Job summary
The Aseptic Services department employs roughly 35 staff and is responsible for providing 10,000+ cytos doses a year. It also supports many clinical trial studies particularly in haemato-oncology and liver. The Aseptic Services Pharmacy team screen and supply 9,000+ bags of parenteral nutrition per year for inpatient and home patients under the care of King's College Hospital.
The post holder will support the Aseptic Services department - under the management of the Chief Pharmacy Technician and under the overall leadership of the Associate Chief Pharmacist - to ensure the safe, effective and timely provision of aseptic products to all patients in King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The commissioning of a new second aseptic clean room facility at the Denmark Hill site in 2021, and refurbishment of the main aseptic facility to be operational in early 2023, has expanded the Pharmacy Aseptic Service at KCH to provide a more comprehensive service to our patients and the Trust. Throughout 2023/24 and beyond we will be expanding our service to patients as inpatients, outpatients and in their own homes.
The trust strives to improve to provide world class patient care. The successful post hold holder will know and understand the trust strategy and vision (https://www.kch.nhs.uk/about/our-strategy).
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be involved in supporting the supervision of the day-to-day dispensing of aseptic products working to the principles of current Good Manufacturing Practice, within the Aseptic services department at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, a large and progressive teaching hospital. They will be expected to work to the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice, undertake and supervise the day-to-day preparation of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, CIVAS, Parenteral Nutrition and clinical trials doses within the Aseptic Services department.
The post holder will contribute to the delivery of a high-quality patient focused service within the pharmacy aseptic unit, including training of junior staff, dispensing, checking and contributing to the smooth running of all Aseptic services activities. These activities may also include stock management, documentation management and QC/QA activities.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King's to another level.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To actively encourage the adherence to all procedures relating to the aseptic services department and to suggest changes in practice and procedures as appropriate.
- To be a role model and actively encourage adherence to Good Manufacturing Practice.
- To produce worksheets and labels using the pharmacy computer system in the aseptic department and as necessary at weekends.
- To liaise with the Senior Pharmacy Technicians to ensure the safe, efficient and timely delivery of aseptic products.
- To ensure that all documentation is processed and filed correctly.
- To ensure that all records and logs are completed correctly on a daily basis and to report any out of specification results to the Chief Pharmacy Technician or Associate Chief Pharmacist.
- To maintain equipment according to procedures, including leak testing of isolators and accurately maintain records.
- To support supervising other staff in the clean rooms and deputise for the Senior Technicians in their absence.
- To co-ordinate in planned environmental monitoring.
- To participate in the weekend and Bank holiday duty rota.
- To participate in an on call rota for products that may need to be prepared out of hours.
- To check volumes for other Aseptic Services and rotational staff after undergoing an accredited competency process.
- To support with the training of other staff members within Aseptic Services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To actively encourage the adherence to all procedures relating to the aseptic services department and to suggest changes in practice and procedures as appropriate.
- To be a role model and actively encourage adherence to Good Manufacturing Practice.
- To produce worksheets and labels using the pharmacy computer system in the aseptic department and as necessary at weekends.
- To liaise with the Senior Pharmacy Technicians to ensure the safe, efficient and timely delivery of aseptic products.
- To ensure that all documentation is processed and filed correctly.
- To ensure that all records and logs are completed correctly on a daily basis and to report any out of specification results to the Chief Pharmacy Technician or Associate Chief Pharmacist.
- To maintain equipment according to procedures, including leak testing of isolators and accurately maintain records.
- To support supervising other staff in the clean rooms and deputise for the Senior Technicians in their absence.
- To co-ordinate in planned environmental monitoring.
- To participate in the weekend and Bank holiday duty rota.
- To participate in an on call rota for products that may need to be prepared out of hours.
- To check volumes for other Aseptic Services and rotational staff after undergoing an accredited competency process.
- To support with the training of other staff members within Aseptic Services.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical technical procedures acquired through: - NVQ Pharmacy services Level 3 plus accredited underpinning knowledge (BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent) or equivalent level; - Science Manufacturing Technician Level 3 apprenticeship; or - Substantial training and experience, including: Aseptic preparation of products, Assembly of starting materials, Environmental monitoring, In-process checking, and Preparation of production documentation (i.e. worksheets)
Desirable
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Pre and In Process Checking Accreditation (PIPC)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Experience in hospital pharmacy aseptic services
- Be familiar with handling cytotoxic drugs following approved procedures
Desirable
- Supervisory and Training delivery experience
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, written and oral
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical technical procedures acquired through: - NVQ Pharmacy services Level 3 plus accredited underpinning knowledge (BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent) or equivalent level; - Science Manufacturing Technician Level 3 apprenticeship; or - Substantial training and experience, including: Aseptic preparation of products, Assembly of starting materials, Environmental monitoring, In-process checking, and Preparation of production documentation (i.e. worksheets)
Desirable
- Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
- Pre and In Process Checking Accreditation (PIPC)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Experience in hospital pharmacy aseptic services
- Be familiar with handling cytotoxic drugs following approved procedures
Desirable
- Supervisory and Training delivery experience
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, written and oral
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
