About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a highly skilled and supportive Pharmacy Cancer Services and Clinical Trials team at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust is designated as a Level A Enhanced Paediatric Shared Care Unit (POSCU) and operates within the North Thames Operational Delivery Network (ODN), with Great Ormond Street Hospital as the Principal Treatment Centre.
This post will play a key role in the ongoing development of pharmacy services supporting the delivery of Enhanced Level A POSCU. The postholder will deliver high-quality pharmaceutical care to paediatric oncology patients, working within the POSCU team to ensure safe, effective, and high-quality cancer care.
We are seeking an individual with strong reasoning and judgement skills, excellent interpersonal abilities, and a clear commitment to medication safety and service improvement.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the role include:
Lead, develop and be responsible for the provision of paediatric pharmacy oncology services for a Level A Enhanced POSCU service at the Trust, which is consistent with the priorities and needs of the service, in line with local, regional and national policies and best practice including compliance with Medicines legislation. This will ensure the safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines and staff resources. Lead on and be responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects relating to paediatric SACT and supportive medicines management within the Dispensary/ Day units/ Wards as required, to ensure that the supply is undertaken in accordance with current legislation and locally agreed standards and guidelines. Liaise with tertiary centres and other local POSCU centres to ensure compliance with treatment protocols, share best practice and promote seamless care for POSCU patients. Provide highly specialised pharmaceutical and clinical advice for all paediatric SACT and supportive medicines to clinical and research staff. Be responsible for delivering the defined service Key Performance Indicators and include close working with other Lead or Specialist Pharmacists. Lead on pharmacy aspects relating to maintenance, clinical use and development of paediatric SACT protocols on the designated e-chemotherapy prescribing system, Chemocare. Be the named responsible pharmacist for paediatric oncology services at the Trust
About us
Benefits of working with us:
27 days paid annual leave pro rata (plus bank holidays) if you are new to the NHS, progressing to 33 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata) On-site nursery, welcoming all children aged between six weeks to five years, including those with special needs. Opening times 7.00am to 6.00pm. Staff discounted rates are offered on fees. Access to trust health and wellbeing initiatives - financial wellbeing, trust Wellbeing Hub and Employee Assistance Programme, trained Mental Health First Aiders available on-site. Access to exclusive benefits for you and your family including NHS discounts at various retailers, restaurants and leisure facilities. Occupational Health Department which promotes and protects the physical and psychological wellbeing of all employees at the trust. A variety of staff networks - LGBTQ+ Network, Multicultural network, Disability and Wellbeing Network (DAWN), Nepalese Network, Women's Empowerment Network, Menopause support group. NHS Pension Scheme - providing a range of benefits including life assurance.
Job description Job responsibilities
1. Key areas of responsibility
1.1 To lead and facilitate the safe introduction of SACT infusions as required for a level A enhanced POSCU at the Trust in accordance with the enhanced service specification and local and national guidance to ensure compliance and patient safety.
1.2 Develop, implement and monitor paediatric oncology pharmacy services to ensure they are consistent with Trust priorities and requirements and are aligned to the over-arching patient focussed ethos of the pharmacy service whilst ensuring compliance with medicines legislation.
1.3 To provide the Principal Pharmacist Transformation, Cancer Services & Clinical Trials with regular assurance that the POSCU pharmacy service is meeting agreed Key Performance Indicators.
1.4 To provide specialist pharmaceutical advice to the multidisciplinary team on the legal, ethical, safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines, ensuring compliance with medicine legislation and national clinical guidelines.
1.5 To use specialist clinical knowledge to contribute to the development and implementation of paediatric oncology policies and guidelines which ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines.
1.6 To identify potential new treatments in liaison with Medicines Information and use specialist clinical knowledge to advise Consultants and Hillingdon Medicines Management Committee (HMMC) of the financial, safety, clinical and cost-effective use and impact of these treatments within the specified patient population.
1.7 To identify and review any adverse clinical incidents or preventable errors relating to paediatric oncology medicines use and support in developing strategies to minimise risks during the use of medicines and initiate quality improvement measures where applicable.
1.8 To lead and develop clinical pharmacy audit and practice research within paediatric oncology and to take an active part in projects to support patient safety.
1.9 Where appropriate liaise with paediatric community nursing teams to ensure safe and effective administration of medicines in the community for this cohort of patients.
1.10 Responsible for the appropriate management of patients referred for medicines optimisation / reconciliation input or who otherwise fall within the agreed scope of practice
1.11 Provide training and education to medical, nursing and pharmacy staff relating to specialist areas of practice
1.12 Produce and update paediatric oncology guidelines and policies relating to medicines use and optimisation for use by medical, nursing, pharmacy and other healthcare staff
1.13 Use expert knowledge of medicines use to answer enquiries from pharmacy, medical and nursing staff relating to individual patient care and treatment policies and protocols
1.14 Liaise with tertiary centres regarding specific complex shared care patients to ensure compliance with treatment protocols
1.15 Attend the monthly MDT POSCU meetings as per regional requirements and POSCU service meetings as needed.
1.16 Liaise with relevant consultants, nursing staff, managers, ICB, NHSE links and other relevant external agencies to ensure that appropriate information is prepared and communicated, and appropriate funding arrangements are in place. This will include evaluation of drug expenditure data, new drug developments, identification of new/changes in prescribing practice and their implications for the budget and horizon scanning.
1.17 Monitor, review and provide regular (monthly) evaluated drug usage and expenditure reports to the Principal Pharmacist Transformation, Cancer Services & Clinical Trials and advise and assist in controlling it.
1.18 Review and approve new treatment protocols ensuring robust clinical governance process are in place to safely deliver these in POSCU.
1.19 Support specialist teams and consultants through designated pharmacy input and attendance at MDTs, ward rounds, and support with protocols & guidance
1.20 Assist the multi-disciplinary team in the pharmaceutical care of each patient by:
Suggesting alterations to patients complicated medication regimes to simplify and aid therapy compliance
Participating in consultant ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings providing clinical and financial advice if appropriate
Promoting rational, safe and economic use of medicines
Research and provision of answers to queries raised on any aspect of patients medicines
Providing information and negotiating with clinical staff to ensure compliance with formulary, guidelines, and other pharmacy related strategies
Providing advice to other specialist and clinical pharmacists within the defined clinical speciality
Contributing to the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients participating in POSCU clinical trials, including reviewing trial protocols and liaising with the pharmacy clinical trials team
1.21 Responsibility for overseeing paediatric pharmacy staff in POSCU have undergone appropriate training using a competency-based training package to ensure compliance with British Oncology Pharmacist Association (BOPA) & national standards.
1.22 Maintain compliance with BOPA education and training standards and Pharmacy verification standards for cancer medicines.
1.23 To be a source of expert specialist advice for complicated Paediatric queries to other pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.
1.24 To develop and implement training for other paediatric pharmacists including designated deputies for POSCU to ensure pharmacists screening prescriptions for oncology patients have appropriate training & governance is in place to maintain high standards of patient safety.
1.25 Deliver clinical training on Paediatric Oncology Services to the Pharmacy Department as appropriate
1.26 To ensure safe systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) prescribing by ensuring prescriptions are built and approved in a timely manner for any new regimens being set-up on the chemotherapy e-prescribing system, Chemocare.
1.27 To provide continued support and advice for the running and maintenance of active POSCU studies, including timely management of protocol amendments.
1.28 To provide highly specialist clinical advice to the POSCU team and act as an independent prescriber within a specialist field (if qualified to do so) within own levels of competence.
1.29 To act as a clinical role model for pharmacy, demonstrating the ability to provide safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of drugs for POSCU patients.
1.30 Liaise with the commercial aseptic provider, dispensary and clinical teams and the multi-disciplinary team to ensure an efficient, effective and safe pharmacy POSCU service is provided.
1.31 To identify changes in prescribing practices and new prescribing practices that may impact on the drugs budget.
1.32 To support to develop and implement clinical governance strategies related to POSCU in the Trust.
1.33 To attend and contribute to meetings both locally and nationally.
1.34 To act as a mentor, role model and line manager, as required.
1.35 To be GCP accredited and re-validate certification every 2 years as required
1.36 Act as a role model for pharmacy staff.
2. General Pharmacy Duties
a. To be accredited to perform final product checking and release and chemotherapy prescription clinical screening.
b. To participate in Clinical Audit and contribute to pharmacy audits.
c. To represent pharmacy and act as a link person at relevant meetings and conferences.
d. To provide education and training to Pharmacy, Medical and Nursing staff.
e. Participate in the provision and evaluation of training in pharmaceutical care for undergraduates, pre-registration and all grades of pharmacists including those studying for a Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy. This may include being a pre-registration pharmacist tutor and/or a Diploma tutor
f. To participate in recruitment and selection of pharmacy staff and assist in their professional and personal development.
g. Maintain an up-to-date CPD portfolio.
h. To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday pharmacy service and on-call, as required.
i. To undertake any other duties consistent with the nature of the post as requested by the Chief Pharmacist or Principal Pharmacist Transformation, Cancer Services & Clinical Trials
Person Specification
Essential Essential
MPharm or equivalent Post Registration MSc/Diploma in Pharmacy Practice or equivalent Significant experience post-registration hospital pharmacy experience Knowledge of NICE and British Oncology Pharmacist Association (BOPA) standards and guidance Evidence of effective interpersonal skills for team working with ability to liaise with multidisciplinary team members Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) including formal presentations and reports
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Pield Heath Road
Uxbridge
UB8 3NN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.thh.nhs.uk/index.php (Opens in a new tab)