Assistant Technical Officer
Job overview
Are you passionate and motivated pharmacy assistant technical officer or dispenser? Are you dedicated to improving patient care by supporting research?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and well-motivated Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer to join the Tees Valley Research Alliance (TVRA) dedicated pharmacy clinical trials team at University Hospitals Tees.
Cross-site working is expected across North Tees Foundation Trust and South Tees Foundation Trust as per service need in the clinical trials pharmacy team. This post will initially be based at North Tees Foundation Trust to cover staff absence with training provided at South Tees.
You will provide support to the TVRA pharmacy clinical trials team and will work under the management of pharmacy operational managers.
Pharmacy play a vital role in clinical research to safeguard participants, healthcare professionals and the Trust by ensuring that clinical trial material and Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) are appropriate for use and are procured, handled, stored and used safely and correctly.
You will have a varied role which will include dispensing of clinical trials prescriptions, ordering, receipt and accountability of clinical trial stock, monitoring of storage areas and administrative work. You will be required to communicate with a wide range of professionals via telephone, email and face-to face.
The successful candidate will work full time hours Monday – Friday.
Main duties of the job
Undertake clinical trial prescription and requisition dispensing, following all legal requirements and departmental procedures; refer to pharmacist for clarification of ambiguous prescribing.
Ensure appropriate handling of clinical trial medication in line with sponsor instructions and GCP. Participate in the ordering, receipt, supply, maintenance, destruction and return (where applicable) of medications used within clinical trials.
Participate in the stock management programme within pharmacy clinical trials; undertake regular stock and expiry date checks, informing the lead technician or other appropriate staff of any discrepancies.
Liaise effectively with all sponsors, relevant parties and stakeholders regarding the initiation, maintenance, closure and archiving of all clinical trials.
Any related duties that may be required to maintain an effective pharmaceutical clinical trials service.
To ensure your work complies with organisational policies relating to health and safety including for example COSSH assessment, waste disposal, risk assessment, manual handling, mandatory training etc. and to ensure that the pharmacy service maintains appropriate health and safety procedures and records.
Working for our organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our staff in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions
- Your Leadership Impact
- Service Improvement for Beginners
After you complete these one and a half days of training, you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria- Understanding the principles of dispensing
- Excellent communications skills both verbal and written
- Broad pharmacy product knowledge
- Computer literate
Qualifications
Essential criteria- NVQ level 2 in Pharmaceutical Service Skills or equivalent
- GCSE in Maths and English (A-C/4-9) or Functional Skills (level 2)
- Evidence of up-to-date Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training or the ability to complete as soon as possible once in post
Experience
Essential criteria- Recent record of accurate dispensing in a hospital or community setting
- Proven experience of Standard Operating Procedures
- Previous experience and knowledge of hospital pharmacy
- Previous experience and knowledge of clinical trials
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is now the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group.
As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at [email protected]
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.
IMPORTANT - Please ensure you read the 'Guidance Notes for Applicants' document attached to this advert before you start to complete your application form.
This document provides detailed advice regarding the completion of your application form.
The guidance document also provides in detail what identification and certificates you must provide at interview should you be shortlisted.
As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references from their last continuous 3 year employment and/or training/education. The referees MUST be a Line Manager/Supervisor. Applicants are requested to ensure email addresses for all referees are included on their application form.Personal references and references from colleagues are not acceptable.
Unfortunately we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.