Lead Pharmacist Clinical Trials and Chemocare

Closing date: 23 July 2026

Job summary
The post-holder will be a specialist in Cancer and Clinical Trials with a specialist knowledge of the electronic SACT e-prescribing system, Chemocare. The post-holder will have the opportunity to enhance their professional development through various avenues. These include participating in patient-facing clinics alongside consultants, specialist nurses, and pharmacists, attending specialist conferences, and having dedicated time for independent prescribing practice. Additionally, they will have the choice to further develop and complete their master's qualification to broaden their expertise.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the lead pharmacist for SACT (Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy) governance, ensuring compliance with national standards (e.g. NHS, NICE, and relevant professional guidance).
• Develop, validate and maintain chemotherapy regimens within the ChemoCare system, ensuring accuracy and alignment with approved protocols.
• Ensure safe prescribing, dispensing and administration of SACT, identifying and mitigating medication risks.
• Manage and oversee investigational medicinal products (IMPs) within clinical trials, ensuring compliance with GCP (Good Clinical Practice) and trial protocols.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for chemotherapy and clinical trials pharmacy services.
• Conduct audit and quality improvement initiatives relating to SACT and clinical trials to enhance patient safety and service delivery.
• Train, supervise and support pharmacy staff, pre-registration pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in oncology and clinical trials practice.
• Contribute to service development and innovation, including digital optimisation of prescribing systems and workflow improvements.
• Ensure appropriate storage, handling, accountability and documentation of cytotoxic and trial medications.
• Participate in on-call, weekend, or extended-hours services as required to support oncology services.
• Contribute to formulary development and horizon scanning for new oncology therapies and clinical trial opportunities.

About us
The pharmacy department at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is undergoing some exciting and positive developments with a key focus on the growth of individuals who work here. Therefore, this a great opportunity to be part of this new change.

The Pharmacy Service operates across three acute clinical Divisions and across the Community Services Division provided by the Trust. Applicants will be able to demonstrate significant experience managing a clinical pharmacy service. The post holder will be a key member of the Pharmacy Team working closely with stakeholders within Pharmacy and the Surgery Division.

Applicants must be able to contribute to the delivery of the strategic aims of the Pharmacy Service, aligned to the overall Trust objectives, within set financial constraints as well as deliver agreed cost improvement targets on an annual basis.

Details
Date posted: 09 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 407-WCCSS-8090518
Job locations: Walsall Manor Hospital, Moat Road, Walsall, WS2 9PS

Job responsibilities

• Offer complex advice on prescribing and therapeutics within oncology.
• Serve as a key component of the multidisciplinary oncology team and a Trust-wide source on chemotherapy matters.
• Educate and support advanced practitioners and non-medical prescribers of chemotherapy.
• Maintain and validate chemotherapy regimens via the ChemoCare system.
• To provide pharmaceutical advice and support to relevant healthcare professionals for clinical trials of investigational medicinal products.
• To work collaboratively with the Research & Innovation Staff, to apply research governance as per trial regulation to Pharmacy trial service using the knowledge of Pharmacy governance.
• To liaise with research investigators, research staff, pharmacy staff, and pharmaceutical industry in the provision of the service to ensure appropriate planning, feasibility, implementation, delivery and monitoring of clinical trials.
• To lead on the Pharmacy governance aspects of clinical trials in line with international (ICH-GCP, GMP) and national legislations [UK Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations].

Person Specification
Skills
Essential

• Master's Degree in Pharmacy (or equivalent)
• Professional registration as a Pharmacist in the UK, through practitioner Membership of The General Pharmaceutical Council
• Sufficient hospital pharmacy experience (as a registered pharmacist) to have acquired the competencies needed for the job.
• Specialist services relevant to the post (e.g. oncology/haematology/clinical trials )
• Independent Prescriber

Desirable

• Clinical Diploma or working towards (PG Dip)
• BOPA SACT Passport or equivalent experience
• Experience of managing a clinical pharmacy service to a specialty on a day to day basis

Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, both verbal and written - must be able to communicate highly complex drug or medicine related information to prescribers, clinicians, patients, relatives, relevant Trust committees and other stakeholders. Patients may have language difficulties, physical or mental disabilities; other professionals may challenge advice.
• Empathy with patients, relatives and user of our service
• Confident and assertive; able to defend opinions in a constructive manner when challenged
• Proven ability to influence and negotiate with relevant senior colleagues

Desirable

• Experience of writing compelling business cases or case of need for service development

Experience
Essential

• Experience in providing specialist pharmacist review of people with cancer
• Experience of delivering clinical pharmacy service and advice relating to the safe use of medicines.
• Experience of excellent leadership and management skills
• Experience of line management including effective performance management, recruitment and allocation of tasks/staff
• Experience of using SACT e-prescribing system
• Experience in project management (including department-wide roles) and evidence of completed outcomes
• Experience of protocol building validation with an e-prescribing system.
• Awareness of National initiatives with regards to development of chemotherapy services particularly SACT (systemic anti-cancer therapy) reporting

Desirable

• Experience of working actively on national groups
• Effective liaison with relevant Trust level committees / groups
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working at Pharmacy, Trust and regional level
• Experience of assessing risk and developing plans to mitigate that risk
• Experience with using Chemocare

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Address: Walsall Manor Hospital, Moat Road, Walsall, WS2 9PS, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Principal Pharmacist Cancer and Aseptic Services
Alim Kaba
alim.kaba6@nhs.net
01922726610