Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician

We are now investing in our Medicines Optimisation Team to underpin this expansion and are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated Pharmacy Technician who is ready for the next step in their career.

This is largely a project-based role to support the development, coordination and successful delivery of the Trust's Medicines Optimisation and Pharmacy Strategy by supporting the Trust value improvement programme, development of a Trust medicines formulary and supporting the Trust Drug & Therapeutics Committee (DTC) processes.

Under the leadership of the Principal Pharmacist Medicines Optimisation you will work with a wide range of stakeholders that includes our in-house pharmacy teams at The Christie, our collaborative partners at The Christie Pharmacy (outsourced pharmacy supply chain logistics and dispensary services), Baxter Healthcare (for aseptically-dispensed intravenous SACT), peripheral and outreach service satellites across the local cancer network and NHS England, to support the optimisation of medicines across the whole patient pathway from commissioning to procurement to distribution to patients.

Ensuring that all patients receive their medicines in the most efficient and cost-effective manner to ensure that resources are used wisely and effectively providing opportunity to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities, deliver medicine value and maintain a thriving, financially viable health economy.

For a comprehensive overview of roles and responsibilities please read our Job Description. Main duties of the role include:

To support the development, review and maintenance of the Trust medicines formulary and treatment guidelines in order to facilitate the safe, effective and cost-effective use of medicines within the Trust.

To work closely with disease group pharmacists to identify medicines information/optimisation requirements to support the medicines optimisation work of the department.

Identify, scope and implement Value Improvement programme (VIP) scheme opportunities relating to our medicine's expenditure, to support the divisions to implement potential VIP plans relating to medicines and to provide monthly reporting

Develop an expertise in reporting and analysis of prescribing trends across all pharmacy systems (EPMA and dispensing/ procurement systems) to optimise medicines usage.

To interpret data and have the skills to explain prescribing, financial and quality data to internal and external stakeholders.

Provide professional secretarial support in conjunction with the pharmacy business support team to the Trust Drugs & Therapeutics Committee (DTC) by advising on the content of agendas, accompanying papers, minutes and actions.

PLEASE REFER TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A FULL LIST OF DUTIES.

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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify, scope and implement Value Improvement programme (VIP) scheme opportunities relating to our medicines expenditure, to support the divisions to implement potential VIP plans relating to medicines and to provide monthly reporting.

Facilitate changes to prescribing practice where benefits have been identified by engaging with all stakeholders and developing an agreed implementation plan. Liaise with clinical, nursing, procurement, distribution staff to ensure the changes are achieved efficiently by clearly communicating often complex and contentious information with a need to influence stakeholders regarding rationale for change.

To work closely with clinicians and pharmacy staff to assist in horizon scanning and the managed entry of new medicines into the Trust with specific interest in the implementation of cost-effective therapies.

Be responsible for the preparation of complex data for our medicine budget setting meetings with commissioners. Prediction of estimated expenditure in the next financial year with a narrative for any changes in expenditure.

As part of the budget setting process, required to carry out a horizon scanning exercise for new medicines to the market, patent expiries that are imminent, biosimilar pipeline, clinical trial discontinuation and…