Specialist Clinical Pharmacist, High Cost Drugs (Step)

NHS; Coventry; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist for High Cost Drugs. The role involves project management and the delivery of specialized drug services, ensuring cost-effectiveness and proper use of high cost drugs within the community. Candidates will work closely with clinical teams to improve patient care through innovative models. This position offers a salary between £47,810 and £62,682, pro rata per annum with opportunities for professional development.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for project management and delivery of High Cost Drugs and Homecare services.
• Support implementation of cost-effective schemes for high cost drug usage.
• Ensure rational prescribing protocols for high cost drugs.
• Monitor high cost drugs spending against set budgets.

Job description

Specialist Clinical Pharmacist, High Cost Drugs (Step)

The closing date is 28 November 2025.

As a Specialist Clinical Pharmacist for High Cost Drugs, you will have the privilege of managing various novel delivery models of care, in particular homecare service provision – achieving better care closer to home for our patients. You will have the opportunity to work with a member of the National Homecare Medicines Committee as part of the highly skilled UHCW Pharmacy High Cost Drugs and Homecare team. You will have key links to the commissioners and hospital clinical teams across a range of clinical specialties for example rheumatology, gastroenterology and dermatology. Primary responsibilities include clinical, operational and financial aspects of High Cost Drug usage.

If a candidate meets a suitable level of relevant experience they will be considered for direct recruitment to an 8a level. If candidate commences the role at a Band 7 level, it is anticipated that the step up programme will take approximately 12-24 months to complete including regular assessment reviews.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• Responsible for project management and delivery of High Cost Drugs and Homecare services.
• To support implementation of any CIP/waste reduction and other cost effective schemes relating to high cost drug usage at UHCW and sharing any schemes with other local providers to ensure consistency across the healthcare economy and Integrated Care System (ICS)
• To ensure there are rational prescribing protocols and treatment pathways in place that facilitate all high cost drugs being started, reviewed, continued and discontinued against set criteria
• To monitor the high cost drugs spend against set budgets and ensure that drug costs are recorded accurately and the correct commissioners/funding source identified.

About us

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation – you can find further details about this prestigious award here: Pathway To Excellence – University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk).

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

• Engaging with clinical teams to ensure appropriate use of PbR-excluded drugs ensuring that they are used in line with commissioning policies, monitoring and data collection requirements
• Identify investment/disinvestment opportunities and optimise the use of high cost drugs for example via cost effective procurement, review of FP10 prescriptions, support for biosimilar switches, dispensing routes, correct stock storage, rotation and return of unused drugs from clinical areas
• Developing cost saving proposals in conjunction with the clinical teams and UHCW Pharmacist High Cost Drugs Team
• Ensure PbR-excluded drugs are used cost effectively in line with agreed criteria, such as ADSL and NHSEI commissioning, and support with NICE TA implementation.
• Undertaking regular audit of high cost drug prescribing and monitoringOverseeing the use of relevant databases such as Blueteq, IVIG database and other prior approval systems as required within the Trust
• Support the UHCW Pharmacist High Cost Drugs team to ensure robust monitoring and regular reporting of savings achieved
• Engaging with colleagues across local provider organisations to facilitate development of consistent policies for use of high cost drug

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

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Experience

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Knowledge

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skills

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Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

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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 Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

£47,810 to £62,682 a year pro rata per annum