Senior Pharmacist – Cancer Services STEP 7-8a CONSIDERED

Job overview

An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen for an exceptional clinical pharmacist to join our large and friendly pharmacy team at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. The successful pharmacist will be part of our highly valued and skilled Oncology/ Haematology and Palliative Care team and play a vital role in providing a specialised clinical service to patients with cancer indications.

You will already have experience or a keen interest in the pharmaceutical care of oncology and haematology patients along with a desire to develop your career in Cancer Services. You will preferably have first-hand experience of a chemotherapy electronic prescribing system. You will spend time providing a patient-focused clinical service to our wards and be trained to support specialist clinics, clinical trials, clinical verification of chemotherapy, aseptic services and our chemotherapy electronic prescribing system.

The ideal candidate will be ambitious, self-motivated and organised with excellent communication, time management and interpersonal skills. You will be able to work effectively alone and as part of a team and will contribute to the process of service development and innovation by your own initiative and enthusiasm.

The successful candidate will join a supportive structure with lead pharmacists who will support you to achieve the objectives within the Job Description.

Please be advised there is a provisional interview date of 11th March 2025.

Main duties of the job

• You will be responsible for providing a highly specialist pharmacy service to an allocated clinical or technical area to include the aseptic unit, adult oncology, adult haematology and paediatric cancer services and act as an advanced practitioner in this area.

• You will undertake pharmacy core duties including clinical verification of chemotherapy at advanced level and support the provision of pharmacy aseptic services as an Authorised Pharmacist.

• You will work with the Lead Pharmacist Technical Services and the Pharmacy Aseptic/ Quality Assurance team to provide a safe, effective and high-quality service.

• You will assist and support all aspects of the cancer drug commissioning arrangements locally including all drugs funded by the CDF, NHSE and NICE.

• You will support the development of and assist in the governance arrangements for chemotherapy protocols on the oncology/ haematology electronic prescribing system including MOSAI

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We are a large Acute Teaching Hospital of approximately 1300 beds. Our pharmacy department has an innovative approach to pharmaceutical care with a ward-based technician service and pharmacist led clinics.  We have strong links with the Medical School at Warwick University and the department of Medicines Management at Keele University.

You will be based at University Hospital Coventry, a PFI hospital opened in 2006 which is situated just off the junction of the M6 and M69.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To practice as an expert practitioner, providing advice and consultancy to patients, healthcare professionals and other agencies relating to pharmaceutical aspects of your clinical speciality within the department and on the wards/clinical areas
• To participate in outpatient clinics as a non-medical prescriber (as required and funding permitting). Provide oral chemotherapy pre-treatment consultations (as required and funding permitting)
• To provide a highly specialist clinical pharmacy service within an allocated clinical area which may include adult oncology, adult haematology and paediatric cancer services.
• To operate as an authorised pharmacist within the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit and deputise for the Accountable Pharmacist, if required. To handle and final check chemotherapy and other aseptically dispensed/ manufactured medicines
• To work with the Quality Assurance team to support the maintenance of the PQS (Pharmaceutical Quality System) for the aseptic service
• To support monitoring of the aseptic environment and working practices to assure the quality of products and safety of staff. To assess risks against clinical need and make judgements when problems arise with the air handling unit, environment, facility issues or staffing
• To participate in chemotherapy screening (clinical verification) of prescriptions as per department rota
• To support all aspects of the cancer drug commissioning arrangements locally. This will include funded drugs and those available via a compassionate use or similar scheme
• To participate in, and if needed, lead on the training of Pharmacy staff within the department relating to cancer services
• To participate in the generation and checking of MOSAIQ prescription templates as needed
• To participate in and support the wider team with training and usage of the electronic systems in place for prescribing within cancer services
• To participate in, and if needed, lead on commitments relating to intrathecal therapy
• To support the palliative care clinical service provided to the Hospices at Warwick and Coventry (as required).

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