Higher Lever Pharmacy Technician - Technical Services
Be part of our BHT family
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.
We care for over half a million patients every year:
- provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
- nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
- regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
- deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.
More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.
We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.
If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [email protected] or phone 01494 734868.
We pride ourselves in being a great place to work – and invite you to join our BHT family.
Job overview
The post holder will assist in the management, development and delivery of a high quality, patient centred and cost effective pharmacy service delivering care to our Cancer Unit and other areas across the hospital. This will be through the co-ordination and supervision of technical staff working in the pharmacy aseptic unit.They will participate in the dispensing of cytotoxic and aseptic products for specific patients and will be responsible for the day to day running of the local unlicensed aseptic unit in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), National Guidelines, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Heath) and all local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Trust Policies and Procedures.
They will organise and supervise the work of pharmacy technicians and support workers within Technical Services and deputise for the band 6 Pharmacy Technician for Technical Services as required.
Main duties of the job- To organise and plan the supply of aseptically prepared medicines to patients, wards, theatres and departments served by the Trust and to contribute to the development of these services by proposing and implementing service improvements.
- To aseptically prepare and dispense cytotoxic chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, parenteral nutrition and other sterile products for inpatients, outpatients and day cases, including clinical trials, according to local SOPs.
- To prepare and update all records relating to the aseptic service including environmental monitoring records, microbiology reports, servicing records, workload figures, previous worksheets, and copies of dispensed prescriptions.
- To use the pharmacy stock control system to accurately label and dispense medicines according to local SOPs. To dispense supportive therapies and oral chemotherapy in accordance with the prescription and local SOPs.
- Organise, supervise and assist in the training of pharmacy technicians and support workers within Technical Services and deputise for the band 6 Pharmacy Technician for Technical Services as required.
- To be accredited, or willing to work towards accreditation within 1 year of employment, to perform pre- and in-process checks (PIPC)
- To work collaboratively with the team to provide excellent patient care and utilise resources effectively and accurately.
Working for our organisation
Why colleagues think we are "a great place to work!"
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.
We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
What do we stand for?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.
We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.
We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact [email protected] (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.
We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.
Person specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria- NVQ3 in Pharmaceutical Services or Equivalent
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Pre and in process checking (PIPC)
- Accredited checking course (ACPT)
- Medicines Optimisation accreditation
Experience
Essential criteria- Post qualification hospital experience
- Experience of working in a pharmacy aseptic unit including preparation of cytotoxic chemotherapy, monoclonal and other sterile products.
- Experience of training & supervising staff ideally in aseptic environment
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential criteria- Be able to work on own initiative and be capable of making decisions.
- Be able to delegate tasks.
- Be able co-ordinate staff.
- Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner (verbal and written)
- Ability to communicate to patients and other healthcare professional face-to-face and on the telephone.
- Keep accurate and legible records.
- To be able to recognise limits of own competencies and when to refer and seek advice from colleagues.
- To have a positive attitude and be able to recognise and communicate need for change and be able to participate in change management processes.
- To have an awareness of the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and other guidance related to the manufacture of sterile products.
- Good level of keyboard/computer skills
- Ability to work to Standard Operating Procedures accurately and in a timely fashion.
- To have a clean and tidy appearance
- Ability to work to deadlines and achieve agreed objectives.
- Ability to supervise and train other pharmacy staff.
- Ability to work in an organised and calm fashion in a busy environment to ensure that treatment is delivered in a timely manner.
- To be forward thinking and be able to develop new ideas.
- To be prepared to develop a good understanding of management issues and be prepared to attend any training sessions necessary for development.
- Flexibility and willingness to work in other sections with short notice.
Special Circumstances
Essential criteria- Able to travel to other sites within the Trust and to venues for training.
- Available to work weekends and public holidays on rota with other pharmacy technicians.
PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.
COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.
If you are successful at interview, we will require you to complete a Covid-19 risk assessment document.
Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight. If we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before to the closing date.
Contacting you: We will contact candidates through the email address supplied on their application form. Please make sure you check this regularly.Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.
Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interview will not be reimbursed.Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.