Advanced Specialist Cancer Pharmacist (GI)

Job description Job responsibilities Key Duties and Responsibilities To lead, develop and manage the specialist gastrointestinal cancer pharmacy service within the Trust, ensuring alignment with departmental, Trust, and national standards across all specialties within the GI disease groups, namely colorectal, anal, upper GI and hepatobiliary (HPB) cancers. To provide highly specialist clinical pharmacy advice to clinicians in multidisciplinary team meetings, outpatient clinics and on an ad hoc basis regarding the management of Trust patients undergoing treatment for gastrointestinal cancers including the management of clinical uncertainty by critically appraising the evidence-base and applying it to novel situations and reaching appropriate decisions in complex, challenging or sensitive environments where there are competing priorities and/or an absence of reliable evidence and in situations where other professionals may challenge the advice given. To act as an independent prescriber for appropriate gastrointestinal cancer patients, managing own caseload and developing pharmacist-led clinics where possible. This will include the management of patients with complex pharmaceutical care issues and distressed patients in emotive circumstances. To record personally generated information in the patients Electronic Patient Record and Electronic Prescribing systems. To support patient-centred care by providing expert medicines advice, promoting adherence, and facilitating shared decision-making, including verbal and written communication of highly complex drug or medicine-related information to patients, relatives or carers, including patients who may have language difficulties, physical or mental disabilities. To identify service improvement opportunities to meet the changing requirements of both the patient population and the Trust and take a proactive role in the development and implementation of these initiatives, both within the Trust and with external agencies across the network where applicable. To drive innovation in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal cancers, including pharmacist-led clinics, supportive care interventions, and digital prescribing systems. To oversee and delegate responsibilities to the specific disease group pharmacists within the gastrointestinal cancer team To establish a series of performance measures (discussed and agreed with the Principal Pharmacist for Clinical Services, the Service Manager & the Director of Pharmacy) against which the success of the post will be measured and reviewed on an ongoing basis. To lead and take responsibility for specific projects involving business planning for service expansion, workforce models, delivery of Trust and NHS strategy in shaping the gastrointestinal cancer services within colorectal, anal, upper GI and hepatobiliary (HPB) disease group specialties, across the organisation, and network which may impact across or within departments, services or agencies external to the organisation, and collaboration with key stakeholders. To monitor and analyse medicine expenditure usage patterns and prescribing trends to advise on current budgetary issues, informing future business-planning processes to support the management of medicines expenditure across the Trust and the wider Cancer Network, Maximising the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the service by facilitating advances or changes in service. Identify changes in current prescribing practices that are likely impact on the directorate drugs budget. In addition to identify potential new prescribing practices that may impact on the drugs budget (horizon scanning) and service delivery models. Work collaboratively with the senior pharmacy team to identify and deliver cost savings and service efficiencies within the department. To provide expert advice on funding and commissioning queries, procurement, named-patient requests, and management of drug shortages To work collaboratively with other organisations across the network to encourage and support the implementation of creative and innovative service models to improve healthcare inequality and drive efficiencies across the system. To identify opportunities to reduce health inequalities and improve access to optimal gastrointestinal cancer treatments across the network. To develop, implement, and maintain treatment protocols, prescribing guidelines, standard operating procedures and patient information in collaboration with the specialist clinical pharmacists, clinicians and nursing teams. To collaborate in the development and monitoring of the gastrointestinal cancer-specific homecare offering, self-administration, and pathway optimisation initiatives and monitor expenditure across these areas. To be responsible for proactive reporting, investigating and reviewing trends in medication incidents in collaboration with the Medicines Safety Officer. Including risk assessment and leading on the implementation of actions with the wider multidisciplinary team to reduce the likelihood of future harm and share learning through relevant governance committees. To maintain assurance that high-cost, high-risk medicines are used appropriately with robust governance processes. To act as a national opinion leader through involvement in guideline development, advisory boards, and specialist forums. To represent the Trust in regional and national projects to advance gastrointestinal cancer pharmaceutical services. To continuously deliver and evaluate clinical pharmacy services and lead on service improvements to optimise gastrointestinal cancer medication use and contribute to service/system efficiencies. To develop educational resources for both staff and patients and contribute to local and national training programmes in gastrointestinal cancer and oncology pharmacy. To initiate, plan, organise, lead and participate in research, clinical audits, quality improvement projects, and service evaluation both at a local and national level, where appropriate and disseminate findings through publications, conferences, and professional networks. To ensure safe, effective, and cost-efficient use of medicines for patients with gastrointestinal cancers, including horizon scanning and implementation of commissioning decisions. To provide direct line management and professional leadership for specialist gastrointestinal cancer pharmacists and pharmacy technicians within the oncology clinical pharmacy team. To undertake appraisals, supervision, training, and performance management of staff within managerial responsibility. To provide specialist teaching, training, supervision to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, medical staff, nurses, allied health professionals and students in relation to gastrointestinal cancers within the trust and across the cancer network. To ensure service continuity and clinical excellence through effective workforce planning and mentoring. To act as a role model and mentor for pharmacists and clinical pharmacy technicians, including clinical verification training and clinical diplomas. To identify and develop career pathways for advanced practice, including support for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals undertaking the independent prescribing qualification. To actively participate in the clinical pharmacy ward service rota to all patients within the Trust as required To be responsible for the clinical screening/review of SACT prescriptions for designated patient groups, to clinically screen/ review in-patient and outpatient prescriptions. To participate in weekend and Bank Holiday rotas and additional out of hours duties as required to meet the needs of the service. To maintain CPD and professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council. To adhere to Trust and national medicines legislation, guidelines, and safety standards, including intrathecal chemotherapy policies. To make sustainable choices around medicines where appropriate to reduce the carbon footprint of the Trust and help the NHS supply chain achieve the net zero target Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and scope of the role, as required by senior staff.