Lead Medicines Value and Biologics Pharmacist

To plan, set up, and chair the Trusts Medicines Value Group (MVG). MVG will be a subgroup of the Trusts Medicines Management and Therapeutics Committee. Its main function would be to ensure the cost-effective use of biologic medicines and to coordinate the savings plan on biologics and other high-cost drugs, especially biosimilars and other high-cost medicines whose patents have expired. To support the Medicines Management and Therapeutics Committee (MMTC) Chair in managing the Trust formulary, especially as it concerns high-cost medicines. This includes reviewing and approving one-off requests for biologics and other non-formulary medicines. To work closely with medical, pharmacy and nursing colleagues to promote and facilitate best value in the use of HCD with a particular focus on biologic medicines. To lead on the implementation of cost savings initiatives relating to biologics. To identify savings opportunities relating to biologic medicines and put in place a program of projects to achieve the savings. To be responsible for managing other members of the Best Value Medicines and Team. To work as part of the Trust's Medicines Effectiveness Team to achieve the Trust's Medicines Optimisation strategy about the clinical and cost-effective use of medicines within the Trust. To work with the OUH Medicines homecare team to optimise homecare use for biologics and other high-cost medicines. To attend and/or provide information for appropriate prescribing committee meetings.Main duties of the job To carry out a regular horizon scan to identify savings opportunities through the optimal introduction of best-value biologic and other high cost medicines. To liaise with the regional procurement pharmacist to ensure optimal timing for introducing biosimilars. To estimate or forecast the potential savings from new biologics. To lead on liaison with manufacturers and the relevant clinicians to ensure engagement with savings on biologics. Engage with colleagues working in the clinics to identify any information, resources and other tools that may be required (for example, patient information). To liaise with the pharmacy purchasing team and homecare teams to ensure stock levels are adjusted correctly in preparation for a switch. Play a central role within the OUHFT Medicines Effectiveness and in the implementation of new biosimilar HCDs. Ensure operational processes are followed for specific commissioning requirements related to reimbursement of individual medicines. Support the specialist, lead clinical pharmacists and pharmacist team leaders, to assist in understanding and implementing biosimilar switches. Work with the rest of the Medicines Effectiveness team to ensure horizon scanning is completed on time. Support the management of schemes and services (homecare, drug company patient access schemes) to ensure timely and safe patient access to HCDs. Build regional links with other pharmacists and technicians to share best practices., Policy & Service Development To carry out a regular horizon scan to identify all savings opportunities through the optimal introduction of best-value biologic (including biosimilar) medicines. To liaise with the regional procurement pharmacist to ensure optimal timing for introducing biosimilars based on when they become available on the regional or national medicines contracts. To estimate or forecast the potential savings from new biologics. To lead on liaison with the relevant clinicians to ensure engagement with savings on biologics. If necessary, engage with the manufacturers to ensure that the product and any related service can be provided consistently and to the right quality. Engage with colleagues working in the clinics to identify any information, resources and other tools that may be required (for example, patient information). To liaise with the pharmacy purchasing team and homecare teams to ensure stock levels are adjusted correctly in preparation for a switch. Play a central role within the OUHFT Medicines Effectiveness and in the implementation of new biosimilar HCDs. If necessary, work with the BOB ICB Medicines Optimisation Team to ensure policies and procedures are updated in time to support switching to biosimilar medicines. Ensure operational processes are followed for specific commissioning requirements related to reimbursement of individual medicines. Provide support to the specialist, lead clinical pharmacists and pharmacist team leaders, to assist in understanding and implementing biosimilar switches. Work with the rest of the Medicines Effectiveness team to ensure horizon scanning is completed on time. Support the management of schemes and services (homecare, drug company patient access schemes) to ensure timely and safe patient access to HCDs. Build regional links with other pharmacists and technicians to share best practice. Financial / Resource Management Provide a periodical horizon scan report on all savings opportunities arising as a result of the patent expiry of biologic originator medicines. Provide a monthly report on any savings made on biologic switches to the Trust and BOB ICB. Work with the OUH commissioning management team and Medicines Effectiveness teams, to monitor savings against the HCD plan in the year so that under or over-performance can be identified and addressed. To support the ICB Medicines Optimisation Pharmacists with systems and processes for the management of high-cost, other rechargeable drugs and homecare (e.g. Blueteq). Support the ICB Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist by answering queries relating to ICB-commissioned HCDs for the OUH. Ensure that HCDs are managed within the Trust, in line with commissioning principles and NICETAs. Lead on the implementation of biosimilar therapeutics substitution initiatives and other savings initiatives relating to biologics. Work closely with Finance to ensure all required data to support appropriate remuneration for PbR-excluded drugs is collected and submitted to BOB ICS Finance and relevant clinicians along with any agreed 'gain share' schemes. Support the strategic development and planning of drug expenditure reporting. Have a high level of expertise in the use of the pharmacy databases used to provide usage information on high-cost and other rechargeable drugs. Resolve specific queries from commissioners on HCD expenditure information. Support the provision of specialist drug expenditure information and advice to departmental and Trust staff. Support effective communication throughout the pharmacy service and the Trust of any developments in reporting of expenditure on HCDs. Liaise with Divisional Pharmacy Team leaders to ensure drug expenditure and usage information on HCDs is captured and reported regularly. Develop, maintain and update a database of all patients prescribed HCDs, ensuring thorough and complete records / databases are maintained. Support the management of specific drug expenditure, usage and monitoring databases, including data input and the production of reports. Provide other information on drug expenditure and usage as required. Keep abreast of national, regional and local benchmarking tools (e.g. Model Hospital, GIRFT and Right-Care) to maximise to opportunities for medicines optimisation initiatives. Be familiar with DEFINE and REFINE and promote its use as tools for promoting effective medicines optimisation in the area of HCDs. Work with the electronic prescribing team to encourage the capture of activity on biologics prescribing and savings. Liaise directly with the Trust's Finance and Contracts department to answer queries and provide information to support the recovery of reclaimable HCD expenditure. Compile reports, as needed, of work undertaken for presentation to relevant groups or meetings. Project Management Play a central role in coordinating affairs of the Medicines Value Group. Contribute to pharmacy strategic and business plans especially those that have a significant impact on the use of biologic high-cost medicines. Ensure effective implementation of all aspects of agreed medicines optimisation projects, business initiatives and other service changes (this might include: leading a team, and working collaboratively with colleagues in finance, information, procurement, contracting and performance management as well as with providers, clinical and other commissioners, and patients and carers). Contribute to project team(s) in the creation and delivery of project plans, allocating tasks as appropriate, identifying risks, issues and dependencies, considering best practice and current options and ultimately making decisions in the best interest of the project. Be responsible for ensuring a high standard of work, supporting the delivery of projects on time, to quality standards and in a cost-effective manner. Maintain plans and regularly monitor progress and resources. Ensure the flexibility of the project if required to meet conflicting/changing requirements. Contribute to the development and monitoring of key performance indicators and other performance management measures that will support effective delivery of medicines optimisation projects and others service changes. Ensure the portfolio of initiatives provide and demonstrate value for money for the current spend through tracking, managing and delivering agreed benefits. Evaluate the effectiveness of those changes using a range of audit-based techniques. Work collaboratively with colleagues in contracting and finance as well as with other stakeholders and other provider services. Support other project managers as required. Clinical Practice Role Provide a clinical pharmacy service according to Trust agreed standards. Monitor medicines use within the ward area including recording of significant clinical interventions and risk management. Use available information to influence prescribers and ensure the most cost-effective choice of therapy. Participate in ward rounds, clinical meetings or out-patient clinics to provide pharmaceutical advice to prescribers and other healthcare professionals. Liaise with external agencies to ensure safe, timely and appropriate supply to patients e.g. homecare supply companies if needed. Participate in ward-based clinical audits and the development and implementation of treatment protocols and guidelines for the use of medicines within the clinical area. Tutor rotational clinical pharmacists undertaking the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, following formal accreditation as a tutor by Cardiff University or other universities and to tutor other pharmacists and pre-registration students in the clinical area., The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

• Degree in Pharmacy (Masters) or equivalent
• Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Post-Graduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or equivalent experience
• Experience of working as a clinical pharmacist at a high level in a variety of clinical areas
• Proven experience of working at a strategic level with senior clinicians and managers and experience of working in an integrated directorate team
• Experience and proven ability in managing teams.
Desirable criteria
• Experience in formulary development and management
• Good information technology skill
• Experience of implementing QIPP or other cost reduction programmes, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel., Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.