Senior Pharmacy Technician Aseptics

• Work under the direction of the Cancer Services Lead Pharmacy Technician to help maintain a safe, efficient and high-quality aseptic pharmacy service.
• Take responsibility for a designated area of work and contribute to the dispensing of clinical trial medications, oral anti-cancer therapies and controlled drugs.
• Act as an Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT), undertaking the final accuracy check of prescriptions, including outsourced chemotherapy prescriptions that have been clinically screened by a pharmacist, in accordance with departmental Procedures.
• Exercise professional judgement and accountability, referring where appropriate to ensure patient safety.
• Manage the receipt, dispensing, issue and secure storage of medicines in line with legal requirements, departmental SOPs and best practice standards.
• Support the dispensing and supply of specialist cancer medicines, including clinical trial treatments, oral anti-cancer therapies and controlled drugs.
• Assist the Cancer Services Lead Pharmacy Technician in maintaining compliance with national quality standards and support the compliance and implementation audit recommendations.
• Contribute to the ongoing development, quality improvement and governance of the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit.

• Work closely with the Cancer Services team to ensure preparation of chemotherapy is in a sterile aseptic environment and complies with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
• Support the Lead Pharmacy Technician and Accountable Pharmacist in planning and prioritising workload
• Deputise for the Cancer Services Lead Pharmacy Technician as required.
• Support the receipt, preparation and aseptic dispensing of cancer medicines
• Perform and check calculations relating to chemotherapy doses and drug volumes as part of pre-production and in-process checking procedures.
• Participate in quality control monitoring activities, including broth validation and environmental monitoring, to maintain a safe and clean working environment.
• Undertake validation activities and complete associated processes in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure the safe, secure and legal handling, storage and supply of medicines.
• Support compliance with QAAP standards and assist with audit and quality assurance activities.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure all documentation is completed, stored and filed appropriately.
• Provide medicines-related information and advice to healthcare professionals within own level of competence.
• Act as an Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT), undertaking final accuracy checks of prescriptions, including outsourced chemotherapy prescriptions that have been clinically screened by a pharmacist, in line with departmental SOPs.
• Exercise professional judgement and refer any queries appropriately in line with personal competences
• Manage stock control activities, including regular expiry date checking, removal of expired stock and identification of stock approaching expiry.
• Ensure pharmaceutical waste is disposed of safely and in accordance with local and national waste management regulations.
• Take responsibility for the receipt, dispensing, issue and safe storage of medicines, including clinical trial medications, oral anti-cancer therapies and controlled drugs.

Essential

• Team player able to demonstrate own initiative.
• Motivated, enthusiastic.
• Good communication and organisation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Good time management.
• Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post

Essential

• Meets GPhC requirements for CPD.
• Record of personal development.
• IT Literate good knowledge of MS Excel and Word; Pharmacy dispensing software.
• Excellent customer care skills

Desirable

• Evidence of self-development.
• Evidence of change management.
• Evidence of training, mentoring and coaching staff.
• Understanding of audit processes.
• Awareness of electronic dispensing and prescribing systems

Essential

• 4 GCSEs level 4 / grade C (or equivalent) in Maths, English and Science.
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC).
• Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF) (or equivalent qualifications recognized by the GPhC).
• The post holder must meet at least one of the following requirements and will be expected to have commenced the other within 12 to 18 months of employment:
• Accuracy checking course
• Pre and IN Process Checking within Aseptic Services (PIPC).

Desirable

• Supervisory/management qualifications or training.
• Northern Sector Course for the Final Accuracy Checking of Dispensed Items by Pharmacy Technicians (PETO) or Nationally recognized award.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice, quality assurance and quality control as applied to the hospital aseptic services.
• Aseptic Preparation and Dispensing of Medicines (APDM).
• Supervisory Skills for Technical Services

Essential

• Experience as a qualified pharmacy technician in a hospital environment.
• Experience in the preparation of cytotoxic drugs and Good Manufacturing Practice.
• Practical experience of quality assurance, quality control, the use of isolators and audit requirements.

Desirable

• Experience of Project or developmental work.
• Experience of problem solving.
• Experience of Policy and or Procedure writing.
• Experience of supervision of others.