About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Bank Clinical Pharmacist to join our team, with a primary focus on supporting Pharmacy Cancer and Aseptic Services. This role is particularly suited to hospital pharmacists looking to develop their career within oncology and aseptic services, as well as experienced cancer and aseptic pharmacists. We are seeking candidates who are able to provide consistent and reliable support to the service.
This post will play a key role in supporting the safe and effective delivery of cancer services, with a primary focus on the release of chemotherapy, alongside contributing to the ongoing development of aseptic services within the Trust. There will also be opportunity, depending on experience, to develop skills in chemotherapy screening, supported through structured training and competency-based progression where appropriate.
This role is ideally suited to hospital pharmacists with a strong clinical foundation who are looking to specialise in cancer and aseptic services, as well as existing oncology/aseptic pharmacists seeking to further develop their expertise within a supportive and progressive environment.
AS THIS IS A BANK ROLE, SPONSORSHIP CANNOT BE PROVIDED.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS VACANCY MAY CLOSE EARLY SHOULD A LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICATION BE RECEIVED.
Main duties of the job
Participate in the provision of a comprehensive specialist pharmacy service supporting Cancer and Aseptic Services within Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, and to those organisations with which the Trust has a contract for the supply of pharmaceutical services.
Undertake specialist clinical pharmacy duties within oncology, with a primary focus on the safe release of chemotherapy, ensuring all treatments are verified in accordance with local protocols, national guidance, and best practice standards. Support chemotherapy screening where appropriate, depending on competence, experience, and service need.
Provide expert advice to medical staff, nursing staff, and other members of the multidisciplinary team on the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of medicines in oncology, including complex chemotherapy regimens and supportive treatments.
Contribute to the safe and effective operation and development of aseptic services, ensuring compliance with relevant standards, SOPs, and governance requirements.
About us
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is a provider of local general hospital and community services to Walsall and its surrounding areas serving a population of 260,000 residents, formed on 1st April 2011, following the integration of Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS Walsall Community Health. The pharmacy department has benefited with extensive refurbishment with a new robot dispenser in place to improve our ability to provide a patient-facing service and has recently had approval for a new Outpatient Satellite Pharmacy. We are one of only a handful of hospitals regionally to provide specialist care in bariatric surgery. A new integrated critical care unit and extended Neonatal Unit was completed in 2018, and will be opening a brand new, state of the art Emergency Department in Autumn 2022.
The pharmacy department has a very friendly, enthusiastic and energetic team and established a good working relationship with our primary care commissioners. We have strong ties with a number of higher education institutes including University of Wolverhampton. Colleagues from our department won an 'Excellence in Hospital Pharmacy Practice' award at the 2018 Clinical Pharmacy Congress. We have recently developed exciting new posts in Community Services such as Rapid Response and AKI post-discharge review.Finally, we have been recommended by colleagues as a great place to work which is supported by the Trusts values to work as part of a team, being respectful, compassionate and professional.
Job description Job responsibilities
Support and maintain key prescribing systems, including Chemocare, ensuring protocols are accurate, up to date, and aligned with current clinical guidance to support safe prescribing and administration of chemotherapy.
Undertake risk assessments within cancer services and implement risk-reducing measures. Contribute to the regular review and update of policies, procedures, and safe systems of work to maintain high standards of patient safety.
Provide training and support to junior pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other healthcare professionals in relation to oncology pharmacy and aseptic services, where appropriate.
Professionally check prescriptions, including cytotoxic and high-risk medicines, ensuring accuracy, clinical appropriateness, and compliance with legal and governance standards.
Ensure compliance with Clinical Pharmacy Service guidelines, SOPs, and cancer-specific protocols. Escalate any concerns that may impact on safe clinical practice and actively contribute to a culture of safety by reporting incidents and adverse drug reactions in line with Trust policy.
Promote and support adherence to Trust Medicines Management policies, formulary decisions, and national cancer guidance, assisting prescribers in optimising treatment in line with evidence-based practice.
Maintain accurate records of clinical activity, interventions, and workload using pharmacy electronic systems, and contribute to audits, service evaluations, and productivity measures as required.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS Essential
MPharm or equivalent academic qualification. Completed Pre-Registration year leading to Membership of the General Pharmaceutical Council Current membership of the General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable
BOPA SACT passport/Working towards
EXPERIENCE Essential
Previously worked within Hospital Pharmacy Broad range of experience of working as a clinical pharmacist, including provision of 'Out of hours' Pharmaceutical Services, medicines information and drug utilisation review. Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
Relevant clinical pharmacy or hospital pharmacy experience, including work in aseptic units, performing final checks, and releasing aseptically prepared products Experience of successfully supervising and contributing to the training of pharmacists and pharmacy technical staff. Experience of using Chemocare Experience in carrying out quality/service improvement projects Experience in clinically screening and releasing SACT prescriptions
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE Essential
Skilled at assessing and interpreting prescriptions to identify and manage risk associated with the use of medicines. Able to follow national guidelines and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines. Written and communication skills appropriate to the level required for this role. Maintain effective working relationships Able to set priorities, meet deadlines and manage time effectively. Skills for problem identification and solving Able to demonstrate self-motivation and ability to cope with responsibility. Competent to clinical check prescriptions. Competent to check medicines dispensed by others and to detect any errors that have been made.
Desirable
People management, team work and interpersonal skills appropriate to this role. Skills for using Microsoft Office to produce word-processed documents e.g. SOPs for specialist areas, patient care plans (MS Word), record research and audit data (MS Excel) and prepare and deliver training (MS Powerpoint). Standard key-board skills for using the Pharmacy Computer System, and other software, to prepare reports, analyses, label medicines etc. Understanding of the current and longer term issues facing pharmacy services within the NHS. Basic understanding of medicines management in clinical pharmacy services.
Right to work Essential
Please only apply for this role if you have current right to work in the UK
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Address Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Walsall
WS2 9PS
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)