Aseptic Services Band 4/5

Job summary

Aseptic Services Band 4 and 5 posts

Do you have aseptic manufacturing experience and looking for an opportunity for development/promotion? If so, we have Band 4 and 5 posts available within our team. The roles will incorporate training/qualification and/or band progression within our progression scheme.

We are a busy aseptic services team within Lewisham Hospital Pharmacy Department. We provide intravenous chemotherapy treatment to patients at both hospital sites of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

We are looking for experienced aseptic operators to expand our senior technical team, enabling us to provide a safe and efficient service and leading/training our junior technical team.

Within the posts there are opportunities for further development by undertaking the Science Manufacturing Technician qualification and the in-house band progression scheme.

We have exciting plans to redevelop our aseptic unit which will enable you increase your knowledge of quality management systems and organisation within a unit refurbishment.

Good expertise of aseptic practices, communication and organisational skills will be essential to the roles. You will be able to work well within a team and on your own, have experience of meeting deadlines, working under pressure and supervising staff. In addition, a commitment to service and self-development is required.

Main duties of the job

Key aspects of the roles are:

Co-ordinating the day to day operation of the aseptic cleanroom ensuring a safe, efficient service and timely delivery of chemotherapy medicines within the Trust. Implementing developments to meet the needs of the patient, and support with the delivery of any service developments as required, meeting local and national requirements. Supervising and training, to ensure all staff are developed within their roles and working to approved procedures in line with Good Manufacturing Practice.

Applicants are required to detail how they meet the person specification from the job description within their supporting statement and give examples. Candidates may not be shortlisted for interview if this is not completed.

If candidates do not meet the essential post-GSCE qualification criteria but have suitable aseptic experience; please apply as it may be possible to undertake qualification in post.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development Widening access (anchor institution) and employability Improving the experience of staff with disability Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development Making equalities mainstream Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

To supervise the day to day operation of the aseptic cleanroom ensuring a safe, efficient service and timely delivery of chemotherapy medicines within the Trust. To support the senior technicians in organising staff, carrying out in process checks and managing the environmental and physical monitoring of the Aseptic Unit.

Key Result Areas & Performance:

Technical Services

Supervise and prioritise the daily workload in the aseptic cleanroom to ensure the safe and efficient preparation of chemotherapy medicines. Supervise and monitor the standards of work, ensuring all staff are working to approved procedures and in line with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Trust procedures and policies. Informing the senior technicians of any deviation from these. To deputise for the senior technicians in their absence in relation to operational issues. Communicate effectively, both verbally and written, with members of the healthcare team and pharmacy team to support the seamless provision of chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition to the Trust. Report operational issues and ideas for service development/improvement to the Principal Technician/Technical Services Manager. Assist in the future planning and implementation of changes in response to service developments and quality assurance audit recommendations. To participate in the training of all staff new to the Aseptic Unit, including pre-reg pharmacists and technicians, and assistants in principles and procedures relating to aseptic dispensing and smooth running of the department. Assist in the monitoring of training, accreditation and validation of aseptic staff, ensuring continued re-accreditation and validation. To ensure the completion of daily, weekly and monthly environmental and physical monitoring, and cleaning as required in standard operating procedures. To adhere to and maintain a strict cleanroom environment including the wearing of cleanroom clothing and personal protective equipment as required in standard operating procedures. To be accredited and accurately perform in process volume checks, worksheet and label checks, and product assembly checks as required according to standard operating procedures. To be validated to and accurately prepare aseptic chemotherapy products and other sterile injectables within a pharmaceutical isolator including accurate measuring of solutions and use of equipment such as syringes and needles. To accurately prepare aseptic product documentation and labels from prescriptions. To accurately assemble aseptic products in preparation for aseptic processing. To maintain a very high level of concentration within a busy working environment, whilst responding to the needs of staff under your supervision. To work independently, effectively managing own time and prioritisation/completion of tasks. To assist in the stock control and dispensing of outsourced Parenteral Nutrition and ready to administer chemotherapy products. To accurately issue and transfer items used in Technical Services to appropriate cost centres using the Ascribe computer system. To produce and approve purchase orders for chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition products using the Ascribe computer system and the manufacturers online ordering software. To assist in the updating, development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures, information documents and instructions relevant to the Aseptic Unit, as requested by the Senior management. To be responsible for the collation of monthly capacity figures for the manufacture of chemotherapy products and dispensing of outsourced Parenteral Nutrition and ready to administer chemotherapy products. To participate in the production of Error Logs, QERs and reports relevant to the department as required by the departments standard operating procedures. Pro-actively contribute to the agenda content of Technical Services meetings, ensuring actions are completed and information cascaded as necessary. To comply with the departmental Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, including dress and Hygiene relating to work in the unit. To work at all times within the standard operating procedures and Health and Safety Guidelines of the department including COSHH. Participate in the receipt of goods delivered to the aseptic unit and maintenance of stock levels to ensure sufficient drugs and consumables are available for use within the unit. To be responsible for ensuring all laundry is packed and sent for processing. To hold or successfully undertake the Pharmaceutical Science BTEC and NVQ Pharmacy Services Level 3 Aseptic Modules within the expected timeframe. To ensure accurate stock rotation and expiry date checks are carried out. To participate in stock takes. Ensure all waste is disposed of appropriately. Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

GCSE Math and English grade C or above (or equivalent) Pharmaceutical Science BTEC and NVQ Level 3 Pharmacy Services or equivalent level of knowledge To have attended: Aseptic Dispensing and Preparation of Medicines Residential Course (Leeds) or Aseptic Training Residential Course (Bath ASU)

Experience

Essential

2 years minimum experience working in an Aseptic Unit including 12 months aseptic manipulation experience Experience of working in hospital Pharmacy setting Multidisciplinary team working Experience of aseptic in process checking Supervising of staff Completion of error logs Previous experience of working towards and meeting deadlines

Desirable

Experience of Aseptic Quality Assurance audit Involvement in production of procedures/QERs Involvement in aseptic service development and implementation of changes Training of staff Collation and presentation of key performance indicators

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice and Quality Assurance Good communication skills both verbal and written English Good interpersonal skills Ability to work without constant supervision and as a part of a team Able to work to set procedures Able to clearly and accurately complete routine documentation Able to work under pressure accurately Able to identify & prioritise tasks Able to motivate self and use own initiative Basic computer and IT skills including: Email, Word processing, accurate data entry

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