Job overview
We are looking for a pharmacist to join our team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and technical officers working in cancer services at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) is a large regional centre delivering cancer care for over 5000 new patients each year. As a regional centre for the East of England we manage rarer cancers as well as being the local centre for patients within the Cambridgeshire area.
Cancer services at CUH comprises of:
Solid Oncology
Haemato-Oncology including bone marrow transplant
Paediatric Oncology and Haematology including bone marrow transplant
Radiotherapy
Palliative care
Clinical trials
As a Pharmacist within the team, you will have the opportunity to develop your clinical skills and knowledge within this constantly evolving area of medicine.
Main duties of the job
Liaise with the relevant senior pharmacy, medical and nursing staff, other allied health professionals (AHPs) and managers to promote safe, evidence based and cost-effective use of medication in cancer services.
Provide an advanced clinical pharmacy service to cancer services (adults and paediatrics) as part of the pharmacy team.
Provide specialist pharmacist advice and service to inpatient wards, ambulatory care, day care unit and outpatient clinics within cancer services covering both oncology and haemato-oncology.
Prescribe medication (if applicable) for individual patients within the agreed scope of practice and according to the CUH pharmacist prescribing policy within cancer services.
Participate in the preparative services rota ensuring the efficient and accurate validation and release of systemic anticancer therapy.
Participate in novel pharmacy projects in the care of patients in designated clinical area.
Identify and undertake research to inform practice developments and underpin delivery of an effective, evidence-based pharmacy service.
Assist the advanced pharmacists with departmental duties to support the running of the service.
Working for our organisation
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
This vacancy will close at midnight on 14th December 2025
Interviews are due to be held week commencing 5th January 2026
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?
• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Masters level degree in Pharmacy
Post-graduate preregistration year
Registered with General Pharmaceutical Council
Completed Certificate (Year 1) of Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy/General Pharmacy Practice and studying for completion of year 2 or completed equivalent qualification as assessed by the interview panel. For candidates who have not completed year 2 of the diploma an academic reference will be sought in addition to the two standard references. Candidates with non UK/alternative qualifications will be requested to provide further details before shortlisting. These will include details of the course provider and a copy of the academic transcript. Information will be reviewed by our Education and Training team to assess suitability. Note: there is a requirement to undertake training in EPIC (electronic prescribing and medicines administration system; EPMA) and a competence assessment
Desirable criteria
Completed year 1 and year 2 of Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy/General Pharmacy Practice)*
MSc in Clinical Pharmacy (or equivalent)*
Qualified and registered as an Independent prescriber
Risk management training
Professional and final accuracy checking
Member of the faculty of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (or working towards) *Candidates with non UK/alternative qualifications will be requested to provide further details before shortlisting. These will include details of the course provider and a copy of the academic transcript. Information will be reviewed by our Education and Training team to assess suitability
Experience
Essential criteria
Moderate post-registration hospital experience including prescription screening in inpatients/outpatients, medicines reconciliation, medicines information, experience of preparative services either TPN/chemotherapy
Experienced clinical Pharmacist who has covered a range of specialities. Medicine including Elderly Care, Acute Medicine, and including Specialist Medicine and Surgery including General Surgery and other Surgical specialities
Documentation in medical notes
Experience of writing reports
Writing or assisting in writing drug policies and guidelines/PGD development
Evidence of having conducted a clinical audit
Desirable criteria
Recent post-registration hospital experience, ideally including previous experience in a teaching hospital and experience of more than one hospital
Experienced Clinical Pharmacist (at band 7) including one or more of the following Neurosciences, Paediatrics, Critical Care, Renal, Transplant, Oncology, Haematology
Evidence of having written Pharmaceutical and/or educational publications
Experience as a personal tutor to a range of staff groups
Drug expenditure analysis and reporting
Horizon scanning
Ability to take initiative and lead on projects including change management
Knowledge
Essential criteria
Good clinical knowledge of drugs and therapeutic trends within General Medicine and Surgery
Knowledge of recent developments in the treatment of Cancer
Knowledge of key aspects of cancer therapeutics, including mechanism of actions, toxicities and monitoring of commonly used anticancer treatments
Knowledge of NICE and NPSA guidance and subsequent examples of local implementation
Knowledge of Health care systems and NHS changes
Computer literate with experience of Word, Powerpoint and Excel
Familiar with the use of a range of visual aids for teaching
Pharmacy computer systems training
Skills
Essential criteria
Good organisation skills/time management
Able to prioritise workload and target efforts appropriately
Good written and verbal communication skills
Able to give oral presentations appropriate to the level of the audience including students
Able to produce written reports
Good consultation skills
Proven ability to influence and negotiate with all grades of staff
Able to work well in a team
Ability to listen and act on direction from senior Pharmacists
Ability to review the pharmaceutical care of patients in a reasonable time frame including medicines reconciliation
Desirable criteria
Ability to remain calm and work effectively under pressure and to deadlines
Able to produce written support materials for training
Proven ability to teach and train a range of staff groups
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Apply online now
Further details / informal visits contact
Name
Maia Lamb
Job title
Lead Pharmacist - cancer services
Email address
maia.lamb1@nhs.net
Telephone number
01223 596327
Additional information
Any informal questions are welcome