Specialist Cancer Pharmacist

at  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Would you like to work in a forward thinking, large cancer pharmacy team which includes Consultant Pharmacists in Cancer as well as Palliative Care, Highly Advanced and Advanced Cancer pharmacist, as well as the first Advanced Cancer Pharmacy technicians in the country? This exciting post promises to bring you an opportunity to work with national and internationally recognised expert pharmacist in the cancer and palliative care field. We provide local, regional and national cancer services including CAR-T, BMT treatments, gene therapy and we are also 1, of only 5, bone and soft tissue specialist centres in England.
Our team have a range of oncology and haematology pharmacy non-medical prescribers who work alongside consultants and other members of the MDT to review and prescribe SACT.
OUH is a clinical trials centre and we are involved in early and late phase research. As a teaching hospital, we believe that research should be embedded within pharmacist roles and will support with research opportunities, including PhD.
We welcome applications from band 6 pharmacists who will be completing their clinical pharmacy diploma’s/MSc’s shortly.

Delivery of high quality pharmaceutical care to adult cancer in-patients, day-case, and out-patients.
Participation in pharmacy services to the Day Treatment Unit to optimise patients’ medication and reduce medicines wastage.
Clinical checking of systemic anticancer treatment (SACT) and SACT clinical trial prescriptions.
Participating in multidisciplinary ward rounds
Pharmacist led oral anti-cancer treatment education clinics
Pharmacist non-medical prescribing in multidisciplinary clinics and day treatment unit
Aseptics experience within Pharmacy’s Clinical Trials Aseptic Services Unit (CTASU)
Participating in the day to day running of the CTASU and developing knowledge in quality control and quality assurance.
Involvement in cancer phase I, II, and III clinical trials
Active participation in Thames Valley Cancer Alliance groups
The post holder will participate in the band 7 cancer pharmacist rotation which currently includes rotations through:
Oncology Ward
Haematology Ward
Day Treatment Unit (Oncology & Haematology)
SACT prescription clinical screening
Early phase/Late phase research & SACT clinical trials screening
Brodey Chemotherapy Day Unit, Horton Hospital, Banbury
Clinical Trials Aseptics Unit
Cancer Clinical Trials Set Up
Palliative Care
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .
To provide a ward-based clinical pharmacy service according to Trust agreed standards
To provide clinical pharmacy cover to other ward areas within the team on a reciprocal basis
To ensure medicines are used appropriately, safely and cost-effectively in accordance with Trust policy, standard operating procedures and medicines legislation
To monitor medicines use within the ward area. This includes recording of significant clinical interventions and risk management.
To use available information to influence prescribers and ensure the most cost-effective choice of therapy
To participate in ward rounds, clinical meetings or out-patient clinics as appropriate in order to provide pharmaceutical advice to prescribers and other health care professional
To liaise with external agencies to ensure safe, timely and appropriate supply to patients e.g. Baxter, Homecare companies etc, where appropriate.
To participate in ward-based clinical audits and the development and implementation of treatment protocols and guidelines for use of medicines within the clinical area
To tutor rotational clinical pharmacists undertaking the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, following formal accreditation as a tutor by Cardiff University, or other university and to tutor other pharmacists and pre-registration students in the clinical area.
To act as a role model and mentor for clinical pharmacy.
To develop personal practice research in accordance with the Trust and pharmacy strategy.
To contribute to local, national and international specialist interest groups and conferences/meetings.
To become a non-medical prescriber as appropriate.
To work as a non-medical prescriber in the oncology & haematology directorate.
To undergo accreditation to write discharge prescriptions for patients, where appropriate
To provide teaching for the pharmacy and directorate teams as required.
To act as knowledge base/resource for the specialist area and to keep up to date with current trends and research in the specialist area.
With the rest of the members of the clinical pharmacy team to support the strategic developments of the service e.g. electronic prescribing, improved discharge processes, accredited technician checking etc.
Actively contribute to the planning and efficient co-ordination of clinical pharmacy initiatives including discharge planning, prescribing protocols, pharmacists on consultant ward rounds etc.
To contribute to and implement the clinical governance plans of the clinical area and the pharmacy clinical governance plans
To clinically screen all chemotherapy prescriptions
To be accredited in the appropriate aspects of handling intra-thecal chemotherapy
To be involved in the development and maintenance of the computerised chemotherapy prescribing system (Aria) across the Oncology & Haematology Directorate for all injectable and oral chemotherapy, and to ensure that it is used effectively and appropriately at ward and day case level
To be involved in the development, maintenance, and review of cancer chemotherapy and supportive care drug protocols defined by the SACT Operational Group and multidisciplinary teams
To contribute to the development of the Trust cancer information systems in accordance with agreed objectives
To be involved in the preparation of new drug submissions for the Trust Medicines Management and Therapeutics Committee with Consultant colleagues
To assist with review of sections of the Trust formulary relevant to the specialist area
To be involved in the implementation of relevant local, network and national standards including service guidelines and technology appraisals produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
To be involved with the pharmacy set up of cancer clinical trials, including phase I, II, and III trials in line with current legislation
To act as an Authorised Pharmacist in the Clinical Trials Aseptic Services Unit (CTASU)
To be involved with supporting gene therapy trials in the Cancer Research UK unit, and to ensure the multidisciplinary team follow appropriate procedures for handling gene therapy in the clinical trial setting
To support the implementation and management of licensed gene therapy products and ensure the multidisciplinary team follow appropriate procedures for handling gene therapy in the clinical setting
To be an active member of the Thames Valley Cancer Network Pharmacists’ group
To attend and contribute to Cancer Pharmacy Team Meetings
To ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times
To be professionally accountable for actions and advice
To use experience and clinical judgment to assist in problem-solving and trouble-shooting within the Pharmacy department
To give professional support to the site operational managers
To be aware of training and competency assessment of pre-registration pharmacist trainees, diploma pharmacists and student pharmacy technicians and participate in their training and competency assessment as required
To support the dispensaries by participating in the screening and checking prescriptions and dispensed items as part of a rota
To participate in weekend and bank holiday working according to rota
Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Chief Pharmacist.
To participate in any future 7 day working patterns should the pharmacy department change its current working practices