Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed Term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Generally Monday - Friday 08:30-17:00, but will include late and weekend shifts on a rostered basis with on-call commitments)
- Job ref
- 179-7732528-C
- Employer
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Bury St Edmunds
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 Per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Clinical Pharmacist - Cancer Services
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious pharmacist to join our Cancer Services Team at West Suffolk Hospital. If you would enjoy working within a rewarding clinical area which is constantly evolving then this could be the perfect role for you.
This role is for a 12 month Fixed Term/Secondment, ideal for pharmacists that already have experience working within cancer services or are experienced in a range of clinical specialties and are ready to progress in to a more senior, clinical role.
Comprehensive training will be provided in all aspects of the role to ensure that you are equipped with all of the skills and knowledge required to excel in this role.
Main duties of the job
You will work in a direct, patient-facing role ensuring the safe and appropriate use of medicines within cancer services and across the Trust.
You will follow a comprehensive, structured training plan that will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to fulfil the requirements of this role. This will include:
- The clinical validation of prescriptions for systemic anticancer therapy (SACT).
- The safe release of SACT prepared within our aseptic unit
- Screening, ordering and supply of parenteral nutrition
You will have opportunity to work closely alongside other members of the cancer services multidisciplinary team (MDT), attending outpatient clinics and MDT meetings.
Working for our organisation
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. The post-holder will deputise for the Lead Pharmacist for Haematology, Oncology & Cancer Services, in their absence.
2. The post-holder will support the Lead Pharmacist for Haematology, Oncology & Cancer Services in developing and delivering the specialist clinical pharmacy service to Ward-Based Areas and the Macmillan Day Unit, in line with local and national standards and policies, ensuring the safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines and staff resources.
3. When required, the post-holder will fulfil the role of authorised pharmacist for the production unit ensuring the release of parenteral anticancer therapy in-line with current MHRA requirements.
4. The post-holder will provide a specialised level of pharmaceutical care to patients and will support other healthcare staff in the safe and appropriate use of medicines.
5. The post-holder will be a source of specialised advice within their area of clinical specialism to other pharmacists and healthcare professionals, including participation in multidisciplinary and governance meetings.
6. The post-holder will support the Lead Pharmacist for Education & Training in delivering training to pharmacists and foundation pharmacist trainees within their area of clinical specialism and must undertake clinical supervision, mentoring and ward-based assessments of junior pharmacists, medicines management technicians and foundation pharmacist trainees.
7. The post-holder will undertake clinical pharmacy audit and practice research under the guidance of the Lead Pharmacist for Haematology, Oncology & Cancer Services.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Registered as a pharmacist with The General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable criteria
- Independent prescribing qualification
- Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical or Technical Pharmacy or nearing completion, or equivalent demonstrable experience
Experience and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Post-registration experience with substantial hospital experience
- Experience of delivering a high-quality clinical pharmacy service to a range of clinical specialities
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working
- Experience in providing pharmacy education & training, including mentorship
- Experience of medicines management services to individual patients at the bedside
- Evidence of on-going revalidation with the GPhC
- Specialised knowledge of the treatment of patients in a range of specialities
- Knowledge of how the delivery of the clinical pharmacy service must meet the needs of local and national priorities
- Knowledge to teach higher-level clinical pharmacy practice
- Knowledge of pharmacy-based computer systems
Desirable criteria
- Experience in the provision of pharmacy expertise to the clinical governance agenda
- Experience of managing or supervising other staff
- Experience of implementing and/or reviewing policies, guidelines, PGDs or equivalent
- Experience of objective setting for other members of staff
- Experience of change management
- Experience in providing a pharmacy clinical service to patients in haematology, oncology and sub-specialities
- Experience of fulfilling the role of an authorised pharmacist to release parenteral anticancer therapy
Skills and abilities
Essential criteria
- Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of healthcare professionals and patients
- Able to provide specialised advice on the use of medicines to treat patients within a specialist area
- Able to manage time effectively and meet tight deadlines
- Able to prioritise and manage workload
- Able to demonstrate a specialised level of reasoning and judgment
- Able to undertake prescription review of complex medication regimes
- Able to apply evidence-based medicine to prescribed regimes and to balance the risks and benefits of prescribed treatments for the individual patient
- Attention to detail and good problem-solving skills
- Proficient computer skills
Desirable criteria
- Able to manage difficult or ambiguous situations
- Able to train and supervise staff
- Able to undertake analysis of incidents/complaints
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
- Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes positive team working ethic
- Shares information and good practice appropriately
- Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
- Maintains high levels of concentration for prolonged periods of time
- Excellent verbal and written skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Terence Arnott
- Job title
- Principal Pharmacist – Cancer Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01284 713788
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