Specialist Clinical Pharmacist – Breast Cancer

Job summary

We currently have an opportunity for highly motivated, enthusiastic specialist clinical pharmacist (band 8a) to join our team. The post holder will be part of the wider clinical pharmacy team providing pharmacy services to patients across all disease groups but will work predominantly within the breast cancer disease group supervising Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies for patients with breast cancer.

The post holder(s) will be accountable for the delivery of specialist clinical pharmacy services, supporting the cancer disease group in conjunction with other specialist breast cancer pharmacists and have an active role in the outpatient clinic setting with regards to prescribing.

The Pharmacy Department actively supports a number of collaborative projects alongside several research partners and has strong links with the University of Manchester. Several members of our staff have undertaken post graduate training, research and other secondment opportunities and we are keen to support further opportunities.

If you are enthusiastic and keen to make a positive contribution to the care of cancer patients, we would like to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

To deliver and evaluate clinical pharmacy services to breast cancer patients.

To supervise and prescribe Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies and supportive treatments for patients being treated for breast cancer.

To develop and maintain highly specialist knowledge in medicines used within the Trust especially in relation to the designated cancer disease group.

To promote the safe, efficient and cost effective use of medicine resources to the designated cancer disease group by the provision of education and training, procedures, policies and guidelines, and medicine usage information.

To contribute to the wider clinical pharmacy service for patients being treated across all disease groups.

Although the pharmacy service is based at The Christie Hospital main site, postholders may be required to work at any location across the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network. The Trust has a flexible working policy and, subject to service commitments, it may also be possible to support an element of working from home

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

This is a unique opportunity to work with us and contribute to the challenging and rewarding specialty of oncology pharmacy

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide specialist clinical pharmacy services to the designated cancer disease group in accordance with all departmental, Trust and national standards, procedures and policies. To beresponsible for the direct delivery and development of an out-patient clinical practice, or within the day case setting within the Trust or at Trust peripheral locations. To work closely with and provide pharmaceutical advice to medical staff, other members of the multi-disciplinary team and patients. To work as an independent prescriber within the designated disease group working alongside the relevant consultants. To develop contributions to pharmacist led clinic streams oral SACT delivery models, if appropriate to the designated disease group in line with service improvements. To audit and evaluate pharmacist led clinic streams / pharmacist prescribing within the designated disease group as appropriate for service evaluation and improvement. To develop and maintain drug protocols and treatment guidelines both within the clinical pharmacy service and the designated cancer disease group. Reviewing evidence-based guidelines and protocols in conjunction with fellow healthcare professionals, in order to advance the safe, clinical effective and cost efficient use of medicines for patients. To produce shared care protocols where appropriate and to attend at meetings with primary care representatives, where relevant To attend and contribute to meetings relevant to the designated disease group as appropriate. To liaise with the Director of Pharmacy, and the lead designated cancer disease group consultants, to forecast drug expenditure and to identify or any changes in prescribing practices that may potentially impact on the drugs budget (drug forecasting) Gain an understanding of the principle and practice of the Trust's budgeting system and support the management of drug expenditure by clinicians and senior managers Represent the pharmacy service at appropriate clinical unit and divisional meetings on request To monitor and interpret published evidence and computer reports of drug usage, to use this data to report to the lead clinicians and Director of Pharmacy, implementing agreed policies aimed at improving patient outcomes and containing drug expenditure To provide evaluated pharmaceutical information to the Drugs and Therapeutic Committee as requested To support the development of the Electronic Prescribing process across the Trust. To support the designated cancer disease group through the development and implementation of electronic prescribing for out patients and in patients. To support prescribing at the individual patient level, contributing to the optimisation of patients drug therapy with due consideration to risk/benefit issues. To provide pharmaceutical care, contributing to the multi-professional team through ward pharmacy services and attendance on appropriate clinicians ward rounds and meetings. Facilitate effective communication about relevant pharmacy issues to clinicians and senior managers and the identification of opportunities for development of pharmacy services to match identified services and care needs. To demonstrate awareness and commitment to the Trusts Clinical Governance Plan In conjunction with the Principal Pharmacist in Clinical Services, to establish processes for the setting of standards of care, identifying the risks involved and implement changes that need to occur to achieve these. To undertake clinical audit and practice research as part of the multi-disciplinary audit process within the designated disease group and clinical pharmacy service. To participate in research opportunities internal or external to the Trust in collaboration with disease group or university faculties. To identify and report any systemic or preventable errors associated with medicines within the Network Services division and facilitate learning.

General Duties

To assist and participate in the development, implementation and management of training initiatives and competency frameworks within the clinical pharmacy service. Together with colleagues to be involved in the maintenance of cost-effective and efficient pharmacy services and to participate in their regular review and development. To participate in clinical audit or practice research as required. To represent pharmacy and act as a link person at relevant meetings and conferences To provide education and training to pharmacy, medical and nursing staff. To act as a mentor / role model to junior pharmacists and undertake regular appraisals. To participate in the clinical training of pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. To actively participate in the clinical pharmacy ward service rota to all patients within the Trust as required To be responsible for the clinical screening/review of chemotherapy prescriptions for designated patient groups, including clinical trial prescriptions and to clinically screen/ review in-patient and outpatient prescriptions. To check and supply medication to and for patients, including clinical trials and to counsel patients or medical or nursing staff on their correct use. To participate in prescription clinical screening and final product checking rotas. To give advice on the storage, administration and therapeutic use of drugs to patients, medical / nursing staff and other colleagues. To provide written information as necessary. To follow local, Trust and National guidelines for safe medicines practice. To contribute to the revision of the Trusts drug formulary. To identify own training needs. Maintain a CPD portfolio. To participate in weekend and Bank Holiday rotas and additional out of hours duties as required to meet the needs of the service. To undertake any other duties consistent with the nature of the post as requested by the Pharmacy Managers and the Trust. Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Vocational Masters Degree or equivalent in Pharmacy Membership of General Pharmaceutical Council Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent. Independent prescribing qualification or working towards Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

Member of relevant national specialist pharmacist group

Experience

Essential

Relevant post registration experience within hospital within oncology Financial awareness and drug budgets Providing medicines information and advice Screening/ reviewing prescriptions including systemic anticancer therapy. Training or teaching pharmacy/nursing/medical staff Experience of multidisciplinary team working

Desirable

Audit work Research experience

Skills

Essential

Excellent communication skills both verbal and written Good presentation skills Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team Self motivating Ability to work under pressure, highly organised, work to deadlines Ability to manage and implement change Ability to influence and negotiate with medical, nursing and pharmacy staff IT literate Training skills. Ability to train and act as mentor to other members of staff

Desirable

Project implementation.

Knowledge

Essential

NHS Long Term Plan, NICE, funding arrangements Sound medicines and clinical knowledge. Cost effective use of medicines and medicines management management National intrathecal guidance

Values

Essential

Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential

On call duties. Flexible working hours if required Bank holiday working

Desirable

Driving licence.

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