Specialist Clinical Pharmacist - Oncology and ChemoCare Nottingham, England
Job description
We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity to join the well–established cancer pharmacy team in one of the UK’s largest and busiest Cancer centres.
You will co-lead the oncology clinical pharmacy service, encompassing inpatient care and Day case anticancer treatments. You will be responsible for overseeing the training and development of clinical pharmacy staff within the cancer pharmacy team. You will ensure the safe and appropriate use of anticancer medicines in-line with national and regional guidelines e.g. by writing treatment protocols for new anticancer medicines and regimens, monitoring medicines expenditure, and monitoring oncology incident reports.
In conjunction with the Lead ChemoCare pharmacist you will provide leadership to a team of pharmacy technicians and the System Manager and the senior cancer pharmacy team to ensure the safe running of the e-prescribing system (ChemoCare). You will work closely with the Lead SACT clinician and Lead Chemotherapy Nurse to introduce paperless processes for SACT administration.
Applications are invited from qualified pharmacists with evidence of significant clinical experience in cancer services and the desire to make a real difference to our patients' lives. You should have excellent communications skills, a patient-centred attitude, the ability to work independently & also as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
To lead and develop the pharmacy service to the Oncology Department, in liaison with other Specialist Clinical Pharmacists
To provide specialist clinical pharmacy input to the Oncology Department, with specific higher level clinical responsibilities for one or more defined sub-specialties
Provide leadership support for the governance and day to day operation of the SACT e-prescribing system (ChemoCare), under the auspices of the advanced pharmacy practitioner for haematology.
Provide highly complex advice and guidance requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of options on all issues relating to prescribing and therapeutics within Oncology, where possible in line with national and local guidelines.
To form a key component of the multidisciplinary team in the Oncology Department
To be a Trust-wide source of information on matters relating to chemotherapy and the wider speciality; including providing support to advanced practitioners and non-medical prescribers of chemotherapy
The Cancer Pharmacy Team is forward thinking, with six clinic based pharmacy practitioners in post. Pharmacy are actively involved with service improvements, working in collaboration with the wider oncology MDT.
This post offers you the opportunity to work as part of an established and friendly team in one of the UK's largest and busiest acute NHS teaching hospital Trusts. NUH is a Cancer Centre providing a regional service to a population of over 3 million. We actively participate in cancer clinical trials. The cancer pharmacy team is forward thinking and there is plenty of opportunity for personal development at all levels.
As a teaching Trust we have a strong relationship with our colleagues at the University of Nottingham and other universities across the East Midlands. We play a vital role in the education and training of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. We've made a clear commitment to our patients and staff that 'we are here for you' and will do all we can to ensure our patients get the best possible care we can give them. We want you to be proud to be part of the NUH team. The pharmacy department is forward thinking and constantly implementing innovative ways of working to deliver the best possible patient care.
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
To partake in specialised clinical pharmacy duties ensuring core clinical pharmacy activities are undertaken
Specialised clinical pharmacy activities
To lead and develop the pharmacy service to the Oncology Department, in liaison with other Specialist Clinical Pharmacists
To provide clinical input (at specialist level) to the Oncology Department, with specific higher level clinical responsibilities for one or more defined sub-specialties
Once qualified, validated & approved by NUH: ‘To work as an independent prescriber within a defined specialist area, contributing to medicines optimisation, writing discharge, inpatient, homecare and/or outpatient prescriptions as clinically appropriate and dictated by the needs of the service’
Provide highly complex advice and guidance requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of options on all issues relating to prescribing and therapeutics within Oncology, where possible in line with national and local guidelines.
Maintain a working knowledge relating to prescribing and therapeutics for all services in the Cancer cluster
To form a key component of the multidisciplinary team in the Oncology Department
Provide leadership support for the governance and day to day operation of the SACT e-prescribing system (ChemoCare), under the auspices of the advanced pharmacy practitioner for haematology.
Core clinical pharmacy activities
To work in accordance with relevant pharmacy and Trust policies and procedures relating to medicines management.
To ensure safe rational and effective prescribing by undertaking medication reconciliation, assessing suitability of prescribed medication, counselling (to optimise medicines use), and ensuring continuity of patient care into the community.
Providing medicines including SACT for individual patients during their stay in hospital, at discharge and also for out-patient visits.
Interpreting and requesting clinical tests to monitor and make recommendations to improve effectiveness of drug therapy.
Pro-actively liaising with other members of the multidisciplinary team (medical staff, nurses, microbiologists, physiotherapists, dieticians) in order to ensure safe use of medicines.
Making recommendations about medicines to improve patient outcomes and to encourage adherence to hospital formulary and national guidelines.
Providing advice and guidance in relation to unlicensed medicines use and clinical trial medicines under the direction of the senior pharmacist for clinical trials.
Other
To contribute to, facilitate or conduct clinical audits which are part of the Pharmacy audit plan.
To participate in research, communicate results and if suitable, register for a further degree.
To undertake and document continuing professional development.
To contribute to the teaching and training of undergraduate, postgraduate students and other healthcare professionals.
To undertake research relevant to pharmacy practice within oncology.
To develop the clinical pharmacy service provided to the oncology specialty as dictated by the needs of the service.
To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required as agreed by senior staff.
If appropriately qualified, the post holder may undertake some prescribing for outpatient, inpatients and Daycase patients
Leadership , management and directorate/service support roles
Lead,in conjunction with other specialist clinical pharmacists the delivery of clinical pharmacy and medicines management services to the oncology service, under the auspices of the advanced pharmacy practitioner/team leader for oncology.
Provide leadership support for the governance and day to day operation of the SACT e-prescribing system (ChemoCare), under the auspices of the advanced pharmacy practitioner acting as clinical lead for the SACT e-prescribing system.
Liaise and work alongside relevant pharmacy colleagues and directorate staff and managers in ensuring continuity and development of clinical pharmacy services within the specialty.
Maintain contact with and actively participate in regional and national specialty groups, advising these groups as appropriate, and in also identifying best practice and incorporating it into NUH practice.
Support the Assistant clinical services lead
to deliver the ‘best possible clinical pharmacy service’
oby developing KPIs that clearly demonstrate the contribution rotational pharmacists, other support staff and the post holder make to the care of patients within the specialty.
by reporting KPIs (delivered by the clinical pharmacy service) at regular intervals, as directed by the Assistant Head of Pharmacy – clinical services lead e.g. activity data, contributions, service development contributions etc.
by deputising for them in relation to issues linked to the cluster
Leading on the submission of business cases to secure funding for service developments/new pharmacy posts within the specialty.
Attending relevant specialty meetings including governance meetings as appropriate – this will require effective communication of messages to and from such forums and ensuring necessary actions are enacted.
Developing, implementing and auditing prescribing guidelines and drug protocols for oncology at NUH. This includes risk assessments for new drug therapies and related protocols and supporting clinicians in the preparation of new product evaluations for the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee.
Monitoring drug usage, prescribing patterns and expenditure in order to support the service in achieving a balanced drug budget, and planning for new drug developments.
Act as a role model
Requirement to undertake and support relevant project work
Assist in the recruitment of new staff.
To line manage and support more junior pharmacists in the Cancer and Associated Specialties Services Divisonal team
Act as a direct contact point to provide support to the more junior pharmacists and other members of the team in the cluster.
Ensure objectives for junior and senior rotational pharmacists who are assigned to this specialty are always up-to-date / current.
Ensure that these pharmacists are making progress with objectives that have been set – ‘clearing the path’ where there are barriers to achieving these.
Ensure effective performance management of pharmacy staff working in own specialty and other junior pharmacy staff, including 1:1s, diploma assessments and conducting appraisals using the Trust appraisal process
Ensure completion of all relevant documentation relating to performance management and objectives / PDPs of these pharmacists within the agreed time frames.
Education and training of staff (rotational and diploma pharmacists, technicians, pre-registration pharmacists, pharmacy students) that are linked to the specialty.
To take full part in the 7 day shifted rota and bank holidays duties
