Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 252-8320608
- Employer
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Darent Valley Hospital
- Town
- Dartford
- Salary
- £59,798 - £67,020 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/10/2026 12:00
Employer heading
Band 8a, Principal Cancer Pharmacist
8a
Job overview
Please Note:
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK independently, with a visa or immigration status that allows them to fulfil the full duration and type of contract offered. The Trust is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Principal Pharmacist to join our Cancer team at Darent Valley Hospital. This role, positioned at Band 8a, involves the leadership and development of clinical pharmacy services for the Cancer services in the Trust including both inpatient and outpatient areas.
The successful candidate will play a crucial role in medicines management, supporting funding requests, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care within the service.
Main duties of the job
As the Principal Pharmacist for Cancer, you will be responsible for coordinating and managing pharmacy services within the department and allocated ward, working closely with the multidisciplinary team to deliver exceptional patient care and support junior staff on the inpatient heamatology/oncology ward.
Your duties will include monitoring prescriptions, providing pharmaceutical care plans and supporting the development of cost-effective prescribing practices.
You will clinically verify chemotherapy prescriptions for the Outpatient, Inpatient and Outreach SACT pathway.
Working for our organisation
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you’ll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we’ve achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities.
If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all of our staff are double vaccinated against COVID-19, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and our patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In this role, you will oversee pharmaceutical services to the Cancer service, including inpatient wards. You will act as a leader within the senior established team and collaborate with colleagues to ensure the safe and effective use of medications and delivery of services. As a senior member of the team, you will contribute to cost-saving initiatives, manage staff and support training and education efforts within the department. Additionally, you will work to enhance medication safety, contribute to clinical audits, and take an active role in the department’s continuous improvement efforts. You will represent pharmacy at cancer government meetings, MDTs and operational meetings
If you are a proactive, organised, and motivated pharmacist looking for a leadership opportunity, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding role within our forward-thinking organisation.
Person specification
Education and Training
Essential criteria
- GPhC registration as a pharmacist
- Post graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
- Completed SACT passport
- Independent prescriber (or working towards)
- Good clinical practice (GCP)
Desirable criteria
- Member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Management and leadership qualification
- MSc or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Clinical Pharmacy or other appropriate discipline
- Practice Supervisor Accreditation or equivalent teaching accreditation
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience working as a band 7 or 8a Pharmacist
- Experience of writing protocols and standards
- Cancer and clinical trials experience
- Previous teaching/tutoring experience
- Hospital Pharmacy Experience
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary clinical pharmacy setting
Desirable criteria
- Clinical Pharmacy teaching skills
- Demonstrable use of audit/research to improve practice
- Leadership and management experience
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Broad pharmaceutical knowledge relating to general medicine and core medical specialities
- Knowledge of national and local guidelines relating to specialism that need to be adhered to
- Advanced computer literacy including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Budgetary control skills
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Awareness of current practice and policy affecting pharmacy practice in the NHS and understanding the NHS structure
Desirable criteria
- JAC computer skills
- Incident investigation/ root cause analysis
- Risk management
- Experience and knowledge of cancer electronic prescribing system
- Ability to cope with the pressures of a busy hospital pharmacy service.
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Karen Slevin
- Job title
- Deputy Chief Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01322428523
List jobs with Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors




