Pharmacist - outpatient oncology (Guildford, Surrey)

Looking to use your skills in a new clinical area or pharmacy sector?  

How about working at the UK’s fourth largest cancer centre?...

About the job

We are once again expanding our successful, friendly outpatient pharmacy team, and are searching for a pharmacist who is looking to expand their clinical knowledge into hospital specialities and use it each day without having to work on a ward.  

Work Location: The Cancer Centre Pharmacy at the Royal Surrey Hospital

Hours per week: full-time is 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday only; part-time applications welcome

For more information or an informal discussion please contact [email protected]

This role is suitable for newly qualified pharmacists, as well as more established pharmacists who are looking for a change of sector from community or hospital pharmacy practice.  This post is primarily for our outpatient cancer centre pharmacy within the UK’s fourth largest cancer centre, though we also run other pharmacy sites at the same location which cover a diverse range of hospital-based specialities, including paediatrics, emergency medicine, rheumatology, gastroenterology and ophthalmology.  

The position is 40-hours a week, Monday to Friday – there is no weekend, late-night or Bank Holiday working. The annual salary will be on or around £46,500 depending on experience, and part-time applications are welcomed.  This is an exciting opportunity to join an outpatient hospital pharmacy that has a focus on patient safety and experience. You will be working in a busy and supportive environment, providing a patient-centred service, whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

The role is perfect for pharmacists seeking a new challenge, and particularly suits those with a strong focus on patient care and an ability to develop solid working relationships with doctors, nurses and the wider healthcare team.  If you don't meet every requirement of the job description, then don't worry as long as you are a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) - we know that women, communities of colour and historically underrepresented talent are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with everything we say we are looking for, we strongly encourage you to apply - you may just be the right candidate for this, or other roles.

Main responsibilities

As a new pharmacist at PharmCo you will:

• Receive training, support and development to be able to work safely and effectively
• Be the Responsible Pharmacist when necessary, and ensure that the pharmacy operates in adherence to all relevant legislation, and regulatory, ethical and professional standards
• Provide a pharmacy service that is accurate, safe, timely and prioritises patient experience
• Use effective questioning and listening techniques to understand and meet the needs of patients and colleagues
• Ensure patients always receive the necessary information about their medication and have a chance to ask any questions they may have
• Deliver day-to-day pharmacy services, including:
  • Clinically screening prescriptions
  • Dispensing
  • Final checking
  • Patient counselling
  • Advising patients and clinicians
  • Stock maintenance, including security and storage

Our full pharmacist job descriptions can be found here: PharmCo pharmacist job descriptions (2024).pdf

About us

We are ‘PharmCo’, the wholly owned subsidiary outpatient pharmacy of the Royal Surrey County Hospital. We run two dispensaries at the hospital, and one non-dispensing hub for patients to collect their medicines and get advice.

Clinically we cover a diverse range of hospital-based specialities, particularly paediatrics, emergency medicine, rheumatology, gastroenterology and ophthalmology, as well as serving the UK’s fourth largest cancer centre.

We have a strong focus on people development and a clear career pathway map for our pharmacist and technical colleagues, which provide opportunities to develop clinical, managerial and leadership skills and knowledge.  More details can be found here: PharmCo career progression map (2024).pdf

Equal Opportunities

We recognise that diversity brings strength and value, so we don’t simply accept difference, we actively encourage and celebrate it. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

Benefits

We truly appreciate our staff and reward them with the best benefits package we can, including:

• Weekday working only
• Competitive starting salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement including bank holidays
• Free on-site parking
• Flexible working opportunities
• Competitive private pension scheme
• On-site nursery (chargeable)
• Staff gym (low annual charge)
• On-site social club
• Paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Discounts and lifestyle savings, plus a 24/7, 365 wellbeing support service through our partner staff benefits organisation

If you don't meet every requirement of the job description, then don't worry as long as you are a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) - we know that women, communities of colour and historically underrepresented talent are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with everything we say we are looking for, we strongly encourage you to apply - you may just be the right candidate for this, or other roles.

What we are looking for in our colleagues

The behaviours we expect all staff to demonstrate include:

• A high standard of professionalism
• A focus on quality and safety
• Empathy, and acting in the best interests of patients
• Taking responsibility for their own actions and omissions
• Working to the top of their ability and escalating when necessary
• Maximising the value that diversity brings
• A Quality Improvement approach, which includes identifying where we can make our standard procedures better and more effective
• An agile approach to working
• Open collaboration

What you need to have

• Suitable registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• A basic level of IT literacy, including video conferencing
• Attention to detail and accuracy in your work
• An ability to organise and prioritise

What we would like you to have

• A proven ability to provide excellent patient or customer service
• A positive attitude to change
• A working knowledge of pharmacy practice
• An ability to solve problems