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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To partake in Oncology/Haematology clinical pharmacy duties ensuring core clinical pharmacy activities are undertaken:
1.1. To lead and develop the pharmacy service to the Oncology/Haematology Department, in liaison with other Specialist Clinical Pharmacists.
1.2. To provide clinical input (at specialist level) to the Oncology/Haematology Department, with specific higher level clinical responsibilities for one or more defined sub-specialties.
1.3. To work alongside the medical and Advanced Clinical Practitioner team in prescribing for people being cared for in the Oncology/Haematology Department (once suitably trained and authorised).
1.4. Provide highly complex advice and guidance requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of options on all issues relating to prescribing and therapeutics within Oncology/Haematology, where possible in line with national and local guidelines.
1.5. Maintain a working knowledge relating to prescribing and therapeutics for all services in the Cancer cluster.
1.6. To form a key component of the multidisciplinary team in the Oncology/Haematology Department.
1.7. To safely undertake clinical screening of prescriptions for intravenous, subcutaneous and oral cancer treatments.
1.8. Counsel and advise patients and/or their relatives with regard to their medication, including use of drugs, appropriate administration of oral chemotherapy and appropriate management of SACT-associated side effects e.g. nausea and vomiting.

2. To manage a caseload of patients as part of the Oncology/Haematology Clinical Team within a defined specialist area:
2.1. To support the development of defined outpatient clinic protocols for NMP’s
2.2. To review those patients in an outpatient clinic setting.
2.3. To initiate and continue pharmacological treatment for cancer and supportive treatments as appropriate.
2.4. Initiate, evaluate and modify a range of interventions, including prescribing of medicines.

3. To develop the provision of Oncology/Haematology advanced clinical practice – promoting safe and evidenced-based practice and contributing to improved clinical outcomes and services to patients:
3.1. Attending and actively participating in Oncology/Haematology ward rounds, clinics and multidisciplinary team meetings, as appropriate.
3.2. Providing specialist advice and guidance on all issues relating to prescribing and therapeutics of medicines and SACT for the specialty ensuring they are in line with national and local guidelines.
3.3. Critically evaluate published literature and a variety of medicines related information, including clinical trials data, medicines usage and expenditure reports, national policy, and clinical intervention reports, to inform practice and patient care decisions.
3.4. To provide opinion and advice and be a source of referral for SACT issues for members of the multidisciplinary team within Trust and externally.
3.5. To act as an independent prescriber in a specialist practice area, as appropriate for the service.
3.6. Practice as an independent prescriber, provide dose adjustment, advice and prescriptions for SACT medication with a narrow therapeutic range requiring therapeutic effect monitoring, including recording relevant biochemistry results in relevant patient medical records. Recording action plans and adjusting doses to account for renal or liver dysfunction or other toxicities.
3.7. Provide training in the specialist practice area so that other independent prescribers and pharmacy staff are able to provide robust SACT delivery service cover.
3.8. Maintain contact with and actively participate in local, regional and national specialty groups, advising these groups as appropriate, and in also identifying best practice and incorporating it into FHFT practice.

4. To provide leadership, management and directorate/service support roles to Oncology/Haematology:
4.1. Develop tumour site specific pharmacist-led clinics within the Oncology/Haematology specialty to meet patients’ needs and service changes.
4.2. Monitor drug usage, prescribing patterns and expenditure in order to support the service in achieving a balanced drugs budget and planning for new drug developments.
4.3. To liaise with the principal haematology/ oncology pharmacist and participate in clinal audit and service improvement projects within the division.
4.4. To horizon scan for new prescribing practices within oncology that may impact on the Oncology & Haematology Directorate drugs budget, and lead on the appropriate management of them.
4.5. To take the lead in investigations for errors and incidents and to produce action plans which may affect other departments and their processes in order to improve patient safety.
4.6. To ensure that procedures relating to cancer services are updated in accordance with practice and legislation.
4.7. To provide technical and professional guidance on all matters relating to aseptic preparation of pharmaceutical products within the Trust, including appropriate outsourcing of aseptic products purchased from external providers as appropriate.

5. Additional duties:
5.1. To be accredited in the appropriate aspects of handling intrathecal chemotherapy e.g. screening, issuing etc. within the recommendations of current legislation and trust policies.
5.2. To act as a deputy pharmacist for the paediatric oncology services, supporting the senior haematology pharmacist (Frimley site) with providing the oncology services to the paediatric wards and outpatient clinics