Specialist Oncology Pharmacist

Specialist Oncology Pharmacist Band 8a

Main area

Oncology Pharmacy

Grade

Band 8a

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref

188-OTH3377

Site

Southampton General Hospital

Town

Southampton

Salary

£48,526 - £54,619 pa

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

12/02/2023 23:59

Interview date

17/02/2023

Job overview

The Southampton Oncology Centre is one of the largest in the country with medical and clinical oncology specialities as well as a large haematopoietic stem cell transplant unit.

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.

This post is focussed around fulfilling the diverse pharmaceutical needs of the oncology centre to ensure that we provide an exceptional patient experience.

The Southampton Oncology Centre Pharmacy (SOCP) within Platinum House is open 8.30am-5.00pm (Mon-Fri) and 0900-1300 on a Saturday. We also open bank holidays (Monday 0900-1300). There is a move towards seven day working.

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.

Main duties of the job

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.

Working for our organisation What we can offer you

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. UHS is rated ‘Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities Your Responsibilities What you'll do

We are looking to appoint experienced oncology pharmacists to complete and expand our specialist cancer pharmacy team.

This post is based in the oncology pharmacy, which serves the Southampton Oncology Centre. We are one of the largest oncology centres in the country with medical and clinical oncology specialities as well as a large haematology service, encompassing the Wessex Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMT). These posts are principally focussed around the needs of adult as well as 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. This role is fully supported by our medicines management technicians. There are ample opportunities to develop and run your own out-patient prescribing clinics, we have four such clinics in place with plans for more. You will be expected to act as a clinical role model for the band seven cancer pharmacists and will be given the opportunity to directly manage some of these staff, fully supported by the principal pharmacist for cancer services.

As a pharmacy department we also manage the chemotherapy electronic prescribing system that is a networked system covering six local acute Trusts including two cancer centres. You will be integral in developing and supporting the operational management of the system including writing and validating protocols.

Cancer is one of the priority clinical areas for the Trust. We moved, in July 2021, into a purpose-built oncology pharmacy, Platinum House which was designed by oncology pharmacy staff. We are now a commissioned centre for CAR-T delivery alongside our busy AT(I)MP unit. We are designing an off-site licensed aseptic unit that is due to open in 2024. This will not only extend the current capacity but will incorporate new models of working such as ambulatory care and new treatments such as gene therapy and ATIMPS. The Centre has close links with Southampton University, there is a research facility on site. Clinical trials, including phase 1, are a huge part of our work. We are one of the top ten performing Trusts in the country in terms of recruitment into trials. Southampton an exciting and innovative place to work.

Clinical training will be given in all relevant areas. In return we expect a commitment to personal development including self-directed learning and attendance at local and national courses.

What we're looking for

We are looking to appoint a pharmacist who is adaptable, enthusiastic about change, enjoys problem solving and wants to make a positive contribution to peoples' lives. We want someone who is driven by caring.

Experience of cancer pharmacy (clinical and / or aseptic) in a hospital environment would be an advantage.

We are keen to encourage personal development by offering you structured training and all the support and encouragement you'd expect from a leading teaching Trust.

Additional information

The provisional date for interview is Friday, 17th February 2023

Should you have any queries, please use the contact details below to get in touch.

Person specification Qualifications / training required Essential criteria

General Pharmaceutical Council Registration as a Pharmacist

Diploma or Masters in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent

Significant post registration experience with at least three years hospital pharmacy experience, one of which should be in oncology

Desirable criteria

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Member

Leadership Qualification

Quality Improvement Qualification

Independent Prescribing Qualification or working towards

Previous or relevant experience necessary Essential criteria

Extensive post qualification Pharmacy knowledge /experience in one or more areas of pharmacy specialism

Competent in the accurate supply of medicines (in hospital or community pharmacy)

Evidence of commitment to relevant ongoing CPD and personal and professional development

Awareness of current professional regulations/issues

Experience relevant to role applied for e.g.:providing a ward-based medicines management service, Clinical Trials or research experience, Aseptic services experience

Desirable criteria

Experience of staff management/operational workload and workforce supervision

Recruitment and selection experience

Experience of leading a team

Dealing with and resolving customers/patients' complaints

Experience of JAC or similar computer stock control system

Experience of service development and or design and implementation of audit

Experience of mentoring/coaching/motivating others

Aptitudes and skills required Essential criteria

Ability to communicate sometimes complex information concisely, confidently, and effectively to a diverse range of people e.g., Patients, carers, services users and other health care professionals within and outside of the organisation

Attention to detail and accurate in work

Able to use a range of information technology programmes effectively including Pharmacy Computer system and Microsoft office programmes

Able to use initiative, but know own limitations and professional boundaries

Ability to cope with unpredictable events, able to independently plan and prioritise own workload; manage own time and meet deadlines

Demonstrates good listening skills

Personal qualities Essential criteria

Excellent role model

Polite, friendly, and professional manner

Tactful and can show empathy

Able to maintain confidentiality

Flexible and able to adapt at work to deliver and manage competing priorities

Ability to delegate appropriately

Able to work under pressure

Special requirements of the post Essential criteria

Work weekends, evenings and bank holidays as per rota

Able to use VDU/PC and keyboard

Values and behaviours Essential criteria

Patients First

Always Improving

Working Together

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

For more information about our Trust

Head to our careers portal thinkuhs.co.uk where you'll find information about:

- Our values and vision - Our services and teams - Benefits we offer our staff - UK professional body registration - Information about our city - Relocating to Southampton - Our fantastic staff and their work

To find out what our staff think about working here, you may also wish to look at our most recent friends and family test and NHS staff survey results, or our latest CQC report.

Getting to work - our travel promise

Getting to work should be as easy as possible and that's why we have introduced the UHS travel promise – a commitment from the Trust that we will provide reasonable travel options for every member of staff. Every member of staff can apply for a permit to use our park & ride facility. Eligibility for on-site parking is dependent on the nature and requirement of the role. All staff can also access a range of discounted benefits relating to travel including reduced price bus tickets, purchase of salary sacrifice bikes and ultra-low emission cars.

Our commitment to equality

Equality remains at the centre of our policymaking, service delivery, and employment practice, giving all employees equal opportunity to develop, apply for promotions, and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

UHS actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development, and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

How and why we use your information

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.

The European General Data Protection Regulations enhances individuals' rights and safeguards all of their data in place under the DPA. Please click here to see how and why we store your information.

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Employer certification / accreditation badges Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Job Description (PDF, 384.6KB)

Personal Specification (PDF, 296.6KB)

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Nanda Basker

Job title

Lead Cancer Services Pharmacist

Email address

[email protected]

Telephone number

023 8120 6668

If you have problems applying, contact

Address

 If you have problems with the

online application form please contact Recruitment Support Services Open Monday to Friday 08:30am to 5:30pm

Telephone

 01629 690826