Job summary
- Main area
- Core Clinical Services
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8b
- Contract
- Fixed term: 18 months (Maternity cover, secondment would also be considered)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (1 in 6 weekends (9am-5pm), late nights and Bank Holidays)
- Job ref
- 339-CCS1007-DAC
- Employer
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust
- Town
- Bristol
- Salary
- £64,455 - £74,896 per annum, pro rata for part time roles
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 31/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Principal Pharmacist for Technical Services and Haematology
NHS AfC: Band 8b
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Job overview
North Bristol NHS Trust has an exciting opportunity for a motivated and forward thinking pharmacist to act as the Accountable Pharmacist and lead our Technical Services team and haematology service. The post holder will need to have the enthusiasm, vision and associated service development and negotiation skills to lead and develop the service, including against the 'Assurance for Aseptic Preparation of Medicines' audit action plan. Pharmacists are key members of the multidisciplinary team, and the individual will be need to build strong relationships with key stakeholders in order to take forward the service.
This post is fixed term maternity cover. The opportunity for secondment will also be considered.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will provide professional leadership and strategic direction of the Technical Services team. Our Technical Services department is an unlicensed Section 10 unit, that primarily prepares aseptic products for the Chemotherapy Day unit and Adult Parenteral nutrition in a ready to administer form. The aseptic unit currently has a low green risk rating from the 'Assurance of aseptic preparation of medicinal products'. The unit benefits from modern facilities built in 2014.
This post is a great opportunity:
- To shape the future of Technical Services engaging with the National Aseptic Review Programme and delivery of ATMPs
- To develop the service to our haematology patients as treatment options evolve and advance, by further developing the excellent links we have with the multidisciplinary team.
- To develop professionally, including leadership programmes
- To lead and manage a team - work closely with divisions, a supportive senior pharmacy structure and specialist pharmacists, as well as being part of a well-established clinical pharmacy service
We are looking for candidates with:
- Strong leadership skills
- Management skills
- Passion to develop a high-quality service
- Enthusiasm for service development and innovation
- Ability to motivate staff and develop effective working relationships with key stakeholders
Working for our organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Summary of main responsibilities of this key role within Technical Services are:-
- To be the professional and strategic lead for NBT Pharmacy Technical Services and take overall responsibility for the preparation of aseptic products compounded into a ready-to-administer form.
- To act as the Accountable Pharmacist in accordance with Section 10 of the Medicines Act 1968. This includes provision of highly specialised advice to patients, prescribers, clinicians on drugs and regimens, prescription verification, product approval, supervision, co-ordination and leadership of related specialist clinical services.
- To act as the lead for the pharmacy clinical haematology service provision
- To lead change within Technical Services, including managing the workstreams that support the action plan from the Assurance of Aseptic Preparation of Medicines
- To ensure that aseptic preparation service is safe, effective, efficient and adequately resourced with capacity and capability to meet the local needs and national standards.
- To monitor and review workload to inform management decisions through the review of iQAAPS Performance Indicators.
- To communicate highly complex information effectively to a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders (e.g. NBT Pharmacy Management Group, NBT Executive Team, staff, governance committees).
- To further develop and maintain a robust Pharmaceutical Quality System. This will include the implementation and development of an electronic solution, QPulse once a QPulse manager is recruited.
- To manage and lead the Pharmacy Technical Services team, working closely with the Lead Technician, Specialist Pharmacists and Quality Assurance team to develop the service
- Management of ChemoCare in conjunction with the ChemoCare System Manager, ensuring competency assessments of pharmacy staff are undertaken and maintained, managing the protocol build workload as part of the multidisciplinary team.
For more information on this exciting opportunity please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities that the post holder is required to undertake.
If you are interested in the role and would like further details or to arrange a visit, please contact:
Rachel Hingston (Current post holder)
Tel: 0117 414 2288
Matt Kaye, Director of Pharmacy
Tel: 0117-414 2276
Person specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree in pharmacy
- Registration as a practising pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Relevant postgraduate qualification complete or underway (e.g. PTQA, clinical pharmacy certificate/diploma, MSC, MPhil, PhD)
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
- Management/leadership qualification
Work Experience
Essential criteria
- Recent experience working as a UK hospital pharmacist in a clinical speciality related to Technical Services activity (i.e. haematology, oncology, nutrition, clinical trials) (Band 8a or above)
- Significant experience of working within an aseptic compounding cleanroom facility subject to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance and related regulatory quality standards
- Experience of staff supervision
- Experience of management and team leadership
- Experience in service development
- Experience of the development and implementation of a robust Pharmaceutical Quality System, working to procedures, protocols, and systematic work practices with very high degrees of accuracy
- Experience and understanding of product formulation, stability and product review
- Experience of regulatory external audit and self-inspection
Knowledge/skills/abilities
Essential criteria
- Basic knowledge in clinical haematology and/or oncology
- Basic knowledge in clinical nutrition (PN) (adult, paediatric, neonatal)
- Proactive approach to the application of specialist pharmaceutical knowledge to enhance patient care
- Advanced knowledge of relevant quality standards including, GMP GCP and Assurance of Aseptic Preparation of Medicines
- Ability to prioritise, manage change and escalate when appropriate
- Excellent time management skills
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills
- Standard IT competencies in Word, PowerPoint and Excel or equivalent programs
- Training and clinical supervisory skills
Personal qualities/Special Circumstances
Essential criteria
- Self -motivated individual with an organised and logical approach to work
- Ability to be adaptable and to work flexibly under pressure as part of a busy team, and also on own initiative without direct supervision to prioritise and achieve deadlines
- Able to work during extended hours (e.g. weekends) if and when appropriate, to ensure that aseptic service provision meets clinical demands and expectations
- Highly developed problem solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rachel Hingston
- Job title
- Principal Pharmacist TS & Haematology
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0117 41 42288
- Additional information
Matt Kaye, Director of Pharmacy
Tel: 0117 41 42276
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