Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Cancer Services

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

Job summary

A large healthcare provider is seeking a motivated Lead Clinical Pharmacist for Cancer Services in North Shields. This role involves managing clinical pharmacy services across oncology and haematology, leading a team, and ensuring high standards in patient care. The ideal candidate holds a master's degree in pharmacy, relevant clinical qualifications, and has exemplary leadership skills. Offering £64,455 to £74,896 annually (pro rata), this position promises to be rewarding for a driven professional seeking to make a difference in cancer care.

Qualifications

• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• IT skills to at least ECDL standard.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of clinical pharmacy services.
• Ensure objectives of chemotherapy service provision are met.
• Manage, mentor, and support pharmacy staff.

Skills

Leadership

Chemotherapy management

Clinical governance

Medicines management

Communication

Education

Vocational masters degree in pharmacy

Postgraduate clinical qualification

Independent Prescribing Qualification

Tools

ePMA system

Job description

Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Cancer Services

The closing date is 28 December 2025

We have a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and experienced pharmacist to join our senior team as the Lead Clinical Pharmacist for cancer services at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

You will be an exceptional leader who will further develop and shape the provision of clinical pharmacy services across Oncology & Haematology at Northumbria. There will be an expectation that you will work across the 4 pillars of practice (clinical, leadership, research and education).

Developing and promoting effective relationships, both internal and external to the pharmacy department, will be key to the delivery of this role.

You may already be a lead clinical pharmacist, be awaiting a new challenge, or an experienced pharmacist ready to take the next step in your career.

Candidates considering part time hours ( minimum of 30 hpw) are eligible to apply.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

Northumbria has a large cancer service covering haematology and solid cancers across four main hospitals (North Tyneside, Cramlington, Wansbeck & Hexham) and two rural units (Berwick & Alnwick). As Lead Clinical Pharmacist you will be responsible for the provision, development and leadership of the clinical pharmacy service for cancer services trustwide and will support excellence in patient care.

You will work closely with medical and nursing staff, managers and other colleagues, building key relationships both in and outside the trust. You will provide clinical cover to the Oncology Day Units managing chemotherapy patients, with opportunities to work in clinics alongside oncologists/haematologists.

You will be the Trust Lead for Chemotherapy, ensuring all objectives of chemotherapy service provision are met.

You will lead on matters around medicines management (risk, clinical governance, R&D, formulary, expenditure) and develop/audit relevant protocols and guidelines.

You will undertake a significant leadership and oversight role in the management of the Trust's chemotherapy ePMA system.

You will manage, mentor and support the further development of staff delivering clinical pharmacy cancer services across the trust, including pharmacist prescribers, Chemotherapy Pharmacy technicians and Chemotherapy Medicines Assistants working in the service.

About us

The trust manages three major hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals in addition to our state‑of‑the‑art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience.

We are delivering new ways of providing direct patient care in acute and community settings, including providing care to our frail/high risk patients living in their own homes or care homes. We are also increasing our service within primary medical care practices, enabling delivery of care to patients with long‑term conditions as part of a multidisciplinary approach.

Our team is welcoming to new members and forward thinking in its development of our staff. We continue to be a leading light in the country for the number of pharmacist prescribers, for the development of innovative roles, including ward medicines assistants and for the integrated approach to workforce that delivers services across our system.

The pharmacy department is committed to staff development to ensure team members fulfil their potential.

Job responsibilities

As Lead Clinical Pharmacist for Cancer Services, you will be responsible for the provision, development, management and leadership of the clinical pharmacy service for Cancer services trust wide to support excellence in patient care. You will be the Northumbria Trust Lead for Chemotherapy, ensuring that all objectives of chemotherapy service provision are met. You will lead on matters pertaining to medicines management, advise on medicines use (risk, clinical governance, research and development, formulary, expenditure) and develop/audit relevant protocols and guidelines. To undertake a significant leadership and oversight role in the management of the trust's electronic prescribing and medicines administration chemotherapy system. Manage, support and teach when appropriate, less experienced staff e.g. junior pharmacists, pharmacy students, chemotherapy technicians and ward medicines assistants, and other members of the healthcare team (e.g. nursing and medical staff). Support the pharmacy team in participation at medical and other ward rounds as well as multi‑disciplinary team meetings as appropriate. Contribute to the running of pharmacy by taking responsibility / leading team within functional area(s), out of hours service, roster management, medicines information, collation/reporting against clinical key performance indicators.

Support the acute pharmacy service through weekend working and on‑call provision across our acute sites. Be a role model for compassionate and inclusive leadership in order to shape the creation of a collective leadership culture within the trust. This means demonstrating a consistent leadership style which (a) engages, enables and empowers others (b) uses coaching to promote ownership of learning and quality improvement and (c) facilitates team working and collaboration within teams / departments and across organisational boundaries. You will be a good communicator and able to demonstrate commitment and excellence through your own clinical practice, incorporating independent prescribing. You will work with and build relationships with key partners and stakeholders across the organisation to deliver the very best care to our patients. As a senior pharmacist within the team you will provide effective leadership to support our team in delivering excellent care to patients across the trust, in particular within Cancer services (haematology and oncology). You will be adaptive and flexible, supporting national and local strategy around patient care and medicines optimisation targets.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Professional Registration

• 1st degree - Vocational masters degree in pharmacy (4 years
• Pre‑registration training
• Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Postgraduate clinical qualification (over and above that of the 1st degree, preferably at Masters level) and/or significant relevant clinical experience to demonstrate an advanced level of theoretical and applied knowledge.
• Independent Prescribing Qualification (if candidates do not currently hold a prescribing qualification, they must complete within 12 months from their start date)
• Evidence of continuing professional development to at least meet the mandatory requirements of the GPhC
• IT skills to at least ECDL standard or equivalent experience
• Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society and/or other professional groups to facilitate continuing professional development

Other

• It is an essential requirement of the role that the post holder has a valid driving licence and is either a car owner and able to use the car for work purposes, or has a Trust personal lease vehicle which may be used for the role. However, the Trust would consider making reasonable adjustments to the role, if necessary, to enable a disabled person to undertake the role.

Experience and Knowledge

• Significant and relevant post‑registration experience
• Experience of supervising staff

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.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

£64,455 to £74,896 a yearpro rata per annum