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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy Clinical - E00920
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
413-97243-CNS-SD
Employer
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Pharmacy Clinical - E00920
Town
Manchester
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
07/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pharmacist

Band 7

Job overview

The Trust has implemented electronic prescribing for systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT )across the Trust, and at our outreach clinics and peripheral sites. Many of our pharmacists are working as non-medical prescribers with clinical teams in outpatient clinics, and an objective this year is to further expand this pharmacist prescribing model. The Pharmacy Department is also supporting a number of collaborative projects alongside several research partners and has strong links with the University of Manchester.  

We currently have an opportunity for highly motivated enthusiastic clinical pharmacist band 7 to specialise in the Pharmacy Homecare service within the Trust and contribute and lead service developments both within designated disease groups and the Homecare service. You will be working alongside our Principal Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation and Homecare in shaping the future of healthcare for our patients by playing a pivotal role in helping to deliver on the NHS 10-year health plan of shifting health and care from hospital to community.

The post holder(s) will be required to have good prioritisation skills to manage both elements of the post efficiently and effectively. The postholder will initially contribute to Lung cancer service expansion and new initiatives in addition to contributing to the management and development of Homecare Services. The postholder will also be required to support the operational clinical pharmacy services.

Main duties of the job

To manage and develop homecare medicines optimisation services by providing a specialist pharmacist service to the homecare team which includes the Christie at Home team and Outsourced homecare

To manage services for the homecare specialist area through liaison with external homecare providers

To provide support to the dispensary, aseptic, satellite units and peripheral C@sites if required

To qualify as an independent prescriber (if qualification not already achieved) and work as an independent prescriber within a designated disease group working alongside the relevant consultant and MDT team.

To provide advice on medicine related issues and clinical trials to healthcare professionals

To participate in weekend and Bank Holiday rotas and additional out of hours and emergency duty commitment (EDC) duties as required

Although this post is based at The Christie Hospital main site, postholders may be required to work at any location across the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network. The Trust has a flexible working policy and, subject to service commitments, it may also be possible to support an element of working from home.

The role will be both challenging and rewarding and you will be joining a friendly and supportive team that is still growing as our portfolio continues to develop and expand. You will be self-confident with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills and contribute to service development through your initiative and enthusiasm.

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.

We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

This is a unique opportunity to work with us and contribute to the challenging and rewarding specialty of oncology pharmacy.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Homecare duties as follows:

  • Co-ordinates with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to implement new homecare services. Works with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to review existing and develop new homecare service specifications
  • Works with Clinical Pharmacy Team Leaders, Lead Pharmacists,
    Outpatient Dispensary Managers, and other Pharmacy staff to identify, plan, and develop new opportunities for homecare services
  • Co-ordinates the service review meetings for homecare medicines
    optimisation working closely with pharmaceutical companies,
    homecare companies, pharmacists, nurses, doctors, other healthcare
    staff, and patients
  • Produces quarterly reports on quality and financial indicators on all
    homecare medicine services
  • Ensures compliance with current homecare medicines optimisation
    guidance, and contributes nationally to the development of homecare medicines optimisation guidance and policy
  • Deputises for the Senior Homecare Pharmacist at the National
    Medicines Homecare Committee and Regional homecare procurement meetings as appropriate
  • Support the development and review of homecare scheme SLAs,
    protocols, treatment guidelines, service specifications, SOPs,
    prescription forms and patient information both within the clinical
    pharmacy service, Christie@Home team and other homecare external providers.
  • Identify areas for audit which contribute to improving patient care,
    safety and experience in relation to homecare medicines use and
    provision.
  • Maintain support for the Lead Procurement and Homecare Technician in relation to the homecare services
  • Manage all homecare related incidents in conjunction with the
    homecare companies and C@H team
  • To develop and implement procedures for clinical screening of
    homecare prescriptions
  • To provide training for specialist pharmacists in the clinical screening of prescriptions for medicines supplied via Homecare

2. Clinical duties as follows:

  • To qualify (or if already qualified, work as) as an Independent
    Prescriber and prescribe to appropriate patients in agreement with
    relevant consultants
  • To support prescribing at the individual patient level, contributing to the optimisation of patients’ drug therapy with due consideration to
    risk/benefit issues.
  • Supporting the provision of clinical pharmacy services within the
    dispensaries. Responsible for the clinical screening/review of
    prescriptions, both in-patients and outpatients, and to accurately check and supply medicines to patients, including clinical trials in accordance with all departmental, Trust and national standards, procedures, and policies.
  • Delivering a clinical pharmacy service to designated patient groups,
    promoting best practice for all areas of pharmaceutical care in
    accordance with all local, Trust and national guidelines. To use
    specialist knowledge to identify and resolve complex pharmaceutical
    issues, taking into consideration other co-morbidity factors associated with the patient and liaise with medical and nursing staff.
  • Developing specialist knowledge and skills relating to oncology practice including Good Clinical Practice in clinical trials and an understanding of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004
  • Safe and effective screening / review of prescriptions for chemotherapy regimens, clinical trials and treatment strategies in use at the Christie including full awareness of the intrathecal chemotherapy policy.
  • Following local, Trust and National guidelines for safe medicines
    practice.
  • To promote and maintain cost-effective prescribing through
    involvement in the development, implementation and review of
    evidence-based guidelines and protocols with fellow healthcare
    professionals, under the management of the Principal Pharmacist for Clinical Services, to establish best practice for the area of clinical
    responsibility

3. Service developments within other disease groups

  • To participate in service development and implementation with regards to other disease group initiatives.
  • To work in collaboration with and support disease group lead
    pharmacists with service evaluation, project management and
    implementation of new initiatives / scheme.
  • To contribute to projects to integrate GM cancers services across the Christie@sites.
  • To develop time management skills to ensure appropriate prioritisation of project implementation and workload in all areas of work.
  • Participate in clinical activities e.g. multidisciplinary ward rounds, outpatien clinics and deputise as needed e.g. clinical and committee
    meetings.

4. Medicines advice:

  • To provide evidence-based medicine advice where appropriate to
    ensure safe, effective, economical and timely use of medicines.
  • To provide advice on the storage, administration and therapeutic use of medicines to patients, medical and nursing staff and other healthcare colleagues.
  • Manages homecare medicines optimisation services for the homecare specialist area

5. Other duties:

  • To participate in Clinical Audit or practice research as required.
  • To maintain, lead (as appropriate) and contribute to the regular review and development of efficient pharmacy services, namely dispensary, satellite pharmacy within the Trust and at C@sites, clinical, aseptic & clinical trial services.
  • To monitor and evaluate medicine usage and to encourage adherence to the hospital formulary. The post holder will be required to participate in formulary management, the financial monitoring of drug budgets to designated patient groups, and protocol and guideline review.
  • To report on new initiatives and/or developments within designated
    patient groups to the Director of Pharmacy and the Principal
    Pharmacist for Clinical Services and where necessary discuss the
    impact on pharmacy services and the action to be taken.

6. Governance/risk:

  • To demonstrate awareness and commitment to the Trust’s Clinical &
    Research Governance agenda and to implement agreed clinical &
    research governance initiatives.
  • To participate in departmental, Trust and National risk management
    schemes such as error reporting systems and intervention monitoring.
  • To identify and manage risks in relation to medicine use according to
    local policy and protocols.
  • To demonstrate that the Trust is compliant with Hackett and RPS
    recommendations in relation to homecare.

7. General:

  • To attend departmental pharmacy meetings and any other meetings
    relevant to their role.
  • To provide the clinical pharmacy service to additional wards in the
    absence of colleagues.
  • To provide pharmacist cover at Christie @ sites as required
  • To provide clinical and professional supervision of junior pharmacists, foundation year trainee pharmacists, technicians and students within the pharmacy department and in clinical areas of the Trust. To participate in the training of other healthcare professionals including nursing and medical staff.
  • Ensure all activities comply with departmental and trust health and
    safety, fire, security policies and COSHH regulations. To report any
    issues at the workplace which may put health and safety at risk.
  • To participate in Continuing Professional Development ensuring
    relevant knowledge and skills are up to date, meeting the professional requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council. To participate in mandatory training in line with the trust and departmental requirements.
  • To participate in all department rotas, Saturday service and Bank
    Holiday working and on-call rotas as requested
  • To behave in a manner at all times that is in accordance with the
    professional standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
  • Undertake all other related duties which may be required in accordance with the changing needs and practices of the department and organisation.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy
  • Pre-registration training and successful completion of relevant exam
  • Membership of General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
  • Diploma in clinical pharmacy or relevant post graduate qualification
  • Independent prescribing qualification
  • BOPA SACT Verification Passport
  • Royal Pharmaceutical Credentialing

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Providing medicines information and advice
  • Experience of multidisciplinary working
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working within a hospital environment including ward pharmacy and clinical services.
  • Experience within the oncology setting
  • Experience in supervision of other staff
  • Experience of working within a project team

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
  • Self motivating
  • Good organisation and time management skills
  • Ability to work under pressure, highly organised, work to deadlines
  • Ability to manage and implement change
  • Ability to influence and negotiate with medical, nursing and pharmacy staff
  • IT literate
  • Ability to recognise own limitations
Desirable criteria
  • Training healthcare professionals

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • NICE
  • Excellent knowledge of clinical use of medicines
  • Cost effective use of medicines and medicines optimisation
  • Hackett compliance
  • RPS standards for homecare
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of drug use in oncology setting
  • Financial awareness in the management of drug budgets

VALUES

Essential criteria
  • Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

OTHER

Essential criteria
  • Commitment to improving services for staff and patients
  • Able to research, interpret and present complex information in a clear and logical manner
  • On call duties
  • Bank holiday working
  • Flexible working hours as required
Desirable criteria
  • Driver’s license

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carolanne O’Sullivan
Job title
Principal Pharmacist - Medicines Optimisation
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Lauren Bayles, Clinical Service Deputy pharmacist. Email: lauren.bayles@nhs.net

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