions and risk management including:

Participation in investigating clinical incidents

Recording significant clinical incidents/near misses

Ensuring compliance with medicines legislation and local policies

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

6. To participate in ward rounds, clinical meetings or out-patient clinics as appropriate in order to provide pharmaceutical advice to prescribers and other health care professional.

7. To liaise with external agencies to ensure safe, timely and appropriate supply to patients e.g. Baxter, Homecare companies etc, where appropriate.

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

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

10. To act as a role model and mentor for clinical pharmacy.

11. To undergo accreditation to write discharge prescriptions for patients, where appropriate.

12. To provide teaching for the pharmacy and directorate teams as required.

13. To act as knowledge base/resource for the specialist area and to keep up to date with current trends and research in the specialist area.

14. With the rest of the members of the clinical pharmacy team to support the strategic developments of the service e.g. electronic prescribing, improved discharge processes, accredited technician checking etc.

15. Actively contribute to the planning and efficient co-ordination of clinical pharmacy initiatives including discharge planning, prescribing protocols, pharmacists on consultant ward rounds etc.

16. To contribute to and implement the clinical governance plans of the clinical area and the pharmacy clinical governance plans.

17. To provide clinical pharmacy services to Oncology and Haematology Directorate which may include the following:

17.1 Provide an onsite and remote service to inpatient palliative care units (Katharine House Hospice (Banbury) and Sobell House Hospice (Oxford)).

17.2 To clinically screen all chemotherapy prescriptions (including oral, injectable and clinical trial drugs) according to locally agreed standards, following a period of competency-based training and assessment.

17.3 To be accredited in the appropriate aspects of handling intra-thecal chemotherapy e.g. screening, issuing etc. within the recommendations of current legislation.

17.4 To be involved in the development and maintenance of the computerised chemotherapy prescribing system (Aria) across the Oncology & Haematology Directorate for all injectable and oral chemotherapy, and to ensure that it is used effectively and appropriately at ward and day case level. This includes entering the protocols onto the system, double-checking the master prescriptions for accuracy, liaising with the cancer pharmacy team and consultants for final approval of the protocols. To be involved in training and providing support to the users of the computerised chemotherapy prescribing system.

17.5 To be involved in the development, maintenance, and review of cancer chemotherapy and supportive care drug protocols defined by the SACT Operational Group and multidisciplinary teams. This includes prescribing protocols and drug administration guidelines.

17.6 To be involved in the preparation of new drug submissions for the Trust Medicines Management and Therapeutics Committee with Consultant colleagues. To provide resources to ensure safe implementation of new technology into clinical practice.

17.7 To assist with review of sections of the Trust formulary relevant to the specialist area.

17.8 To be involved in the implementation of relevant local, network and national standards including service guidelines and technology appraisals produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

17.9 To attend and contribute to Cancer Pharmacy Team Meetings.

18. To ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.

19. To be professionally accountable for actions and advice.

20. To use experience and clinical judgment to assist in problem-solving and troubleshooting within the Pharmacy department.

21. To give professional support to the site operational managers.

22. To support the dispensaries by participating in the screening and checking prescriptions and dispensed items at a mutually convenient time as part of a rota (current commitment is 2 hours per working week and one whole weekend day every six weeks).

23. To participate in weekend and bank holiday working according to rota.

24. Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Chief Pharmacist.

25. To participate in any future 7 day working patterns should the pharmacy department change its current working practices

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified to a degree level (4 year MPharm or equivalent) and Pharmacist registration with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Diploma / MSc in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Desirable

• Membership of British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA)
• Accredited tutor for Cardiff University Clinical Pharmacy Diploma
• Accredited Non-medical prescriber
• Edward Jenner Leadership programme or equivalent

Technical Skills

Essential

• Computer literate with experience of working with the Microsoft Office package
• Advanced keyboard skills

Desirable

• Experience using Electronic prescribing systems

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as a clinical pharmacist
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of teaching and tutoring
• Communicating complex information via multiple methods to a variety of recipients
• Quality improvement, service evaluation or audit

Desirable

• Experience of preparing budgetary reports for clinical areas
• Involvement in a pharmacist led outpatient clinic
• Experience of practice research
• Involvement in developing a service
• Experience of developing drug protocols /contributing to formulary development

Personal Skills

Essential

• Problem identification and solving skills
• Well organised
• Good Time Management
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to prioritise and manage time effectively
• Good interpersonal skills
• Sensitivity and tolerance
• Enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Team worker
• Must demonstrate flexibility in working practices
• Must be assertive
• Capable of working under pressure
• Must show commitment
• Able to make decisions

Desirable

• Understands national priorities in Palliative care and cancer care
• Demonstrable awareness of current cancer issues such as administration of intrathecal chemotherapy and the Manual of Cancer Quality Measures
• Demonstrable awareness of financial pressures
• Publication / conference presentations
• Excellent Clinical Prioritisation
• Evidence of balancing conflicting priorities
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
• Member of relevant professional group e.g. ASPCP, BOPA
• Ability to travel to all sites including the use of public transport

Behavioural Skills

Essential

• Acts in accordance with the Trust values
• Conducts themselves in a professional manner at all times
• Positive attitude to all tasks and stakeholders.
• Adaptable and resilient
• Growth mindset and continuing professional development
• Appreciation of the value of equality diversity and inclusion

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).