Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer Aseptic Service & Quality Control
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 once sufficient number of applications is reached.
An exciting and unique opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, dynamic and self-motivated professional to join our aseptic team within Aseptic services and Quality control at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
The aseptic unit at University Hospital of North Tees prepares and dispense injectable chemotherapy and Parenteral Nutrition for patients treated at both University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool.
Stockton Quality Control Laboratory is an MHRA inspected laboratory offering a comprehensive range of quality control services to NHS providers including microbiological services, chemical analysis and specialist ventilation system testing.
The post holder will contribute to the delivery of high quality, efficient, effective comprehensive aseptic and Quality control services within the Trust, based in both the aseptic unit and the Quality Control laboratory .
The ideal candidate holds or is willing to work toward a Pharmacy Services or Laboratory Sciences or Science Manufacturing Process Operative apprenticeship/NVQ at Level 2.
Main duties of the job
To work as part of the pharmacy Aseptic Compounding and Quality Control Laboratory teams to provide an effective, patient focussed aseptic service. This will include:
Aseptic preparation, dispensing and in-process check of chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition products within a cleanroom facility.
Receipt, testing and reading of laboratory samples.
Perform work under the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's).
Working for our organisation
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is an ambitious organisation with a focus on excellent patient care. Our teams operate across two acute hospital sites, a community hospital in Peterlee and a number of other community-based hubs employing 5,500 staff who provide integrated hospital and community based services.
We have an income of around £360m and serve a population of c.400,000 living within Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, East Durham and surrounding areas including Sedgefield, Easington and Peterlee and wider population for our NHS England commissioned services on bowel, breast and cervical cancer.
Patient safety is our absolute, number one priority and is reflected in everything we do. We expect every colleague, clinical or non-clinical, to always put our patients first.
Staff members enjoy significant benefits such as access to unique NHS discount services (including retail, insurance and travel) and we pride ourselves on our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our colleagues.
Our vision is to be a consistently high performing and financially sustainable Trust. We are well on the way to achieving this and by joining us now, you can contribute to our continued journey.
We are looking for people to join us at NTHFT who are aligned with our values: Collaborative Aspirational, Respectful, Empathetic.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Assemble ingredients for items to be made according to the worksheet and SOP’s.
Generating worksheets and labels according to SOP’s and prescriptions
Undertake transfer disinfection into the aseptic unit and isolators according to procedures
Preparation and dispensing of aseptically produced items including chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies and Parenteral Nutrition within clean air devices.
Carry out In – Process Checks during the preparation of products
Carry out cleaning and environmental monitoring media activities within the clean room
Participate in the dispensary weekend and Bank Holiday rotas
Undertake basic microbiological tests such as bioburdens and test on non-sterile samples using a laminar flow cabinet and aseptic technique.
Perform identification tests on micro-organisms using instrumental and classical microbiology techniques.
Verification of microbiology kits and sterility test samples in accordance with laboratory procedures.
Perform basic checks and tests on samples which includes accurately reading agar plates and other basic laboratory testing.
Support the section responsible for the receipt of samples and media into the laboratory ensuring all samples and goods are receipted in accordance with Laboratory procedures.
Assemble deliveries for customers, ensuring drivers receive all items in a timely manner, taking into account schedules when dealing with urgent orders.
Supervise Assistant Technical Officers working in the laboratory and cover the supervisory duties of the Senior Assistant Technical Officers in relevant sections in their absence.
Person specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria- GCSE Maths/ English and Science grade C or above or 4 (or equivalent)
- Level 2 BTEC/NVQ in Pharmacy Services or Functional skills or Science Manufacturing Process Operative Level 2
- Previous training in aseptic services
- Pre and In Process Checking within Aseptic Services (PIPC) accreditation.
- Qualification in Pharmacy Services or Laboratory Sciences at Level 2 (or equivalent)
Experience
Essential criteria- Relevant experience of working in a regulated pharmacy production or laboratory environment.
- Experience of working in a busy environment
- Experience of working in teams
- Experience working in pharmaceutical or healthcare environment
- Pharmacy experience in either a hospital or community setting
- Experience in a Quality Control role within the chemical or pharmaceutical environment
- Experience in Stock control.
- Experience of working within a clean room setting
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Demonstrates knowledge of current legislations and regulations, e.g. COSHH and Health and Safety at Work Act
- Understanding of stock control systems.
- Understanding of the importance of adherence to SOPs and legislation.
- Demonstrates practical knowledge of Quality systems.
- Demonstrates a good understanding of patient safety initiatives
- Demonstrates practical knowledge of GMP
Skills & Attributes
Essential criteria- Excellent communication skills
- Good numeracy skills.
- Ability to work accurately and maintain levels of concentration when checking detailed documents/analysing data.
- IT literate and able to use Microsoft office
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to motivate self and other
- Lone and team working skills
- Dexterity for Aseptic manipulation
- Able to perform pharmaceutical calculations
- Accurate and logical approach to work.
- Flexible to changing situations.
Management & Supervision
Essential criteria- Experience in planning own tasks
- Experience in planning tasks of others
Communication
Essential criteria- Ability to communicate with a range of healthcare professionals within own field of knowledge in own field of knowledge
- Ability to receive and communicate technical information
Finance & Physical Resources
Essential criteria- Experience of ordering consumables.
- Experience of stock management
Other
Essential criteria- Ability to undertake manual tasks eg: mopping floors, walls, ceilings and to clean within a clean air device, lift and handle pharmaceutical items. There is a requirement/combination of sitting, standing, and walking. The post holder must have the ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
- Experience in cleaning controlled areas such as clean rooms.
**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.