Specialist Pharmacist Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit (POSCU)

Job description Job responsibilities 1. Key areas of responsibility 1.1 To lead and facilitate the safe introduction of SACT infusions as required for a level A enhanced POSCU at the Trust in accordance with the enhanced service specification and local and national guidance to ensure compliance and patient safety. 1.2 Develop, implement and monitor paediatric oncology pharmacy services to ensure they are consistent with Trust priorities and requirements and are aligned to the over-arching patient focussed ethos of the pharmacy service whilst ensuring compliance with medicines legislation. 1.3 To provide the Principal Pharmacist Transformation, Cancer Services & Clinical Trials with regular assurance that the POSCU pharmacy service is meeting agreed Key Performance Indicators. 1.4 To provide specialist pharmaceutical advice to the multidisciplinary team on the legal, ethical, safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines, ensuring compliance with medicine legislation and national clinical guidelines. 1.5 To use specialist clinical knowledge to contribute to the development and implementation of paediatric oncology policies and guidelines which ensure the safe and cost-effective use of medicines. 1.6 To identify potential new treatments in liaison with Medicines Information and use specialist clinical knowledge to advise Consultants and Hillingdon Medicines Management Committee (HMMC) of the financial, safety, clinical and cost-effective use and impact of these treatments within the specified patient population. 1.7 To identify and review any adverse clinical incidents or preventable errors relating to paediatric oncology medicines use and support in developing strategies to minimise risks during the use of medicines and initiate quality improvement measures where applicable. 1.8 To lead and develop clinical pharmacy audit and practice research within paediatric oncology and to take an active part in projects to support patient safety. 1.9 Where appropriate liaise with paediatric community nursing teams to ensure safe and effective administration of medicines in the community for this cohort of patients. 1.10 Responsible for the appropriate management of patients referred for medicines optimisation / reconciliation input or who otherwise fall within the agreed scope of practice 1.11 Provide training and education to medical, nursing and pharmacy staff relating to specialist areas of practice 1.12 Produce and update paediatric oncology guidelines and policies relating to medicines use and optimisation for use by medical, nursing, pharmacy and other healthcare staff 1.13 Use expert knowledge of medicines use to answer enquiries from pharmacy, medical and nursing staff relating to individual patient care and treatment policies and protocols 1.14 Liaise with tertiary centres regarding specific complex shared care patients to ensure compliance with treatment protocols 1.15 Attend the monthly MDT POSCU meetings as per regional requirements and POSCU service meetings as needed. 1.16 Liaise with relevant consultants, nursing staff, managers, ICB, NHSE links and other relevant external agencies to ensure that appropriate information is prepared and communicated, and appropriate funding arrangements are in place. This will include evaluation of drug expenditure data, new drug developments, identification of new/changes in prescribing practice and their implications for the budget and horizon scanning. 1.17 Monitor, review and provide regular (monthly) evaluated drug usage and expenditure reports to the Principal Pharmacist Transformation, Cancer Services & Clinical Trials and advise and assist in controlling it. 1.18 Review and approve new treatment protocols ensuring robust clinical governance process are in place to safely deliver these in POSCU. 1.19 Support specialist teams and consultants through designated pharmacy input and attendance at MDTs, ward rounds, and support with protocols & guidance 1.20 Assist the multi-disciplinary team in the pharmaceutical care of each patient by: Suggesting alterations to patients complicated medication regimes to simplify and aid therapy compliance Participating in consultant ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings providing clinical and financial advice if appropriate Promoting rational, safe and economic use of medicines Research and provision of answers to queries raised on any aspect of patients medicines Providing information and negotiating with clinical staff to ensure compliance with formulary, guidelines, and other pharmacy related strategies Providing advice to other specialist and clinical pharmacists within the defined clinical speciality Contributing to the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients participating in POSCU clinical trials, including reviewing trial protocols and liaising with the pharmacy clinical trials team 1.21 Responsibility for overseeing paediatric pharmacy staff in POSCU have undergone appropriate training using a competency-based training package to ensure compliance with British Oncology Pharmacist Association (BOPA) & national standards. 1.22 Maintain compliance with BOPA education and training standards and Pharmacy verification standards for cancer medicines. 1.23 To be a source of expert specialist advice for complicated Paediatric queries to other pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. 1.24 To develop and implement training for other paediatric pharmacists including designated deputies for POSCU to ensure pharmacists screening prescriptions for oncology patients have appropriate training & governance is in place to maintain high standards of patient safety. 1.25 Deliver clinical training on Paediatric Oncology Services to the Pharmacy Department as appropriate 1.26 To ensure safe systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) prescribing by ensuring prescriptions are built and approved in a timely manner for any new regimens being set-up on the chemotherapy e-prescribing system, Chemocare. 1.27 To provide continued support and advice for the running and maintenance of active POSCU studies, including timely management of protocol amendments. 1.28 To provide highly specialist clinical advice to the POSCU team and act as an independent prescriber within a specialist field (if qualified to do so) within own levels of competence. 1.29 To act as a clinical role model for pharmacy, demonstrating the ability to provide safe, clinically effective and cost-efficient use of drugs for POSCU patients. 1.30 Liaise with the commercial aseptic provider, dispensary and clinical teams and the multi-disciplinary team to ensure an efficient, effective and safe pharmacy POSCU service is provided. 1.31 To identify changes in prescribing practices and new prescribing practices that may impact on the drugs budget. 1.32 To support to develop and implement clinical governance strategies related to POSCU in the Trust. 1.33 To attend and contribute to meetings both locally and nationally. 1.34 To act as a mentor, role model and line manager, as required. 1.35 To be GCP accredited and re-validate certification every 2 years as required 1.36 Act as a role model for pharmacy staff. 2. General Pharmacy Duties a. To be accredited to perform final product checking and release and chemotherapy prescription clinical screening. b. To participate in Clinical Audit and contribute to pharmacy audits. c. To represent pharmacy and act as a link person at relevant meetings and conferences. d. To provide education and training to Pharmacy, Medical and Nursing staff. e. Participate in the provision and evaluation of training in pharmaceutical care for undergraduates, pre-registration and all grades of pharmacists including those studying for a Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy. This may include being a pre-registration pharmacist tutor and/or a Diploma tutor f. To participate in recruitment and selection of pharmacy staff and assist in their professional and personal development. g. Maintain an up-to-date CPD portfolio. h. To participate in the Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday pharmacy service and on-call, as required. i. To undertake any other duties consistent with the nature of the post as requested by the Chief Pharmacist or Principal Pharmacist Transformation, Cancer Services & Clinical Trials