Specialist Cancer Pharmacist: Cellular Therapy and Ambulatory Care

at  University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us .
Please see below for a detailed job description for the role.
CAR-T is an emerging targeted cancer therapy and University Hospital Southampton became NHSE commissioned as a wave three CAR-T treating centre in 2023. We are expanding the CAR-T service with the aim to treat myeloma early 2025 following our successful service delivery in lymphoma, leukaemia and via an ambulatory pathway.
Our CAR-T and malignant haematology ambulatory service has been a success, patients spend more time at home than in hospital beds and clinical teams use their inpatients beds more efficiently. We are proud to offer this opportunity for an experienced and dynamic pharmacist to support the development of this growing CAR-T pharmacy service and expand the ambulatory service into new patient pathways, broadening the scope of ambulatory care through haemato-oncology and medical oncology.
Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.
For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to.
All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Due to the nature of this role and service, this role is on-site and the hours are as advertised. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service.
UHS Oncology Centre is one largest in the country with medical and clinical oncology specialities and a large haematology service, encompassing the Wessex Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit (WBMTCT) which has the best outcomes in Europe for stem cell and bone marrow transplants. You will be working with an engaging and experienced MDT who are passionate about delivering a high-level quality of patient care. As a tertiary referral centre, we treat both common and rare tumours, making it an exciting and innovative place to work. The Centre has close links with Southampton University, there is a research facility on site and clinical trials are a huge part of our work. The oncology pharmacy team provides a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service to four out-patient treatment areas, six in-patient wards and a clinical research facility.
This post is based in the oncology pharmacy, which serves the Southampton Oncology Centre. This post is principally focussed on the needs and development of the CAR-T service and the cancer care ambulatory service of adult and teenage and young adult patients with solid and haematological tumours.
The pharmacy service to cancer care serves five in-patient wards, three out-patient areas, several out-reach clinics and an expanding home care service. The in-patient areas include medical and clinical oncology wards, an acute oncology review and admissions service. Pharmacists, are integral members of the in-patient clinical teams contributing to patient care through attendance on consultant ward rounds, advising other members of the MDT, assisting with admission and discharges, conducting research and audits, providing education among a multitude of other activities. There are opportunities to develop and run your own out-patient prescribing clinics, we have four such clinics in place with plans for more.
The UHS Ambulatory Care service is in its infancy, with autograft transplants established and a recently commenced acute myeloid leukaemia pathway, with more on the horizon. Ambulatory care offers patients an improved quality of life and pharmacists have a unique role to offer. You will be expected to provide SACT-related advice and work with the MDT to develop this new patient pathway and improve patient care.

You will be part of the specialist senior haemato-oncology pharmacy team and supervise junior pharmacists. You will be expected to work with the Lead Pharmacist CAR-T Therapy, and the Lead Clinical Cancer Services Pharmacist, in providing specialist medicines management services and pharmaceutical advice to the Southampton Haematology and Oncology Centre and affiliated clinical trial facilities. You will be expected to provide expert advice at a specialised level on all aspects of CAR-T, ambulatory care, medicines and cell therapies undertaking risk management and ensuring compliance with legislation. You will form part of the CAR-T MDT and support the development of the service providing specialist pharmaceutical advice to ensure the safe and effective use of medicines. This will include:

• Attending consultant ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings to guide clinical staff in the provision of appropriate pharmaceutical treatment for individual patients.
• Developing and implementing guidelines, policies and procedures for the use of medicines to ensure evidence-based medicine is followed and safe practices encouraged.
• Playing an active role in the monitoring and evaluation of drug expenditure trends, identifying cost improvement initiatives and ensuring all necessary funding is secured.
• Implementing, auditing and providing evidence that best practice is undertaken on the Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit to fulfil the European requirements for accreditation and peer review (JACIE)
• In conjunction with the system manager assist in the maintenance of the chemotherapy electronic prescribing system with an emphasis on CAR-T therapy, cellular therapy and ambulatory care. This includes writing chemotherapy protocols and validating regimens on the system.
• Working closely with aseptic technical staff, undertaking clinical checks on chemotherapy regimens and prescriptions and providing cover for product checking in the Aseptic Units when necessary.

Please refer the Job description for details