Senior Pharmacy Technician, Technical Services

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

Good knowledge of aseptic practices, communication and organisational skills will be essential to the role. 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.

Key aspects of the role are:

Co-ordinate the day to day operation of the aseptic cleanroom ensuring a safe, efficient service and timely delivery of chemotherapy medicines within the Trust. Implement 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

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Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

To support and maintain the safe, efficient and cost effective supply of chemotherapy medicines to patients at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. To co-ordinate the day to day operation of the aseptic cleanroom ensuring a safe, efficient service and timely delivery of chemotherapy medicines within the Trust. Implement developments to meet the needs of the patient, and support with the delivery of any service developments as required, meeting local and national requirements. To deputise for the Principal Technician Technical Services in their absence.

Key Result Areas & Performance

Technical Services Unit

Co-ordinate 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 Principal Technician/Technical Services Manager of any deviation from these. To deputise for the Principal Technician in their absence in relation to operational issues. 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, dispensing, checking and release of outsourced Parenteral Nutrition and ready to administer chemotherapy products. To be an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT). 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 participate in the collation of monthly key performance indicators 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 ensure accurate stock rotation and expiry date checks are carried out. To participate in stock takes. Ensure all waste is disposed of appropriately. To develop and maintain risk assessments within Technical Services for the Control of Substances Hazardous for Health (COSHH). To develop and update product worksheets including the creation and revision of label templates on the Ascribe computer system. To manage the receipt of outsourced chemotherapy on the pharmacy stock control system, liaise with the Pharmacy Invoice Clerk to deal with price queries and accurately issue doses to the appropriate cost centres. To run routine reports using the pharmacy stock control system to ensure appropriate management of outsourced chemotherapy doses.

Dispensary (weekends and bank holidays)

To accurately dispense prescriptions for inpatients in accordance with standard policies and procedures; including discharge (TTO/TTA); controlled drugs and clinical trials. To issue completed prescriptions and controlled drug supplies to the ward.

Financial & Physical Resources

To undertake stock control and ordering To facilitate stock rotation to prevent wastage. To ensure accurate charging of outsourced chemotherapy products.

Line Management

To carry out staff appraisals and develop staff in line with their objectives. To arrange, undertake and document regular 1-2-1 meetings. To participate in staff recruitment and induction in compliance with Trust and local requirements. To performance manage staff where appropriate in line with Trust policies.

Other Duties

To participate in the control and supply of stock medicines to wards and departments. To participate in the supply of Clinical Trial medicines in line with GCP requirements. Participates in the 3 monthly Controlled Drugs audit, Drug Stock Security audits, and expiry checks. To assist in the training of pharmacy staff as necessary. To provide cover to other sites within the Trust as requested by the Technical Services Manager. To assist the department in any other areas required for the smooth running of the department. To participate in weekend and bank holiday rotas as per local procedures. To be aware of and abide by departmental policies and procedures. To participate in audits.

To be prepared to work on other sites within Lewisham & Greenwich Trust

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (post 2022) or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Service Skills (pre 2022) or equivalent Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (or willing to undertake the accreditation scheme). Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Evidence of CPD.

Desirable

To have attended: Aseptic Dispensing and Preparation of Medicines Residential Course (Leeds) or Aseptic Training Residential Course (Bath ASU) Specialist knowledge of pharmacy procedures and processes.

Experience

Essential

Must have worked in a UK hospital pharmacy, with minimum 1 years post qualification experience. Minimum 6 month experience of working in a GMP production/aseptic unit. Accurate dispenser, familiar with pharmacy computerised labelling system. Supervision and training of others. Evidence of ability to work independently and proactively with limited supervision.

Desirable

Experience of aseptic Quality Assurance audit Involvement in/production of procedures/QERs Involvement in aseptic service development and implementation of changes Previous line management experience. Collation and presentation of key performance indicators

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Good understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice and Quality Assurance Ability to work on own initiative, and effectively as part of a team, both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment. Ability to apply knowledge and expertise to inform decision-making processes. Demonstrable ability to communicate information effectively using clear written and spoken English and overcome barriers to understanding.

Desirable

Ability to contribute to the planning of service developments within a department or service. Ability to manage difficult and complex teams.

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