Consultant Pharmacist, Cancer Clinical Trials

Consultant Pharmacist, Cancer Clinical Trials

CONSULTANT PHARMACIST, CLINICAL TRIALS & EXPERIMENTAL CANCER MEDICINES

This innovative post is a critical part of the multidisciplinary team that will support The Christie Research 2030 programme, a transformational investment in cancer research over the next 5 years.

Our ambition of research-embedded healthcare will deliver better outcomes and reduce health inequalities for all patients. We plan to learn from every patient and enable every patient to take part in research.

Aligned to The Christie Strategy we will realise the potential of The Paterson Research Building, home to one of the largest concentrations of scientists, doctors and nurses in Europe to bring tomorrow's treatments to patients faster and enable Christie leaders to drive seamless integration of research with clinical care.

The diverse needs of 30,000 new patients annually will be met through an inclusive, learning healthcare system spanning next generation diagnostics, treatments, digital and real-world evidence research. We intend to double and then treble the number of patients participating in research, bringing innovations for better outcomes to The Christie.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will lead a high-quality professional pharmacy Clinical Trials service, optimising patient access to and outcomes from clinical trials and improving the overall patient experience.

The postholder will ensure that pharmacy clinical trials services are provided in a safe, efficient manner, compliant with all relevant UK and EU legislation and professional regulations and fully aligned with the Trust's research strategy and the pharmacy service strategy.

The postholder will lead, develop and be responsible for pharmacy clinical trials and experimental cancer medicines services across the Trust and the wider Cancer Network, deputise for the Director of Pharmacy at the Trust R&I Divisional and Christie Research Executive Committee meetings, providing regular updates on pharmacy services, performance metrics and on developments with clinical trials and experimental cancer medicines. In addition to the clinical trials workload, the postholder will provide leadership for Pharmacy's own rapidly-growing portfolio of practice research.

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities

1. To lead a high-quality professional pharmacy Clinical Trials service, optimising patient access to and outcomes from clinical trials, improving the overall patient experience.
2. To strategically lead and co-ordinate the Clinical Trials pharmacy team in the provision of a safe, effective and efficient service in accordance with local and national standards and strategy.
3. To contribute to improving health outcomes for patients using a holistic approach to care, ensuring the safe and effective use of medicine through provision of medicines-related aspects of patient care.
4. To ensure pharmacy clinical trials services are provided in a safe, efficient manner and are compliant with all relevant UK and EU legislation and professional regulations.
5. To ensure that pharmacy clinical trials services are fully aligned to support the Trust's research strategy and the pharmacy service strategy.
6. To lead Pharmacy support at MHRA GCP inspections ensuring access to documentation.
7. To provide expert advice to the national Clinical Trials pharmacy advisory group, Trust's R&I Division and Clinical Trials Principal Investigators in respect of all aspects of IMP manufacture, procurement and supply.
8. Provide professional leadership to clinical trials pharmacy staff and manage the lead pharmacists, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.
9. To lead, develop and be responsible for pharmacy clinical trials and experimental cancer medicines services across the Trust and the wider Cancer Network.
10. Deputise for the Director of Pharmacy at the Trust R&I Divisional and Christie Research Executive Committee meetings, providing regular updates on pharmacy services, performance metrics and on developments with clinical trials and experimental cancer medicines.
11. To provide professional leadership for pharmacy Clinical Trials services to assure the Trust of compliance with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 SI No.1916 and the applicable SI including: Medicines for Human Use (clinical trials) Regulations 2004 and subsequent amendments; The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) and blood safety and quality (Amendment) Regulations 2008, SI No.941; EU Directive 2001/20EC, International Convention of Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
12. Updates and advises the Director of Pharmacy and wider pharmacy senior management team on pharmacy clinical trial services and experimental cancer medicines providing assurance on compliance with legislation, capacity and capability.
13. Act as the pharmacy expert on Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products used in clinical trials, contributing to their safe and efficient handling within the Trust and compliance with regulation and guidance.
14. To use innovation to support effective patient outcomes, safety and experience aligned with relevant national agenda.
15. To lead, undertake, supervise and publish research in specialist area of practice.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Pharmacist registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent.
• Independent Prescriber or working towards this with a view to qualification within 12 months (or willingness to work towards this).
• Meet the requirements of the RPS Faculty cancer care expert professional practice curriculum.
• Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
• Membership of the British Oncology Pharmacy Association.
• Demonstrated ability to work at Doctorate level.
• Credentialed as a consultant pharmacist with the RPSGB (or consultant-ready awaiting appointment to an approved post) is an essential requirement for appointment at Consultant status.
• A majority of competencies in each of the expert professional practice, collaborative working relationships and leadership clusters at the highest level (mastery) as defined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Advanced Pharmacy Framework (APF).
• A majority of the competencies in each of the management, education, training and development and research and evaluation clusters at the Advanced Stage II as defined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Advanced Pharmacy Framework (APF).
• Post Graduate qualification in Clinical Oncology, HaemOnc, or Clinical Research.
• Management, leadership or quality improvement training.
• DPharm, PhD or undertaking study at doctorate level.

Expert Professional Practice

• Extensive clinical pharmacy experience within Cancer services.
• Evidence of ability to plan complex pharmaceutical care programmes for patients.
• Experience in the management of pharmacy clinical trials, including GCP.
• Demonstrates application of critical evaluation skills in the context of working practice.
• Able to demonstrate ability to apply research and evidence-based practice within the team and/or service.
• Able to demonstrate ability to make decisions in the absence of evidence or data or when there is conflicting evidence or data.
• Demonstrates accountability for the delivery of professional expertise at a defined higher level.
• Ability to work in a pressured environment, with an unpredictable workload.
• Demonstrates awareness of and commitment to the clinical governance agenda.
• Understanding of health economics.
• Experience of using chemotherapy e-prescribing systems (iQemo, Chemocare or equivalent).

Collaborative Working Relationships

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience of working successfully with a range of stakeholders outside NHS structure eg. industry, service users, Higher Education institutions.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate highly complex clinical and technical information in an informative manner to a wide range of individuals which may be in challenging circumstances.
• Demonstrable high level understanding of current issues on cancer services and clinical trials.
• Team player but also able to work autonomously.
• Experience of work at national level (development of policies, strategies, national guidelines etc).

Leadership

• Highly developed leadership skills.
• Experience of leadership skills in highly complex projects and change management skills.
• Proven experience of working at a strategic level across healthcare geographies and the wider health community.
• Demonstrable experience of change management at a senior pharmacy level.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiating and influencing skills. Able to convince others to share the vision at a higher level.
• Ability to engage, motivate and lead a wide range of professionals.
• Inspires confidence and positive role model.
• Demonstrates values and behaviours in line with Christie Trust values and behaviours framework.
• Demonstrates ability to extend the boundaries of the service across more than one team.

Management

• Proven medicines and risk related policy development, service development, implementation and project management.
• Demonstrates ability to horizon scan and forecast in relation to developments in Oncology.
• Demonstrates accountability for the delivery of professional expertise at a defined higher level.
• Proven ability to respond and shape resources (financial, people) to deliver strategic priorities.
• Demonstrates ability to successfully manage a project at team, and/or service level, prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Use skills to manage difficult and dynamic situations.
• Report and business case writing for a Board level audience.
• Proven track record of budget management or monitoring ability and demonstrable success in identifying and achieving savings.
• Experience of staff management and implementation of Trust HR policies.
• Demonstrates ability to successfully manage a project at regional level.
• Demonstrates understanding of culture and climate and ability to plan with the whole of the organisation in mind.

Education, Training & Development

• Experience of designing, delivering and evaluating education programmes to both pharmacy and non-pharmacy professionals.
• Demonstrates ability to influence and educate at a high level.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively mentor others within the team and/or service.
• Facilitates the professional development of others.
• Participates in education and training in an external environment.
• Ability to interpret national policy to design strategies for local workforce planning.
• Committed to life-long learning.
• Formal teaching/training qualification.

Research & Evaluation

• Evidence of involvement in research activities eg. advanced audits, quality improvement projects, poster presentations or publications including multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Demonstrates ability to establish new multidisciplinary links to conduct research projects.
• Demonstrates application of critical evaluation skills in the context of working practice.
• Evidence of peer reviewed publications.
• Quality improvement training.

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

Other

• Required to work unsocial hours (on a rota basis with other team members), including evenings, weekends, Bank Holidays and on-call.
• Required to work at any site that treats Christie patients across the local cancer network.
• Driving licence and access to a car.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£74,290 to £85,601 a year, pro rata.