Job Description

The Director of Pharmacy is a member of the Networked Services Divisional Management Team and is responsible for managing all aspects of Pharmacy services including pharmacy and medicines budgets.



The role includes Executive Director responsibilities for the Board of our outsourced wholly-owned subsidiary which provides medicines procurement and dispensing services, as well as being the organisation's Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer.



You will lead the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of pharmacy services at The Christie and across our comprehensive and growing network of outreach and peripheral satellites. You'll work collaboratively with clinical, research and pharmacy leadership teams to ensure seamless delivery of pharmacy services and drive continuous service improvement.



Why join The Christie?



Be part of the country's busiest and one of Europe's leading cancer centres in a world-class research environment supporting over 600 experimental medicine studies Work alongside multidisciplinary teams and contribute to cutting-edge oncology and haematology services based in impressive modern facilities You'll be leading a highly-motivated team of pharmacy staff delivering high-performance outcomes The Trust is making further investments in our Digital infrastructure, including a new Enterprise EPR system, new research and aseptic production software and an exciting new clinical decision support and AI project to support SACT delivery

The main duties for this role are described fully within the job description, highlighting the main aspects of the role; you will be responsible for managing all operational and strategic aspects of the Pharmacy department, reporting to the Divisional Medical Director and liaising with the Divisional Operational Management team. You will work collaboratively as a member of the NWS Management Team to achieve Trust and divisional objectives and ensure the provision of a high quality, cost-effective pharmacy service.



The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.



We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.



We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.



Network services is a large clinical division comprising of Haematology services, SACT services, Radiotherapy, Physics department, Medical Oncology, Clinical Oncology and Pharmacy. We have a large network of services throughout Greater Manchester and Cheshire delivering SACT, Radiotherapy, haematology and Pharmacy Services.

Main responsibilities will be:

To develop and maintain high quality clinical pharmacy services in line with best practice in order to ensure optimal use of medicines within the Trust. Co-ordination, manage and monitor performance in relation to all outsourced and satellite services providing SACT and associated services to Christie Trust patients, including (but not limited to) Christie Trust satellite services across the Cancer Network (Christie@ locations and those provided under Service Level Agreement by neighbouring NHS Trusts) Work with divisional operations manager to understand prescribing practice. Monitors monthly drug expenditure across the Trust. Evaluates financial, contracting and infra-structure implications of these changes. Produces ad hoc papers, reports for Director of Finance/ commissioners as requested. Assess Research & Development implications of all clinical trials on the Trust medicines budget plus their impact on pharmacy and other services. Ensuring the Trust maintains a high oncology pharmacy profile commensurate with its standing as one of the leading cancer centres in UK and Western Europe by submission of posters, articles for publication, attendance at national meetings/committees

Pharmacy Services



a. To manage all operational and strategic aspects of the Pharmacy department, reporting to the Divisional Medical Director and liaising with the Divisional Operational Management team.



b. To work collaboratively as a member of the NWS Management Team to achieve Trust and divisional objectives.



c. To ensure the provision of a high quality, cost-effective pharmacy service.



d. To develop and maintain high quality clinical pharmacy services in line with best practice in order to ensure optimal use of medicines within the Trust.



e. To report pharmacy services in Divisional Service and Management Team meetings.



f. To work across the Trust with clinical units to enhance clinical service provision.



g. To undertake service development and planning including the drawing up of terms of reference, outline business cases, business plans and other development plans. Organising and leading project teams where appropriate.



h. To be responsible for quality management and ensuring that the department meets all external and internal quality standards; acting as the designated Lead Pharmacist in respect of external reviews and accreditations.



i. To manage and co-ordinate pharmacy services across the Trust providing support to the clinical research programme of the Trust; supporting the set up of international studies as well as local research interests.



j. To provide leadership for all practice research, audit and clinical research conducted within the pharmacy department.



k. To provide accurate information on the resource implications of all research projects in or involving the pharmacy.



l. To be responsible for the line management of senior pharmacy staff including planning, development, appraisal, recruitment and disciplinary issues.



m. To have delegated responsibility for the management of pharmacy and medicines pay and non-pay budgets.



n. Operational responsibility for strategic development and service delivery.



o. To be responsible for ensuring that the policies and procedures of the department are compatible with and reflect the strategy and policies of the Trust as determined by the Management Board and the Directors.



p. To work with the trust partners in providing guidance and professional support where necessary



q. To represent the Trust in national and regional meetings as appropriate.



r. To ensure most cost-effective access to medicines across the trust.



Outsourced and satellite services



a. Responsible for the co-ordination, management and monitoring of performance in relation to all outsourced and satellite services providing SACT and associated services to Christie Trust patients, including (but not limited to)



i. Christie Trust satellite services across the Cancer Network (Christie@ locations and those provided under Service Level Agreement by neighbouring NHS Trusts)



ii. Aseptic compounding of SACT to commercial provider(s)



iii. Aseptic compounding of parenteral nutrition to commercial provider(s)



iv. Commercial Homecare medicines delivery services



Medicines Management & Medicines Optimisation



a. Corporate responsibility for Medicines Management strategy and policy development.



b. To undertake the statutory role of Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs



c. To be responsible for ensuring compliance with all current standards for Medicines Management and for the clinical and cost-effective use of medicines within the Trust.



d. To manage and update the Medicines Management policy, Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) Guidelines and other medicines related policies for the Trust.



e. To advise the Divisional Managers and the Medical Director on the drugs budget, and to assist them in ensuring that the clinical units keep within their budgetary allocation.



f. To be responsible for all medicines procurement for the Trust ensuring best value whilst maintaining high quality standards.



g. To be responsible for the supply and quality of medical gases used within the Trust.



h. Inform and provide relevant papers to the Risk and Quality Governance Committee to fulfil Trust obligations relating to safe medicines practice, risk management etc. Reviews clinical incidents, near misses within pharmacy to minimise recurrence



i. To lead corporate medicines budget planning for the Trust supporting Divisional General Managers in budget planning.



j. To lead the Trust on medicine-related risk management issues; utilising root cause analysis techniques in order to identify causes of medicine-related errors, formulate solutions and implement process changes.



k. To lead the development of Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration for the Trust.

l. To sit as a member of:

The Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC, Deputy Chair)

Safe Medicines Practice Committee (SMPC, Chair)

Clinical Research Effectiveness Committee (CREC)

Patient Safety Committee (PSC)

Risk and Quality Governance Committee (R&QGC)



m. To coordinate the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) and support the DTC Chair.



n. To represent the interests of the Trust at external meetings as required.



o. To prepare for and participate in Peer Review and other external quality assessments.



p. To represent the Trust on national committees consistent with the national profile of the post.



q. To contribute to national consultation exercises, such as NICE, consistent with the national profile of the post.



r. To work closely with the Pharmacy department at The university of Manchester developing joint strategies for pharmacy education and oncology pharmacy practice research.



Financial



a. Works with divisional operations manager to understand prescribing practice. Monitors monthly drug expenditure across the Trust. Evaluates financial, contracting and infra-structure implications of these changes. Produces ad hoc papers, reports for Director of Finance/ commissioners as requested.



b. Provides clinical advice and works with the procurement lead to ensure work is directed at high-cost prescribing areas where maximal financial savings may be made to the drugs budget to help achieve Trust financial targets.



Research & Development



a. Assesses Research & Development implications of all clinical trials on the Trust medicines budget plus their impact on pharmacy and other services.



b. Provides professional advice to the radiopharmacy department in relation to the pharmaceutical aspects of radioisotopes and clinical trials, plus professionally responsible for providing general medicines advice to the radiopharmacy (as per Technical Service Level Agreement).



c. Instigates and undertakes R&D on relevant topics of pharmacy practice.



d. Support and ensure effective pharmacy support for trust clinical trial provision and few aspirations



Additional



a. Responsible for ensuring the Trust maintains a high oncology pharmacy profile commensurate with its standing as one of the leading cancer centres in UK and Western Europe by submission of posters, articles for publication, attendance at national meetings/committees.



b. Networking and benchmarking with other cancer centres on medicines management and prescribing issues to ensure sharing of best practice and highest standards of medicines management are maintained.



c. Interpret NHS England documents for implementation into pharmacy practice to improve and modernise service. Conceives and implements changes to department's working where this will result in improved service.



d. Responsible for health and safety, risk register maintenance and associated action. Responsible for ensuring service audit, controls assurance and the medicines management portfolio.



e. Overall responsibility for formal training and development programmes.



f. Responsible for recruitment and retention of staff, workforce planning and skill mix changes on an ongoing basis. Undertake appraisals of key staff.



g. Medicines orders to a maximum value according to Trust standing financial instructions



h. Required to participate in the Trust Executive on call rota



The Christie Pharmacy Company.



To be a board member of The Christie Pharmacy Company Limited.



To support the board in all its activities and, in particular, to act as Pharmacy Director and Chief Operations Officer for the company.



To ensure that the company meets all legal and regulatory requirements as defined by UK and European legislation.



To be the line manager for the superintendent pharmacist.



NOTE. The Director of pharmacy is an employee of The Christie NHS Foundation trust, and the duties as director of the pharmacy company are part of this role.