Senior Pharmacy Assistant in Aseptics

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• To aseptically prepare high quality Cytotoxic/MABS/EAMS etc. in accordance with departmental procedures, Good Manufacturing Practice and COSHH regulations ensuring that all work complies with all regulatory frameworks and standards.
• Undertake daily cleaning and disinfection of the aseptic clean rooms including Isolators, according to Standard Operating Procedures.
• To ensure ingredients and disposables are assembled, disinfected and transferred through the Aseptic Services Unit appropriately.
• To carry out in-process checks of aseptically prepared products upon completion of appropriate training.
• Participate in the safe preparation and delivery of Intrathecal chemotherapy in accordance with Trust policy upon completion of departmental training.
• To accurately prepare worksheets and labels for aseptic products using the units computer system using JAC and iQEMO program if required.
• To assist with the preparation of documentation within the aseptic unit.
• To assist with the recording of data, both manually and on the computer
• Answer the telephone promptly and politely and refer queries to the appropriate person.
• To assist the Specialist/Senior/Chief Technician to ensure the validation of all staff, equipment and processes are completed in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.
• To assist the Specialist/Senior/Chief Technician to ensure maintenance and monitoring of environmental monitoring standards of the Aseptic Unit is carried out in compliance with QCNW and Standard Operating Procedures.
• To be responsible for the maintenance of all stock in the Aseptic Unit including evaluating stock levels within the Aseptic Unit assisting the ordering Technician to ensure adequate stock is maintained at all times.
• Ensure all Environmental monitoring plates are received and stored in the correct manner to ensure they are protected from contamination.
• Prepare environmental samples and documentation for dispatch to QCNW.
• To be responsible for receiving and documenting Environmental Reports from QCNW and referring any variances to senior staff in a timely manner.

Education and Development

• Undertake any mandatory training, updates and courses in line with local and Trust policies.
• To complete NVQ2 in pharmacy services if not currently in possession of this qualification
• To complete all Aseptic Services Unit competency-based training packages.
• To participate in and co-operate with, individual personal assessment, continuing professional development and continuing education programmes to develop personal competencies and knowledge base.
• When appropriate to demonstrate activities to, work experience students, pre-registration pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians and staff undergoing induction.

Communication and Leadership

• Communicate with other team members regarding activities within the Aseptic Services Unit.
• Answer the telephone promptly and politely and refer queries to the appropriate person.
• To ensure effective communication channels are maintained by all staff and any disagreements are dealt with promptly and in line with the Trusts respect policy.
• Participate in staff discussions during internal meetings and as part of a group when required.

Finance

• To effectively manage a designated stockholding to ensure that stock wastage is minimised.
• To assist the Senior/Specialist Technicians in managing the Aseptic Services stock takes.
• To comply with legal and Trust requirements relating to the purchase, supply, use safe custody and destruction of medicines within Pharmacy and other areas of the Trust.

Effort and Environment Factors

• Demonstrable skills for manipulation of pharmaceutical products.
• There is a requirement/combination of Manual Handling such as sitting, standing, and walking.
• The post holder must have the ability to lift and handle pharmaceutical items.
• The post holder must have the ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
• Manual Handling i.e. In the stores area, frequent lifting and handling of heavy packages and boxes.
  Regular use of a PC for data inputting and training.

Policy

• To be responsible for the adherence and upholding of all Trust and departmental policies and procedures.
• To comply with the updated national guidance and local Trust policy for the Safe Administration of Intrathecal Chemotherapy.

Other Duties

• The provision of a high-quality service delivered in a professional and courteous manner is a requirement of all staff employed by the Pharmaceutical Service.
• It is presently a requirement of the post to participate in a Saturday / Sunday and Bank Holiday rota and be able to work between the hours of 7am and 5pm with the potential for this to change as the service requires.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• GCSE Maths and English grade C or above

Desirable criteria

• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• NVQ level 2 pharmacy services

Experience

Essential criteria

• Pharmacy experience in either a hospital or community setting

Desirable criteria

• Working in a pharmacy department
• Working in an Aseptic environment or in a laboratory environment

Skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent communication skills
• Computer skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Lone and team working skills
• Accurate and logical approach to work
• Flexible to changing situations
• Motivated and flexible/open to change

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working within a clean room setting

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of COSHH
• Knowledge of GMP

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of QC/QA

Values

Essential criteria

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to undertake manual tasks eg: mopping floors, walls, ceilings and to clean within an isolator
• Excellent time management
• Ability to stay beyond shift should the workload require

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 276.4KB)
• The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Trust Membership - Christie Talent (PDF, 23.0KB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)