Lead Cancer Protocol Pharmacist

NHS; Guildford; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cancer centre in Guildford offers a key position as Lead Cancer Protocol Pharmacist, focusing on managing systemic anti-cancer therapy protocols. The successful candidate will lead the integration of new treatment protocols, ensure standardised care practices, and support multidisciplinary teams in oncology patient care.

Benefits

Comprehensive health and wellbeing program

Commitment to professional development

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Experience as a specialist oncology/haemato-oncology practitioner.
• Qualified Independent Prescriber or willingness to undertake training.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of SACT protocols and guidelines.
• Monitor and provide training on treatment algorithms.
• Manage new drug treatments with financial implications.

Skills

Clinical knowledge

Oncology expertise

Palliative care skills

Management skills

Education

Master's degree in pharmacy

Post-graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Postgraduate oncology/haemato-oncology qualification

Job description

We are excited to offer the role of Lead Cancer Protocol Pharmacist at the Royal Surrey Cancer Centre. This role has lead responsibility for the development of the highly regarded St Luke's systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) and supportive care protocols in collaboration with Consultant Oncologist/Haematologist colleagues. The post holder will manage the storage and access of protocols via the St Luke's website: https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/chemotherapy-policies-and-protocols

The post holder would take a lead for entry of new medicines for Oncology/Haemato-Oncology, with opportunities to maintain clinical knowledge and skills as a specialised Oncology/Haemato-Oncology Pharmacist.The post includes specialist clinical cancer pharmacist support to NHS England National and South East Regional Teams, as defined in a separate Service Level Agreement (0.2WTE).

The successful applicant would join an experienced team of specialist pharmacy staff who provide a comprehensive service to oncology, haemato-oncology and surgical oncology patients. You would work closely with the teams in RSCH Pharmacy Limited (the satellite dispensary) and the Aseptic Unit but this role does not include any direct responsibilities in these areas.

This post requires a postgraduate clinical pharmacy qualification and specialist experience in oncology, haemato-oncology, and palliative care. We support relevant personal/career development training and consider flexible working arrangements.

Main duties of the job

The aim of this role is to lead the development of agreed systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) and supportive care treatment protocols and guidelines to ensure standardised evidence-based clinical practice across St Luke's Cancer Centre and partner Cancer Units (ASPH, FPH and SASH). This includes leading on the new medicines entry process within this specialty. The post holder will maintain clinical knowledge and skills in order to perform the role of a highly specialised Oncology/Haemato-Oncology Pharmacist.

About us

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo

Job responsibilities

Responsible for the development of protocols and guidelines for the St Lukes Cancer Centre and partner Cancer Units (ASPH, FPH and SASH) in collaboration with Consultant Oncologists/Haematologists. These reference the latest clinical evidence and commissioning guidance. They include:

o Tumour site specific treatment algorithmso Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) treatment protocolso Supportive care protocolso Guidelines/protocols for the delivery of SACTo Guidelines/protocols for SACT-related acute oncology presentationso General SACT prescribing guidelinese.g. assessment of renal function, monitoring patient weight

Responsible for monitoring deviations from the agreed treatment algorithms/protocols (off protocol reporting).

Responsible for the provision of training to medical, nursing and pharmacy staff on SACT treatment algorithms/protocols and supportive care/toxicity management guidelines.

Responsible for the identification of new drug treatments or clinical guidance within the specialty that have financial implications, and support the management or implementation of these within the Trust (i.e. Horizon Scanning) in liaison with Deputy Chief Pharmacist Cancer, Aseptic and Research Services.

Responsible for the new medicines entry process for SACT (including compassionate use) and associated supportive care medicines, involving liaison with other areas of Pharmacy e.g.o Pharmacy Procuremento Pharmacy Aseptic Unito Pharmacy Dispensary (RSCH Pharmacy Limited)o Lead Electronic Prescribing Pharmacist (Chemotherapy)

Responsible for the development of SACT regimen-specific consent forms in collaboration with Consultant Oncologists/Haematologists.

Liaise with commissioners as required to ensure the Cancer Centre is operating within latest commissioning guidance e.g. NHS England / local Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Act as a resource in dealing with complex and contentious issues surrounding the use of high cost drugs, including the resolution of commissioner data challenges. Where required, ensure that commissioner approval at individual patient level is in place prior to treatment initiation.

Identify areas of potential cost-savings within the specialty and implement systems to realise savings and contain prescribing costs.

Work as a highly specialised practitioner, with tumour-site specific teams as required, to contribute to the delivery a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service to oncology, haemato-oncology and palliative care patients in accordance with objectives set by the Deputy Chief Pharmacist Cancer, Aseptic and Research Services.

Provide specialist clinical cancer pharmacist support to NHS England National Teams and the South East Regional Team with scope and responsibilities as defined in a separate Service Level Agreement (0.2WTE commitment).

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Master's degree in pharmacy or equivalent and 1 year pre-registration training
• Registered Pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (Great Britain)
• Post-graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• Qualified Independent Prescriber (IP) or willingness to undertake this training
• Postgraduate oncology/haemato-oncology qualification
• Member of British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA)
• Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)

Knowledge

• Professional knowledge acquired through vocational Master's degree in pharmacy or equivalent
• Advanced level core therapeutic knowledge and clinical skills as gained through postgraduate clinical pharmacy diploma (or equivalent)
• Demonstrates high level of clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgement; manages difficult and ambiguous problems
• Specialist oncology/haemato-oncology/palliative care clinical knowledge and skills as developed through postgraduate education, experience and CPD including conferences, courses etc.
• Demonstrable experience as a specialist oncology/haemato-oncology practitioner in hospital clinical pharmacy
• Experience of working in a supervisory role and as a line manager within a hospital pharmacy environment
• Evidence of working effectively within multidisciplinary groups
• Previous experience of delivering training and education at postgraduate level
• Evidence of practice research or audit
• Experience of formally interacting with senior clinicians and managers

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.

£64,337 to £74,415 a year(per annum) pro-rata -includes high cost area supplements (HCAS).