An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated clinical pharmacist to join our pharmacy team at Band 6 or Band 7 level, depending on experience. Applicants appointed at Band 6 will be supported through a structured competency-based development programme with planned progression to Band 7.
A key feature of the post is the opportunity to gain broad specialist experience through rotational placements across multiple areas of the pharmacy service, including clinical pharmacy, aseptic services and clinical trials. This varied exposure provides excellent professional development and experience within a leading specialist cancer centre. This role offers an excellent opportunity for pharmacists seeking to develop specialist cancer skills.
The Christie Pharmacy Department is a progressive and innovative service with strong links to the University of Manchester and a growing portfolio of collaborative research projects. The department is committed to staff development, with opportunities for postgraduate education, research involvement and secondments.
Clinical pharmacists play an increasingly advanced clinical role, with many practising as independent prescribers within outpatient clinics. The department is actively expanding pharmacist-led prescribing services to support modern models of cancer care.
If you are enthusiastic and keen to make a positive contribution to the care of cancer patients, we would like to hear from you.
To provide a high quality, patient-focused clinical pharmacy, medicines preparation and supply service to patients, ensuring a safe, effective, timely and efficient use of medicines.
To provide pharmacist support and professional supervision to all areas of the pharmacy service
To be involved in all aspects of the preparation of aseptically-prepared medicines, including the ability to act as the Accountable Pharmacist in Aseptic Services in the absence of the Aseptic Services Manager and their deputy.
Effectively contribute to departmental Quality Systems. The post holder will be involved in ensuring safe systems of work are maintained as defined under statutory legislation and Professional Standards.
To support the provision of research and clinical trials. To be involved in the contribution of specialist knowledge into the research and evaluation of new products, equipment, devices and methods of work, including clinical trials, analysing and interpreting the requirements for service developments within the Aseptic Services Unit.
To provide medicines-related education and training support to patients, nursing, medical and other multidisciplinary staff
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 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.
- To actively participate in the departmental training programme and complete competencies for each of the following areas: wards and other clinical services, dispensary, clinical trials, aseptic services, Homecare and outreach services and, if required, Christie@ satellite units.
Clinical services rotation:
- 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 cancer practice including Good Clinical Practice in clinical trials and an understanding of the current Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations.
- Safe and effective screening / review of prescriptions for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) 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.
- To qualify as an independent prescriber
- To work as an independent prescriber within a clinical or day care ward area or a designated disease group working alongside the relevant consultant team.
- To support prescribing at the individual patient level, contributing to the optimisation of patients’ drug therapy with due consideration to risk/benefit issues.
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.
- To provide specialist medicines information including advice on clinical trials to healthcare professionals within the Greater Manchester network as appropriate.
Electronic prescribing
- To support the maintenance of Electronic Prescribing (EP) and Pharmacy systems in conjunction with the EP project team contributing as necessary to ensure all tasks are completed to deadline.
- To be responsible for liaising with the pharmacy team, ward nursing & medical teams and the Informatics department in relation to the implementation and maintenance of the Trust’s EPMA systems including the planning and contribute to the delivery of the training requirements for individual user groups.
- To check and validate all medicines and medicine order sets for accuracy, ease of use and patient safety if required.
- To support issue reporting during the implementation of new initiatives to enable projects to be delivered effectively.
- To contribute with the Informatics teams, management accountants, medical staff, pharmacy staff and other stakeholders in relation to problem solving, auditing, service development and statistical and financial drug transactions.
- To contribute to the clinical governance process by undertaking risk assessments and by analysing data provided by the system with regard to safety and prescribing issues. To inform system users across the Trust of any risks or issues arising from use of the system.
Other clinical 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 assist in the development of patient group directions (PGDs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as appropriate.
- To provide the clinical pharmacy service to additional wards in the absence of colleagues.
- To provide pharmacist cover at Christie @ sites as required
- Participate in clinical activities e.g. multidisciplinary ward rounds and deputise as needed e.g. clinical and committee meetings.
- 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.
- 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 Clinical Services Manager and where necessary discuss the impact on pharmacy services and the action to be taken.
- Oversee the patient specific reconstitution of Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) from Baxter Healthcare and to provide the final check of IMPs from this service if required.
- Providing the professional check and final release of items prepared within the aseptic unit if required.
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.
For full details see attached job description
