Advanced Specialist Pharmacist Cancer Services

NHS; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Advanced Specialist Pharmacist for Cancer Services to improve patient care across haematology and oncology wards. This role offers the chance for career progression with opportunities to develop specialist knowledge, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and influence patient outcomes in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council required.
• 2 to 4 years NHS hospital experience post qualification.
• Experience in Haematology / Oncology preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical pharmacy services to cancer patients.
• Lead pharmacy services for haematology and oncology wards.
• Support clinical trials and ensure compliance with standards.

Skills

Communication

Time Management

Clinical Knowledge

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Education

Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Registered Pharmacy Independent Prescriber

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Advanced Specialist Pharmacist Cancer Services

The closing date is 26 June 2025

We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed pharmacist to join our team of Specialist Clinical Pharmacists, delivering high-quality care to cancer patients. We welcome applications from pharmacists at all stages of their careers. For those with cancer services experience, the role is offered at Band 8a. For those new to the specialty, we offer a progressive Band 7 opportunity with a clear development pathway.

You will lead on clinical pharmacy services to haematology and oncology wards and be supported by two experienced Clinical Lead Pharmacists, ensuring expert mentorship as you develop specialist skills and deliver patient-centred care. This post is ideal for individuals eager to learn, grow, and enhance cancer services through innovation and collaboration.

About University Hospitals Dorset (UHD):UHD serves a diverse population across Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch, delivering comprehensive cancer services including outpatient chemotherapy, haematology and oncology inpatient care, and radiotherapy. Electronic prescribing via Mosaiq is well embedded, supported by a dedicated Protocol Pharmacist. UHD is also among the few trusts nationally to implement SACT-verifying pharmacy technicians, demonstrating our commitment to excellence and clinical leadership.

Main duties of the job

As a vital member of the wider Pharmacy Cancer Team, you will lead and contribute to the delivery of clinical pharmacy services across haematology and oncology inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, local hospices, and clinical trials. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with multidisciplinary teams to optimise patient outcomes through safe, effective, and personalised cancer treatment.

Our ongoing investment in Pharmacy Cancer Services supports a culture of innovation, ensuring our team remains at the forefront of high-quality patient care and advanced clinical practice.

As part of advanced practice, the postholder will also be responsible for auditing clinical activity and ensuring ward-based pharmacy practice aligns with national standards across both haematology and oncology pathways. This function is critical in maintaining governance compliance, supporting the safe administration of systemic anticancer therapy (SACT), and contributing to external reviews.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.

Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide a high-quality clinical pharmacy and medicines management service to cancer patients.
• At Band 8a, develop specialist knowledge in oncology and haematology.
• Clinically screen SACT prescriptions, adhering to local standards. Following competency-based training aligned with the British Oncology Pharmacy Association SACT Passport (Level 2 or 3), you will have the opportunity to pursue further education to become a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber (PIP) and practise as required.
• Work closely with the Cancer Pharmacy Team Leaders to develop cancer pharmacy services and support the pharmacy elements of cancer clinical trials.
• Play a crucial role in implementing local and national standards, ensuring access to funding through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) and individual funding requests (IFRs).

You will collaborate with the Oncology, Haematology, and Palliative Care teams, under the leadership of the Lead Cancer Pharmacists. We actively support independent prescribing and professional development, and we are seeking someone who shares our vision for the future of cancer services in beautiful Dorset.

Additional Information: This role includes weekend working (4 hours every Sunday, as part of a 1-in-5 rota), as well as early and late shifts within cancer services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent experience
• Registered Pharmacy Independent Prescriber with experience in Haematology / Oncology, or be prepared to undertake this qualification / experience
• Membership of a professional organisation (e.g. Royal Pharmaceutical Society, UKCPA, BOPA)

Experience

• 2 to 4 years NHS hospital experience post qualification
• Previous experience of working in Haematology / Oncology
• Supervising and developing staff
• Delivering education and training
• Directorate pharmacy experience meeting with clinicians and managers
• Ability to communicate effectively in difficult/demanding circumstances
• Time management skills, ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to analyse information and make judgements
• Good clinical knowledge of current therapeutics and pharmacy practice including Haematology / Oncology medication regimens
• Clinical audit projects or practice research
• Experience of leading a team
• Experience of service development

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.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust