Principal Pharmacist, Oncology & Haematology

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital; Norwich; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A major NHS trust is seeking a full-time Band 8b Oncology and Haematology Pharmacist to lead their dedicated team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments (SACT) and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe and efficient delivery of services. Excellent qualifications and extensive experience in clinical pharmacy required. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service

Discounted gym memberships

Excellent pension scheme

Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn

Free Park & Ride service

Free 24-hours confidential counselling support

On-site Nursery

Flexible staff bank

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a UK clinical pharmacist within acute hospitals.
• Highly Specialist knowledge and experience around use of medicines in oncology and haematology.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop team of Specialist Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officers.
• Ensure that all SACT treatment prescribed and dispensed is accurate and funded.
• Co-ordinate and input into the organisation for timely provision of chemotherapy.

Skills

Organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Ability to work under pressure

Innovative approach

Understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Education

Qualified pharmacist registered with UK General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Independent prescriber

Job description

The Pharmacy Department provides a comprehensive pharmacy service across the Trust and to several external community units. It is a large, very busy department with over 180 members of staff including Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Assistants, Science Manufacturing Technicians and Admin staff. There are many varied roles and we all work as a team to provide the different functions and services whilst maintaining a high level of patient care. We have strong links with both the School of Pharmacy, with onsite teacher practitioner posts, and the Medical School at the nearby University of East Anglia.

Electronic prescribing and medicines administration has been implemented across all inpatient wards, the Emergency Department and Outpatients.

Functions of the Pharmacy Department include the ordering, receipt, and supply of medicines to wards and departments throughout the Trust/external units. This includes dispensing for inpatients, outpatients, community units and supplying ward stocks averaging around 2,500 items a day. Wards and external units are provided with a clinical service with Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. The Pharmacy provides Aseptic Services such as the preparation and supply of chemotherapy and other sterile products. We have a Quality Assurance team that works to ensure that our products are prepared and supplied to the highest quality standards.

Main duties of the job

A unique opportunity has arisen for a full-time Band 8b Oncology and Haematology Pharmacist to lead our Oncology and Haematology Pharmacy team and the rapidly growing and developing service they provide to all areas in the Trust who utilise Systemic Anticancer Therapy (SACT).

The Oncology and Haematology Pharmacy Team are dedicated, hard-working and friendly, comprising pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and Pharmacy assistants who work together to ensure all SACT is provided safely and efficiently. Oral and subcutaneous SACT is verified and dispensed directly by the team and intravenous SACT through close collaboration with our Pharmacy Aseptic Unit.

Key roles within the team focus on chemotherapy verification, co-ordination and advice on all aspects of the chemotherapy service as part of a multidisciplinary team and a clinical ward pharmacy service. Operation and updating of the current e-prescribing system for chemotherapy, management of the cancer drugs fund and NHS England commissioned SACT plus close collaboration with aseptic services, dispensary, procurement and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure the timely and safe provision of these therapies are also significant roles.

To support 7 day working all staff are required to work 1 in 10 weekends with corresponding time off given during the week. All staff are required to undertake at least one bank holiday duty per year. All rotas are subject to review at any time.

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
• Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
• On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
• On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Job responsibilities

• To lead and develop team of Specialist Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officers to validate, dispense, check and distribute oral and subcutaneous Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments (SACT) within Oncology and Haematology
• To be responsible for assuring that all SACT treatment prescribed and dispensed is done so accurately, safely and appropriately and is funded according to National, Regional and Local requirements.
• To ensure where a Prior Approval Funding Agreement (Blueteq Form) is required that this is done accurately and according to proscribed timelines. Additionally to facilitate the answering of monthly funding queries relating to Cancer drugs Fund and NHS England commissioned SACT.
• To oversee the introduction of new SACT agents and treatment regimens
• To be responsible for input, maintenance and development of chemotherapy regimens in the current system for electronic SACT prescribing.
• To provide and lead on the provision of expert advice on SACT and other pharmaceuticals to the Multidisciplinary team in Oncology and Haematology and the wider pharmacy team
• To lead and develop the viability and utilisation of cost efficient homecare services of oral and subcutaneous treatments
• To facilitate where appropriate and in liaison with DTMM the approval and sourcing of SACT through compassionate use schemes and co-payments.
• In liaison with the Weybourne Day Unit Sisters and Pharmacy PreparativeServices Unit, to co-ordinate and input into the organisation and planning for the timely provision of chemotherapy to all patients requiring cytotoxic drugs.
• To have overall responsibilities for oncology pharmacy services and cytotoxicchemotherapy provided to Mulbarton Ward, the Colney Centre, the North Norfolk Macmillan Centre (NNMC) and the Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU).

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified pharmacist registered with UK General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
• Independent prescriber

Experience

• Extensive experience as a UK clinical pharmacist within acute hospitals - maintains broad knowledge of clinical and pharmacy practice
• Highly Specialist knowledge and experience around use of medicines in oncology and haematology

Skills

• Organisational skills to manage daily workload, record keeping and drug availability
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills, able to relate well with all levels of the organisation
• Able to work under pressure and take steps to manage personal resilience
• Adaptable and innovative in approach to work and projects
• Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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.

£64,455 to £74,896 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Flexible working,Compressed hours