Senior Aseptic Technician, Technical Services

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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

Aseptic Services Band 4 and 5 posts

Do you have aseptic manufacturing experience and looking for an opportunity for development/promotion? If so, we have Band 4 and 5 posts available within our team. The roles will incorporate training/qualification and/or band progression within our progression scheme.

We are a busy aseptic services team within Lewisham Hospital Pharmacy Department. We provide intravenous chemotherapy treatment to patients at both hospital sites of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

We are looking for experienced aseptic operators to expand our senior technical team, enabling us to provide a safe and efficient service and leading/training our junior technical team.

Within the posts there are opportunities for further development by undertaking the Science Manufacturing Technician qualification and the in-house band progression scheme.

We have exciting plans to redevelop our aseptic unit which will enable you increase your knowledge of quality management systems and organisation within a unit refurbishment.

Good expertise of aseptic practices, communication and organisational skills will be essential to the roles. You will be able to work well within a team and on your own, have experience of meeting deadlines, working under pressure and supervising staff. In addition, a commitment to service and self-development is required.

Main duties of the job

Good knowledge of aseptic practices, communication and organisational skills will be essential to the role. You will be able to work well within a team and on your own, have experience of meeting deadlines, working under pressure and supervising staff. In addition, a commitment to service and self-development is required.

Key aspects of the role are:

• Co-ordinate the day to day operation of the aseptic cleanroom ensuring a safe, efficient service and timely delivery of chemotherapy medicines within the Trust.
• Implement developments to meet the needs of the patient, and support with the delivery of any service developments as required, meeting local and national requirements.
• Supervising and training, to ensure all staff are developed within their roles and working to approved procedures in line with Good Manufacturing Practice.

Applicants are required to detail how they meet the person specification from the job description within their supporting statement and give examples. Candidates may not be shortlisted for interview if this is not completed.

If candidates do not meet the essential post-GSCE qualification criteria but have suitable aseptic experience; please apply as it may be possible to undertake qualification in post.

Working for our organisation

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

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary

1. To support and maintain the safe, efficient and cost effective supply of chemotherapy medicines to patients at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.
2. To co-ordinate the day to day operation of the aseptic cleanroom ensuring a safe, efficient service and timely delivery of chemotherapy medicines within the Trust.
3. Implement developments to meet the needs of the patient, and support with the delivery of any service developments as required, meeting local and national requirements.
4. To deputise for the Principal Technician Technical Services in their absence.

Key Result Areas & Performance

Technical Services Unit

1. Co-ordinate and prioritise the daily workload in the aseptic cleanroom to ensure the safe and efficient preparation of chemotherapy medicines.
2. Supervise and monitor the standards of work, ensuring all staff are working to approved procedures and in line with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Trust procedures and policies. Informing the Principal Technician/Technical Services Manager of any deviation from these.
3. To deputise for the Principal Technician in their absence in relation to operational issues.
4. Report operational issues and ideas for service development/improvement to the Principal Technician/Technical Services Manager.
5. Assist in the future planning and implementation of changes in response to service developments and quality assurance audit recommendations.
6. To participate in the training of all staff new to the Aseptic Unit, including pre-reg pharmacists and technicians, and assistants in principles and procedures relating to aseptic dispensing and smooth running of the department.
7. Assist in the monitoring of training, accreditation and validation of aseptic staff, ensuring continued re-accreditation and validation.
8. To ensure the completion of daily, weekly and monthly environmental and physical monitoring, and cleaning as required in standard operating procedures.
9. To adhere to and maintain a strict cleanroom environment including the wearing of cleanroom clothing and personal protective equipment as required in standard operating procedures.
10. To be accredited and accurately perform in process volume checks, worksheet and label checks, and product assembly checks as required according to standard operating procedures.
11. To be validated to and accurately prepare aseptic chemotherapy products and other sterile injectables within a pharmaceutical isolator including accurate measuring of solutions and use of equipment such as syringes and needles.
12. To accurately prepare aseptic product documentation and labels from prescriptions.
13. To accurately assemble aseptic products in preparation for aseptic processing.
14. To maintain a very high level of concentration within a busy working environment, whilst responding to the needs of staff under your supervision.
15. To work independently, effectively managing own time and prioritisation/completion of tasks.
16. To assist in the stock control, dispensing, checking and release of outsourced Parenteral Nutrition and ready to administer chemotherapy products.
17. To be an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT).
18. To accurately issue and transfer items used in Technical Services to appropriate cost centres using the Ascribe computer system.
19. To produce and approve purchase orders for chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition products using the Ascribe computer system and the manufacturer's online ordering software.
20. To assist in the updating, development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures, information documents and instructions relevant to the Aseptic Unit, as requested by the Senior management.
21. To participate in the collation of monthly key performance indicators for the manufacture of chemotherapy products and dispensing of outsourced Parenteral Nutrition and ready to administer chemotherapy products.
22. To participate in the production of Error Logs, QER's and reports relevant to the department as required by the department's standard operating procedures.
23. Pro-actively contribute to the agenda content of Technical Services meetings, ensuring actions are completed and information cascaded as necessary.
24. To comply with the departmental Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, including dress and Hygiene relating to work in the unit.
25. To work at all times within the standard operating procedures and Health and Safety Guidelines of the department including COSHH.
26. Participate in the receipt of goods delivered to the aseptic unit and maintenance of stock levels to ensure sufficient drugs and consumables are available for use within the unit.
27. To ensure accurate stock rotation and expiry date checks are carried out.
28. To participate in stock takes.
29. Ensure all waste is disposed of appropriately.
30. To develop and maintain risk assessments within Technical Services for the Control of Substances Hazardous for Health (COSHH).
31. To develop and update product worksheets including the creation and revision of label templates on the Ascribe computer system.
32. To manage the receipt of outsourced chemotherapy on the pharmacy stock control system, liaise with the Pharmacy Invoice Clerk to deal with price queries and accurately issue doses to the appropriate cost centres.
33. To run routine reports using the pharmacy stock control system to ensure appropriate management of outsourced chemotherapy doses.

Dispensary (weekends and bank holidays)

1. To accurately dispense prescriptions for inpatients in accordance with standard policies and procedures; including discharge (TTO/TTA); controlled drugs and clinical trials.
2. To issue completed prescriptions and controlled drug supplies to the ward.

Financial & Physical Resources

1. To undertake stock control and ordering
2. To facilitate stock rotation to prevent wastage.
3. To ensure accurate charging of outsourced chemotherapy products.

Line Management

1. To carry out staff appraisals and develop staff in line with their objectives.
2. To arrange, undertake and document regular 1-2-1 meetings.
3. To participate in staff recruitment and induction in compliance with Trust and local requirements.
4. To performance manage staff where appropriate in line with Trust policies.

Other Duties

1. To participate in the control and supply of stock medicines to wards and departments.
2. To participate in the supply of Clinical Trial medicines in line with GCP requirements.
3. Participates in the 3 monthly Controlled Drugs audit, Drug Stock Security audits, and expiry checks.
4. To assist in the training of pharmacy staff as necessary.
5. To provide cover to other sites within the Trust as requested by the Technical Services Manager.
6. To assist the department in any other areas required for the smooth running of the department.
7. To participate in weekend and bank holiday rotas as per local procedures.
8. To be aware of and abide by departmental policies and procedures.
9. To participate in audits.

To be prepared to work on other sites within Lewisham & Greenwich Trust

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential criteria

• BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (post 2022) or NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Service Skills (pre 2022) or equivalent
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (or willing to undertake the accreditation scheme).
• Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Evidence of CPD.

Desirable criteria

• To have attended: Aseptic Dispensing and Preparation of Medicines Residential Course (Leeds) or Aseptic Training Residential Course (Bath ASU)
• Specialist knowledge of pharmacy procedures and processes.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Must have worked in a UK hospital pharmacy, with minimum 1 years post qualification experience.
• Minimum 6 month experience of working in a GMP production/aseptic unit.
• Accurate dispenser, familiar with pharmacy computerised labelling system.
• Supervision and training of others.
• Evidence of ability to work independently and proactively with limited supervision.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of aseptic Quality Assurance audit
• Involvement in/production of procedures/QERs
• Involvement in aseptic service development and implementation of changes
• Previous line management experience.
• Collation and presentation of key performance indicators

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria

• Good understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice and Quality Assurance
• Ability to work on own initiative, and effectively as part of a team, both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to apply knowledge and expertise to inform decision-making processes.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate information effectively using clear written and spoken English and overcome barriers to understanding.

Desirable criteria

• Ability to contribute to the planning of service developments within a department or service.
• Ability to manage difficult and complex teams.

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.

As a local employer and anchor institution we work closely with our community to recruit locally and we welcome applications from the widest variety of people to ensure our workforce are reflective of the local communities which we serve. We encourage all suitable candidates to apply including if you are Black, Asian or other ethnic minorities, live with a disability (visible or not) or are LGBT+. 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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Spec (PDF, 298.8KB)
• Working at LGT (PDF, 4.2MB)