Senior Pharmacy Technician - Cancer and Technical Services

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Technical Services
• Assists with managing the workload and co-ordinating the workflow for sterile (cytotoxic
reconstitution and CIVAS) and non-sterile (training pharmacist non-sterile dispensing
accreditation) in the technical services unit to help maintain a safe and responsive service.
• Liaising with Chemotherapy day unit staff of all grades to support the work flow.
• Assist with generating reports on technical services unit performance (quality, safety and
efficiency) according to local standards including dispensing errors and other incidents.
• Assists with departmental drug expenditure system for cancer services.
• Maintains effective communication links with Principal Pharmacist, Principal Technician and
Quality Assurance Manager to ensure practices reflect adherence to GMP and section 10
requirements, Health and Safety legislation, COSHH and Trust Medicines Policy.
• Helps to ensure that all legal and procedural requirements are met and that all records are
maintained.
• Assists with writing and maintenance of all standard operating procedures for work
processes in technical services in collaboration with QA and Principal Pharmacist or Technician
and advises staff to support their professional functions.
• Participates in technical services dispensing and accredited checking schemes according to
standard operating procedures.
• To take part in Medicines Management to provide information to patients and take drug
histories as required on Chemotherapy Day Unit.
• To help ensure that all technical services activities are compliant with GMP principles, Section
10 requirements and medicines legislation.
• Dispenses injections and infusions for (e.g. chemotherapy, CIVA'S , Clinical trial materials)
under aseptic conditions to all required standards.
• Issues systemic anti-cancer therapy prescriptions to the designated systemic anti-cancer
therapy nursing staff.
• Helps to maintain good stock control by ensuring stock checks are completed on a daily basis
and investigates and corrects discrepancies according to local procedure.
• Assists with the generation, maintenance and development of monthly performance
indicators and data for technical services unit including error monitoring, CQUINS, monthly
workload statistics and capacity planning and provides interpretation and remedial actions to
correct variation in performance. Report these to relevant senior staff where necessary.
• Assists with accurate booking out of medicines on the pharmacy computer system.
• Helps to co-ordinate drug and non-drug orders and liaises with purchasing and stores staff
with regard to stock problems
• Assist with development and creation of new worksheets on the EPISYS system
• Participates in Quality Assurance initiatives associated with the technical services unit
including assisting with environmental monitoring, equipment and cleaning.
• Participates in technical and cancer services developments to manage demand and improve
service provision including gathering information and project work
• Assist with ordering and maintenance of stock of all medicines and consumables required by
technical services unit and ensures that these are used efficiently within available resources.
• Help to ensure that all equipment (e.g. isolators and air handling unit) is operating to the
required standard.
• Holds accreditation for or is working towards accreditation for checking worksheets for
systemic anti-cancer therapy that is compounded in the technical services unit
• Deputises for the Lead Technician in their absence.

Staff Management
• Supervises staff working in Technical Services unit (technicians, assistants, pre-reg
pharmacists and PTPT'S (Pre-reg technicians) including induction and performance appraisal of
relevant staff and day to day problem solving.
• Assists with the deployment of staff in the technical services unit including contribution to
weekly rotas and approval of annual leave and lieu time in the absence of the Principal
Technician.
• Assists with managing performance and all other human resource issues for technicians and
assistants working in Technical services.

Training and development
• Ensure that all technical services and rotational staff in the technical services unit receive
appropriate induction, on-going training and validation which includes GMP and procedures
relating to dispensing and compounding of products and maintenance of the unit.
• Undertakes day to day training, supervision and assessment of Pre-reg Technicians
• Assists with training, supervision and assessment of Pharmacists rotating through technical
services.
• Helps maintain records to demonstrate that staff operate to defined SOP'S
• Helps identify training needs for technicians, allocation of training (study days).
• Participates in and implements departmental CPD and personal development initiatives.

Other duties
• Participates in recruitment and selection of pharmacy technicians and assistants.
• Participation in all PDR'S and PDP'S systems
• Dispensary cover as required
• Participation in weekend and bank holiday duties (dispensary based) and late duty.
• Maintenance of an up to date CPD portfolio
• Undertake any other duties agreed with the Lead Pharmacist/Technician Cancer and
Technical Services or Chief Pharmacist.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BTEC or NVQ 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences equivalent recognised qualification
• GPHC registered
• Training undertaken within a hospital environment

Experience

Essential criteria

• Recent relevant BAND 4 Technician with experience in NHS Technical services experience

Desirable criteria

• Completion of any HEE or LPET courses

Skills and knowledge

Essential criteria

• Good communication (written and oral)
• Knowledge of EU GMP and Principles of aseptic and cytotoxic dispensing with demonstrable accuracy
• Prioritisation and planning
• Dealing with interruptions to normal work pattern
• Time management
• Training and supervisory skills
• Organisational skills
• Experience of supervising staff
• Computer literacy
• Mathematical skills to perform complex dose calculations
• Interpret and dispense prescriptions accurately

Desirable criteria

• Managing people
• Effectively provide information to patients
• Procedure writing
• Use of Episys software

Important

• The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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

• JD (PDF, 944.2KB)
• JOB FEATURES FORM (PDF, 390.8KB)
• Guidance for applicants (PDF, 85.4KB)
• Policy Statement (PDF, 144.5KB)
• Staff Benefits and Wellbeing (PDF, 196.5KB)
• Recruitment Pack (PDF, 2.8MB)