Senior Radiopharmacy Technician

Job responsibilities

Managerial

Assist the Radio-pharmacy Manager to plan and schedule work in the Radio-pharmacy ensuring correctly assigned staffing, space and facilities for subsequent performance of department.

To act as a role model to rotational staff, and provide a consistently high standard of service to all internal and external customers of the Radio-pharmacy Unit.

To ensure that technical roles are performed by the appropriate grade of staff.

Assist the Radio-pharmacy production manager with departmental radiation Ensuring adequate equipment and facilities are available for tasks utilising ionising radiation.

Undertake and lead the organisation, ordering and delivery of non-stock

To liaise with clinic staff and external customers regarding preparation and supply of aseptically prepared products

Liaise with reception and clinical staff in Nuclear Medicine to organise therapeutic isotopes are ordered with the correct radioactivity and timing, as to be available for planned patient administrations. To query prescriptions if there is any ambiguity or concern

Maintain inventory of supplies and re-order as required.

To keep administrative and legal records as are necessary, in particular the receipt, administration and disposal of radiopharmaceuticals.

Maintain records, so as to validate the receipt of all external orders purchased directly with the suppliers and correlate with the correct invoices to ensure only appropriate payments are made.

To ensure rotational staff are familiar with the current procedures for the unit and support the training of new staff in the local procedures, maintaining training records

Professional

To co-ordinate the day-to-day operation of the Radio-pharmacy Service to ensure that prepared Radiopharmaceuticals are made in a safe, timely and efficient way in line with the current GMP standards.

To provide technical information and advice to nuclear medicine customers, medical personnel and other staff on matters relating to Radiopharmaceuticals.

Development of new radiopharmaceutical procedures and techniques; prepare reports and analysis setting forth progress, adverse trends and appropriate recommendations or conclusions.

Lead aseptic sessions of the preparation and dispensing of sterile diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals; working within agreed departmental protocols.

To participate in the final checking and release of aseptically prepared and dispensed products.

To carry out QA checks throughout the manufacturing process including Radiochemical purity (RCP), Radionuclide purity, chemical breakthrough, process validations etc.

To carry out aseptic blood labelling techniques according to local operational procedures.

Be involved in development and validation of new techniques implemented within the unit.

Where appropriate organise and carry out the validation measurements on the incoming radio-isotopes.

Participate in the Radiopharmacy blood labelling service.

Receiving, handling and manipulating blood samples as part of Nuclear Medicine diagnostic tests; within local protocols.

Ensure all open and sealed radioactive sources are accounted for and kept secure at all times.

Non-Imaging

Perform accurate and precise manipulations of patient samples using a variety of laboratory and related equipment.

Undertake the use of radiation counting equipment to determine the levels of radionuclides present in patient specimens.

Undertake the input and manipulation of counting data into complex computer program and spreadsheets to generate analysis results for diagnosis.

Safety and Quality

To have a sound knowledge of the equipment used in the Radio-pharmacy in order to identify any malfunctions and act appropriately.

To participate in quality assurance and audit programmes in line with departmental strategy covering all aspects of quality in the Radio-pharmacy to ensure that the highest standards are set, monitored and maintained.

Perform assessment of the integrity of the clean room systems and workstations prior to use.

To adhere to the Ionising radiation regulations, Health and Safety and COSHH regulations.

Assist with the regular update of protocols for the Radio-pharmacy.

To maintain all clinical and laboratory areas as a clean and safe environment.

To ensure the proper and safe use of all equipment used in the Radio-pharmacy.

To be involved with risk assessments within the Nuclear Medicine department.

Ensure that the work areas are maintained in as safe, clean and tidy manner with respect to mechanical, electrical and radiation safety. Be aware of mechanical, electrical and radiation hazards surrounding imaging and related equipment and the potential risk and harm to patients and staff.

Perform routine checks, calibration and quality assurance testing of all Radio-pharmacy equipment. Report any faults, defects or deviations from expected results to clinical scientists and the Radio-pharmacy Production Manager.

Undertake the installation of radionuclide generators into the isolator workstation observing radiation safety, sterility and manual handling issues.

To ensure aseptically prepared medicines are made according to the standards set out in Rules and Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Distributors and Quality Assurance of Aseptic Preparation Services.

To be aware of and enforce guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure standards of Good Manufacturing Practice are met.

To maintain that the unit operation complies with the Environment agencies Environmental permitting.

Review local SOPs and maintain they are in-line with the current product SPCs.

To assist the implementation of recommendations made following inspection by the MHRA Regional and QA Audit.

Teaching and Training

Take a role in providing theoretical and practical training for members of staff in all aspects of Radiopharmacy.

Perform assessments on junior staff to ensure they are competent in performing tasks involved in the Radio-pharmacy. Report competency evaluations to the Radio-pharmacy Production Manager.

Act as a trainer for supernumerary Medical Physics trainees in practical Radio-pharmacy related topics. Liaise with Radio-pharmacy Production manager to ensure training is complete.

To provide or support appropriate training for medical, nursing, paramedical and other NHS staff in aspects of Radio-pharmacy.

Educations, Training and Qualifications

Essential

• Personal Qualities and AttributesCandidates should have the ability to start work pre 7am as Radio-pharmacy production starts early
• Substantial, recent experience working in Radio-pharmacy

Desirable

• Formal training in Radiopharmacy
• Formal training in radiopharmaceutical quality assurance testing

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Recent and comprehensive Radio-pharmacy knowledge and experience involving the manufacture of Tc-99m based Radiopharmaceuticals
• Significant experience of working with of Mo-99/Tc-99m Generators
• Practical experience of radiation protection principles and procedures
• Sound knowledge of non-Tc-99m based Radiopharmaceuticals
• Recent experience of working with Radio-pharmacy equipment and performing quality tests to determine their acceptance for use
• Experience of running the day to day operations of a Radio-pharmacy
• Proven team work
• Experience of stock control and invoice tracking
• Proven records management experience
• Training of staff
• Previous experience of working with Good Manufacturing Practice
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance of Radiopharmaceuticals
• Concepts of Radioactivity including decay processes
• Good understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines, including: IRR 2017, IR(ME)R 2018, other relevant BSI and ISO standards, professional and regulatory body reports and guidelines
• Track record of working with confidential information in accordance to NHS information governance
• Previous use of isolator technology in a clean room environment

Desirable

• Detailed knowledge of all aspects of Radiopharmacy production
• Understanding of MHRA and Specials Licensing
• Experience in Radiopharmacy blood labelling techniques
• Performing risk assessments
• Understanding of Nuclear Medicine none imaging techniques

Skills

Essential

• Able to use Excel, Word etc. to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information. Be conversant with IT security and record-keeping issues
• Manual dexterity: ability to work with restricted movement and repeat procedures consistently over time
• Concentration and attention to detail over a prolonged period
• Able to supervise individuals or small groups of staff
• Able to prioritise and manage own work
• Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within the area of competence
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to communicate complicated and technical details to a wide range of audiences. Including communicating difficult subjects
• Ability to work following written procedures and work within a quality system to enact alteration to procedures when necessary
• Ability to analyse processes to seek improvement/efficiency in them
• Proven ability of a timely analysis of complex data and upwards reporting of outcomes
• Review procedures and initiate changes to them where appropriate, working within a quality system

Desirable

• Performing audits on processes and documentation
• Working with data to maintain integrity

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Candidates should have the ability to start work pre 7am as Radiopharmacy production starts early
• Confident
• Physically able to manipulate products in isolator environment
• Evidence of personal development (CPD)
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Self -motivated
• Commitment to future development of Radiopharmacy

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).