Specialist Pharmacy or Science Manufacturing Technician

Job summary

To be an integral part of the Pharmacy Team developing Aseptic Services for the patients and staff of this Trust and other local healthcare providers.

To participate in the provision of aseptically prepared intravenous medicines using technical skills, including final check and release of aseptically prepared products.

To lead on economical and statistical analysis.

Main duties of the job

To assist in the provision of aseptically prepared pharmaceuticals (batches and patient specific).

To lead on Cost Improvement Projects in aseptic services.

To lead on charging from ASU to external customers.

To collate and report statistics related to the aseptic unit.

To perform other tasks necessary to ensure that ASU operates in an appropriate and efficient manner

About us

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Job description

Job responsibilities

o assist in the provision of aseptically prepared pharmaceuticals (batches and patient specific). This will include the following tasks, all performed accurately and following SOPs:

To co-ordinate the day to day workload, ensuring items are manufactured in a timely manner and colleagues are supported.

To follow good manufacturing practice (GMP) at all times.

To generate worksheets and labels, ensuring medicines are charged correctly using the pharmacy computer system.

To in process check worksheets and labels, ensuring medicines are charged correctly.

To assemble drugs, diluents and consumables prior to aseptic dispensing.

To participate in in-process checks of drugs, diluents and consumables prior to aseptic dispensing.

To assist with decontamination of products from the support room & cleanroom prior to preparation (spraying and wiping).

To check /prepare the isolators are ready for use before each session.

To aseptically dispense injections and infusions within the appropriate work zone.

To in-process volume check injections and infusions.

To final pack and label prepared items and pass them to the final checking stage.

To dispense batched products, including product selection, labelling and packaging, including parental nutrition.

To order and dispense outsourced patient specific items, including parental nutrition.

To be registered as a named person on the Intrathecal Chemotherapy register, in order to complete the above tasks for Intrathecal drugs.

To final check and release dispensed patient specific aseptic items.

To final check dispensed parental nutrition or other aseptic items manufactured by external suppliers.

To final check batched aseptic items & take these to QA for release.

To only complete the above tasks if validations and competencies have been completed and authorised, and to keep all validations and competencies for the above tasks in date.

To seek advice from senior colleagues where needed.

To lead on Cost Improvement Projects in aseptic services. This will include the following tasks:

To identify opportunities for cost improvements within aseptic services.

To work closely with the sustainability technician in ASU to reduce all wastage.

To identify and review items which can be batch produced to save money or time.

To lead on charging from ASU to external customers. This will include the following tasks:

To create debtor forms and ensure charging is correct for medicines made by ASU for routine

ASU customers.

Liaise with pharmacy office staff to ensure charging and invoices for non-routine ASU customers

will be correct.

To investigate and resolve any invoice queries from ASU customers.

To collate and report statistics related to the aseptic unit. This will include the following tasks:

To accurately calculate workload statistics for the unit (using reports from the pharmacy computer system).

To input calculated statistics & other relevant information into the capacity plan to gain a workload capacity figure.

To compile statistics on turnaround times, outsourced items, deviations and other key performance indicators and record these on the scorecard.

To compile statistics on cost improvement programs (CIPs), cost avoidance and any external income.

To add assigned metrics to the pharmacy management board (PMB) scorecard.

To perform other tasks necessary to ensure that ASU operates in an appropriate and efficient manner. This will include the following tasks:

To upload documents to the electronic quality management system (EQMS).

To accurately populate debtor forms to enable correct charging to external customers.

To assist in ensuring agreed environmental monitoring (including ensuring end of session broths are available) and cleaning procedures are carried out and relevant records kept.

To ensure adequate stock of outsourced and/or in-house dose-banded items.

To assist with reducing wastage by processing returns and re-using products where possible.

To assist with data collection and audits, when required.

To deliver exposed settle plates to microbiology at the end of each day.

To ensure delivery and collection of cleanroom clothing.

To assist in ensuring maintenance of adequate & accurate stock levels and proper storage of medicinal products and consumables used by ASU.

To assist in the training of pharmacy and other staff, when required.

To answer the telephone and liaise with pharmacy staff and ASU customers regarding patients treatment.

To attend ASU and other pharmacy meetings when required.

To attend study days and training programs as requested by Senior Technician, ASU to ensure continuing personal development.

To highlight potential corrective and preventable actions (CAPA) and service improvements to enable colleagues to learn from errors or quality issues.

To undertake any other related duties as may be deemed necessary.

To represent the ASU department at pharmacy meetings.

To assist in updating procedures and writing new procedures.

If required, to deputise for the Principal Pharmacy Technician.

To undertake any other related duties as may be deemed necessary.

Other information

The postholder may be required to carry out other relevant duties as required.

The postholder will adhere to the duties specified under the Staff Responsibilities of the NHS Constitution in their day to day work and behaviours.

The postholder will be expected to aspire to the Values of the Trust in their day to day work and behaviours in order to support the Trust in achieving its Vision.

The postholder will adhere to, at all times, any Professional, NHS Code of Conducts and legislation relevant for their area of work.

The postholder will make themselves familiar with, and adhere to, at all times, the policies and procedures of the Trust, and their area of work.

The postholder will be expected to work to any Corporate/Division/Directorate/Department objectives and standards in order to provide an acceptable level of service.

The postholder will be expected to undertake training, including mandatory and role specific training, relevant to their role and ensure it is renewed as required

Person Specification

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

Able to undertake aseptic manipulations in isolators Accurate Ability to work effectively under pressure

Educations, Training and Qualifications

Essential

Qualified Pharmacy Technician; NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services, or equivalent qualification as a Pharmacy Technician OR Qualified Science Manufacturing Technician; Full Science Manufacturing Technician Level 3 Standard Registered Pharmacy Technician or Registered Science Manufacturing Technician

Desirable

Aseptic Preparation and Dispensing of Medicines

Skills

Essential

Good communication skills Computer skills (dispensing, stock control) Use of Microsoft office applications, excel, word

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

In depth understanding of GMP. Knowledge of practice in hospital Aseptic Services Experience of final checking

Desirable

Experience of GCP / setting up clinical trials within an aseptic unit Experience of creating debtor forms, dealing with invoice queries. Experience of conducting risk assessments and COSHH assessments Experience of implementing CAPA

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