Lead Pharmacy Technician - Clinical Trials

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over staying comfortable; Listening over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

We are looking for a forward thinking and dedicated individual to work closely with the multidisciplinary team. You will help lead, manage and deliver a high-quality clinical trials service across the Trust with the opportunity to gain in depth knowledge of study protocols and their application to clinical practice.

You must hold a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent) and up to date GCP training. Applicants are required to have a minimum of 1-year hospital experience as a qualified Pharmacy Technician in hospital pharmacy or similar.

For your commitment to us, we will ensure you receive personal development in management skills in an environment that is both supportive and challenging in equal measure. Please complete your application in line with the Person Specification and Job Description as failure to do so may lead to non-progression to the short-listing stage of the process.

Main duties of the job

As the Lead Pharmacy Technician for Clinical Trials you will play a crucial role in shaping and developing the pharmacy clinical trials service, including providing education and professional development for pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support staff.

We are looking for a Lead Pharmacy Technician who has the aptitude and skills that are required to motivate, nurture and develop staff and services. You must possess excellent interpersonal, problem solving and time management skill. If this sounds like you, please apply now.

1. To be the Lead Pharmacy Technician for clinical trials, across both sites, supporting the Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist in the delivery of an efficient Pharmacy Clinical Trials Service across Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.
2. To co-ordinate all clinical trials involving investigational medicinal product (IMP) in the Trust and manage the day-to day pharmacy operational activities associated with them.
3. Implementing and improving developments to meet the needs of the Clinical Trials service.
4. To undertake line management duties as necessary

The post is a fixed term opportunity for 12 months as a full-time position and will be based at University Hospital Lewisham, however, will also involve working across site. A flexible working pattern may also be considered.

Working for our organisation

Interviews either 18th or 20th June - to be confirmed

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary:

1. To be the Lead Pharmacy Technician for Clinical Trials, across both sites, supporting and deputising with the Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist for the delivery of an efficient Pharmacy Clinical Trials Service across Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.
2. To support and manage the pharmacy team in the delivery of clinical trials involving investigational medicinal products (IMP) and operational services across the Trust. This will include the promotion of safe and cost-effective drug use, appropriate medicines storage and security, and providing a high-quality service.
3. To support the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidance relating to Clinical Trials as appropriate. This includes undertaking audits, producing reports and implementing any changes that are necessary.
4. To provide technical operational support to the pharmacy department as required by the needs of pharmacy service. This includes line management, supervision, training and support to junior pharmacy technicians, pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff as necessary.
5. To support your section lead with the delivery of any service developments associated with pharmacy services required to meet local and national requirements.
6. To support the Trust’s Clinical Trials team in the co-ordination, implementation, development and delivery of training programmes for pre-registration pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and trainee pharmacists.
7. To deputise for the Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist for the section of department responsibility as needed.

Key Result Areas & Performance:

1. To support the development of Pharmacy clinical trial services and ensure compliance to the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations and subsequent amendments.
2. To be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician.
3. To co-ordinate and maintain the Lewisham and Greenwich Clinical Trials service in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and departmental procedures, by further ensuring a high-quality service is provided to patients and staff.
4. To actively support and facilitate the provision of clinical trial pharmacy services within the department or at ward level as necessary to agree performance targets with guidance and support from the section lead.
5. To dispense (or check where appropriate) clinical trials involving IMP following procedures and recording accountability for these as necessary.
6. To manage the temperature monitoring of all IMPs in Pharmacy or other areas as appropriate by recording daily cold-store and ambient temperatures.
7. To investigate any temperature excursions within designated areas and provide timely reports.
8. To ensure effective stock control and maintain accurate and up to date storage and expiry records for clinical trial products and archive for future reference.
9. To report suspected or confirmed IMP related adverse incidents appropriately and review local protocol if necessary.
10. To support the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidance for pharmacy department to support best practice of clinical trial pharmacy services.
11. To support the development, review and maintenance of pharmacy accreditation programmes for technical staff working within pharmacy clinical trial services.
12. To provide GCP training, attend Site Initiation Visits, facilitate Monitoring Visits and be a Pharmacy representative as a point of contact for all clinical trial enquiries.
13. To provide supervision for pharmacy technical staff working within the pharmacy department.
14. To monitor and evaluate the practice and competency of pharmacy technical staff working in the pharmacy department.
15. To identify and highlight areas where interventions concerning safe and secure handling of medicines / IMPs are required, make relevant recommendations, manage queries and support actions by relevant staff members.
16. To liaise with external trial monitors and coordinators to ensure the smooth running of clinical trials locally, to organise and facilitate set up meetings and monitoring visits in Pharmacy.
17. To organise projects and training in relation to clinical trial pharmacy and as required.
18. To perform audits of workload as necessary to streamline quality of service on a regular basis.
19. To provide the details of output, performance, and activity at specified time intervals in a format agreed with the Pharmacy Performance Quality Review meeting.
20. To collate data for workload figures and income generation for hosting of commercial and non-commercial clinical trials to support the Trust’s Research & Development activity.
21. To attend and contribute to relevant departmental and Trust meetings as required.
22. To contribute to the determination of the future direction of clinical trial pharmacy services through identification of participants / service users and their needs.
23. To deputise for the Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist in their absence as appropriate.
24. To liaise and work closely with other Lead / Senior Pharmacy Technicians, specific areas and across the trust.
25. To answer queries, both on the telephone and in person, with medical, nursing staff and patients and seek help from a pharmacist when necessary.
26. To investigate / supervise clinical trial incidents occurring within the pharmacy department.
27. Results of the investigation may be entered onto the Ulysses risk management system if appropriate.
28. To be responsible for the ‘closing’ of clinical trials and maintaining Pharmacy Site Folders with essential documentation for archive purposes in accordance with protocol and local guidelines.
29. To write and maintain standard operating procedures for areas of work within the section assigned to and to participate in the production of clinical policies and procedures.
30. To ensure daily workload for the designated area is completed and junior staff handover any relevant information to the appropriate person in the department.
31. To act as an Educational Supervisor, Practice Supervisor and / or expert Witness as required.

1. To participate in the ‘front-line’ provision of clinical trial pharmacy services as appropriate and when required.
2. To safeguard clinical trial participants, healthcare professionals and the Trust by checking IMPs are appropriate for use and are procured, handled, and stored correctly.
3. To lead and develop the clinical trial pharmacy service as required. This includes setting and monitoring quality standards for clinical trial pharmacy services and the provision of feedback to the Principal / Chief pharmacy technician.
4. To liaise with other senior pharmacy staff to ensure the effective provision of pharmacy clinical trial services.
5. To collaborate in the development of Standard Operating Procedures, Patient Group Directions if necessary and any other related policies within the department.
6. To identify resources required to improve pharmacy services within the department.
7. To support the development, implementation and adherence to local and national guidelines/policies to ensure cost-effective and safe delivery of clinical trial services within the department.
8. To identify areas of potential cost savings relating to clinical trials service provision and work with the Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist to action suitably.
9. To liaise with Pharmacy staff responsible for the operational aspects of clinical trials to ensure that all clinical trial activities are carried out to the highest practicable standards of GCP and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

1. To support and address the clinical trials information and training needs of dispensary staff and other relevant individuals when planning a new clinical trial.
2. To manage the induction and development of pharmacy staff, according to their identified needs and development and funding framework of the department through liaison with the Principal Pharmacy Technician for Education and Training.
3. To participate in recruitment and selection of pharmacy staff.
4. To undertake training of pharmacy, medical and nursing staff and other members of the healthcare team as appropriate for clinical trials and to specifically ensure all Pharmacy staff receive GCP training commensurate with their roles and responsibilities in relation to clinical trials.
5. To enable the setup of all clinical trials and those in operation, working closely with the Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist, research teams (Principal Investigators, research nurses, & co-ordinators), and pharmacy staff.
6. To be the direct line manager for senior Pharmacy staff, and delegate to senior staff more junior staff members for all the following, according to Trust procedures
7. To identify the training and development needs of all pharmacy staff involved in delivering clinical trials.
8. To facilitate the training and development of pharmacy technicians, pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians and trainee pharmacy assistants, working in line with service needs and personal development plans.
9. To support the Lead Clinical Trials Pharmacist in co-ordinating and delivering education and training to other healthcare staff as required, ranging from one-to one communications to more formal presentations in order to promote medicines pharmacy services and good practice in relation to clinical trials.
10. To co-ordinate and advise on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all technical staff within Pharmacy.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

• NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services or BTEC in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician
• Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Specialist knowledge of pharmacy procedures/processes

• Other postgraduate qualifications relevant to pharmacy practice, such education & training qualifications

Experience

• Substantial post registration experience working in hospital pharmacy
• Demonstrable experience and involvement with BTEC training of pre-registration pharmacy technicians.
• Demonstrate experience of training and mentoring others
• Demonstrate experience of line Management
• Educational supervisor qualification

• Demonstrable experience of co-ordinating and leading on clinical audit.
• Demonstrable experience of protocol/ guideline development.
• Practice Supervisor qualification
• Assessor qualification

Knowledge & Skills

• Practical knowledge of role of ward-based pharmacy technicians in provision of medicines management services on wards
• Good understanding of law and good practice related to prescribing, storage and handling of pharmaceuticals
• Demonstrate clinical knowledge of medicines use
• Ability to prioritise and plan work effectively alone and for a team
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex information effectively using clear written and spoken English and overcome barriers to understanding.
• Ability to work positively and calmly under pressure.
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office software with proven computer literacy and IT skills including:
• Email • Word processing
• Spreadsheets
• Use of search engines/medical databases to retrieve information
• Demonstrated accurate numeric skills

• Ability to contribute to the planning of service developments within a department or service
• Evidence of audit and/or project work

Personal Qualities

• Be flexible in responding to demands of the service.
• Reliable, polite and approachable.
• Knows own professional and personal limitations and seeks advice where necessary.

Other

• Willingness to contribute to the general life and work of the Pharmacy and Trust.
• Willingness to participate in weekend, evening, Bank Holiday and late shifts as required.
• Able to work agreed hours

We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.

We have a number of active staff networks including Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Women’s staff networks to bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.

Please note, not all roles will meet the criteria for a skilled worker visa.