Pharmacy Technician - Aseptic Services - NHS
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work.It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society.We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).
Job overview
Are you interested in pharmacy aseptic & cancer services? Are you a GPhC-registered Pharmacy Technician? Do you want to join the current HSJ 'Trust of the Year'? If so, we have a fantastic opportunity for you to join our innovative, friendly and professional team.
The Aseptic Services team at SWFT prepare items both under a section 10 exemption and MHRA specials license. We are looking for a Registered Pharmacy Technician to join our friendly and expanding team.
Responsibilities include:
- Co-ordinating the work stream and our team of SATOs.
- Pre and in-process checking.
- Contributing to GMP meetings.
- Training of new staff.
- Deputising for Senior Technicians.
You will undertake our comprehensive training package, under the supervision of experienced Pharmacy Technicians.
The successful candidate will need strong communication skills, be self-motivating, have good time management skills, have excellent attention to detail and a commitment to excellent safe pharmacy practice.
The site is close to Warwick Train Station and local bus routes, and accessible via Junction 15 of the M40.
Main duties of the job
To carry out aseptic duties, make aseptic products for various sites, and make licenced products for external customers.
To organise Senior Pharmacy Assistants, Pharmacy Assistants and Students to ensure good work flow in Aseptics.
Working for our organisation
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work.It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To carry out dispensing of drugs (including controlled drugs), medicated dressings, enteral feeds, in-patients and A&E prescriptions and clinical trial prescriptions
To perform a final accuracy check of dispensed items.
To give routine clinical and pharmaceutical advice to healthcare staff if confident to do so and within the knowledge limitations of the grade.
To counsel patients as appropriate in order to ensure the safe and effective use and storage of their medicines.
To liaise with ward pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and ward staff in determining appropriate pharmaceuticals stock levels, for the production and updating of ward-stock lists and to assist in the provision of advice to ward staff on the storage and handling of pharmaceuticals.
To check, maintain and replenish the out of hour’s drug cupboard and resuscitation cupboard.
To participate in the ‘topping-up’ service for wards/departments in the hospital and outside units as required.
To participate in stock replenishment procedures in all areas of the pharmacy.
To monitor the continued suitability of pharmaceutical stock on wards and in departments and to arrange the appropriate removal/destruction in accordance with environmental regulations.
To monitor and record drug storage temperatures within the Pharmacy and on wards/departments during the ‘top-up’ and to alert section managers of any discrepancies.
Ensure the security of the pharmacy department and stores areas at all times during working hours and at the end of the working day by maintaining responsibility for keys and swipe access cards and by the setting of alarms as necessary.
To carry out accurate entry of data into the Pharmacy computer system.
To assist in the maintenance of the Controlled Drugs Register and to carry out regular stock level checks of Controlled Drugs in line with legal responsibilities.
To carry out aseptic preparation following completion of the in-house aseptic training programme.
To participate in the ward-based Medicines Management service when appropriate and under the supervision of a Medicines Management Technician.
To undertake disposal of cytotoxic drug waste in accordance with COSHH regulations.
To assist in the individual and group training of pharmacy assistants (ATOs), senior ATOs, Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians and Pre-Registration Pharmacist students.
To assist section managers in the orientation, induction and training of pharmacy staff new to those sections, and to contribute to the training of the Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technicians.
To contribute ideas for improving cost-effectiveness and to assist in their implementation where agreed.
To participate in the weekend and Bank Holiday rota including handling of boxes of intravenous fluids and other bulk products.
To process cash and cheque transactions for over the counter sales of medicines and for private prescriptions, as required.
To undertake other duties at the base hospital and outside units as required by the Pharmacy Operations Lead, in accordance with this grade of post.
Relationships:
Managed by the section manager to which allocated.
Supervises pharmacy assistants (ATOs) and senior ATOs in the section of work to which allocated.
Works and co-operates with all pharmacy and healthcare staff in the provision of services
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- BTEC National certificate/NVQ level 3/City and Guilds or equivalent
- Registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Accreditation as an Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT)
Experience
Desirable criteria- Aseptic Services Experience
- Hospital Pharmacy Experience
Skills
Essential criteria- Basic computer skills
- Good communication skills (written and oral)
- Accurate numeracy skills
- Accurate dispensing skills
- Knowledge of all rotational technician roles including dispensary and ward-based duties.
- Supervisory skills
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria- Enthusiastic
- Motivated
- Reliable
- Team worker
- Good personal presentation
- Flexible
- Able to use initiative
- Able to deal with angry/upset/ill patients
- Able to create a rapport
Other
Essential criteria- Able to participate in weekend & Bank holiday working.
- Committed to CPD
- Physically fit and able to stand/sit for long periods.
- Good work attendance record
- Good health record and fit to undertake the job
- Car driver with use of motorised transport
- Able to use a VDU
- Capable of occasional moderate lifting (<13kg)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don’t want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.
The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).
Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.
We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.
Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it’s a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.
The Trust is part of a ‘Foundation Group’ through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.