Principal Pharmacy Technician - Aseptic - Stockton-on-Tees - ref. b1057319
If you share our passion then apply for this opportunity and help us make our patients’ experience the best it can possibly be.
With a budget of around £365m, three hospitals and 5,500 staff, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital-based services to the population of Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees and parts of East Durham and Sedgefield as well as community, therapeutic and screening to a wider population across Durham and Teesside.
Job overview
Advert may close early if sufficient number of applications is reached.
We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Principal Pharmacy Technician to lead our Aseptic Services team at the University Hospital of North Tees. This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a dynamic team, contributing to the efficient and effective delivery of pharmacy services across the hospital.
Main duties of the job
As the Principal Pharmacy Technician, you will take on a leadership role within the Aseptic Services Unit, overseeing the work of Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants. You will be responsible for ensuring that our service adheres to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, supporting safe, accurate, and efficient operations.You will also play a key role in managing stock control, ensuring the safe and rational use of products, and providing managerial support to the Pharmacy Operational Manager
Working for our organisation
At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones.
We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.
We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition – a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.
We actively encourage staff involvement with staff networking events and staff survey
“Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool”
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please relate to attached job description for a more comprehensive list of duties.
Some aspects may include:
Lead, manage, and supervise the Aseptic Services team, ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality services.
Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and guidelines related to aseptic manufacturing, compounding, and dispensing.
Maintain robust systems of work with proper documentation and procedures, ensuring a safe, accurate, and efficient service.
Act as an authorized signatory for pharmacy orders and non-stock requisitions.
Manage the production of aseptic products in collaboration with the accountable pharmacist and ensure staff and process validation.
Support the development of junior staff through mentorship, training, and participation in their appraisals.
Contribute to corporate objectives, including managing sickness absence, promoting staff well-being, and ensuring cost-effective operations.
Act as an ASCribe system manager, ensuring the quality of data in the pharmacy system.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Well established numeracy and literacy skills (GCSE or equivalent at grade C or above in English and Mathematics) for current entry to training scheme. Pharmacy Technician Qualification (NVQ Level 3, BTEC or equivalent). Evidence of Continued Professional Development Registered as pharmacy technician with GPhC Evidence of ongoing competency in aseptic preparation as recognised by QAAPS
- Willingness to undertake further training to advance skills and knowledge in preparation for development To have successfully completed an Accredited Checking Technician Course* NVQ A1 or V1qualification Management Qualification Level 3 SMT qualification recognised by the Science Council Pre and In-process Accredited Checking Programme (PIPC) for Aseptic Services
Experience
Essential criteria- Significant experience in production and aseptic services, in a hospital environment Experience of planning workload Experience in delivering training and
- Experience of developing work processes and associated procedures Experience of undertaking appraisals Experience in staff management
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), COSHH and Farwell Audits Specialist knowledge of clean room technology, Quality Assurance and Cytotoxic dispensing/preparation Demonstrate ability to reliably check, input and record data and to identify discrepancies. Ability to pay good attention to detail. Demonstrate a good working knowledge of windows based systems, and be capable of using some Microsoft Office applications Be focused on patient care and the efficient and effective service delivery. Demonstrates practical knowledge of Quality systems. Experience in preparing SOPs
- Knowledge of the ASCribe Pharmacy System
**Please note - Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early**
Please check your email address on a regular basis as applicants invited to attend an interview will be notified via this method.
As part of our recruitment process, you will be required to undertake pre-employment screening: Disclosure and Barring Scheme (previously Criminal Records Bureau)
Where a post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 it may be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Scheme to check for any previous criminal convictions. Should you require a copy of the Trust's Disclosure and Barring Service Policy, please contact a member of the recruitment team on 01642 624023.
It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool 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 for their DBS certificate.The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust.
Please note the essential qualifications required for the post outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to hold and provide evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted.
For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust , you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).
As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history. Applicants are requested to ensure e-mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form.Personal references are not acceptable.
If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.
North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust operates a No Smoking Policy.
If you experience any technical difficulties applying for this post please contact a member of our recruitment team on 01642 624023 quoting the vacancy reference.
Equal Opportunities
The details in the Monitoring Information section of your application will be used for monitoring our recruitment process and will not be seen by the interview panel. The information you give will be treated in the strictest confidence. To meet its commitment to promoting equality of opportunity, the Trust’s policy is that individuals will be recruited, trained and promoted according to ability and job requirements only.As such we welcome your application irrespective of your gender, race, disability, colour, ethnic or national origin, and nationality, and marital status, responsibility for dependants, religion, trade union activity and age.
Disability
The Trust gives full and fair consideration to applications for employment received from disabled people. We are a “Positive about Disabled People” employer, and we hold the ‘two ticks’ Disability Symbol, which is a recognition given by Jobcentre Plus to employers who have agreed to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of disabled people.If you have a disability, which makes it difficult for you to complete our application form, please do not hesitate to contact the recruitment team on 01642 624023.
Armed Forces Covenant
As a supporter of the Armed Forces and an employer of Reservists, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces (and their families) are treated fairly.
We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.
What does this mean?
We proactively demonstrate our forces-friendly credentials within our recruitment and selection processes, by having a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for those indicated as part of the Armed Forces Community. We engage with our local and regional Career Transition Partnership representatives and are a member of Step Into Health.We employ veterans and reservists from differing branches of the Armed Forces and actively promote our positive policies for the Armed Forces Community, including our Special Leave policy. We advocate support for defence people issues, including facilitating easier access to Healthcare Services for our patients within the AF Community.
We have supported employees through Reservist training, through additional leave for their training and ongoing support under our Special Leave policy.