Senior Technician - Aseptic Services

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities

To supervise the smooth running of all aspects of Pharmacy Technical Services Unit.

• Co-ordinate and participate in the day to day running of TSU supplying Cytotoxic and Monoclonal Anti-Body treatments.

• Ensure adequate supplies and accurate stock control of all items required in the department.

• Assist in any developments in the Aseptic Unit.

• Ensure ‘To Take Away’ medications (TTA), in-patient and outpatient prescriptions are dispensed for chemotherapy patients with in the required time.

• Ensure any problems with Chemotherapy items are referred to the most appropriate member of staff where necessary.

• Assist in maintaining total compliance with national guidelines and all of the policies and procedures within the unit.

• In conjunction with Pharmacy Technical Services Manager, Lead Pharmacist Technical Services and the Quality Assurance Advisor, write Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and other policies and procedures relevant to TSU, contribute to the updating of existing SOP’s.

• Assist in the provision of workload figures for TSU.

• Liaise with the Quality Assurance department with daily and weekly monitoring of the isolators, clean rooms and equipment to create continuous monitoring of the environment.

• Assist in the provision of technical services information to Pharmacy staff and other healthcare workers.

• Undergo regular individual and process validation tests.

• Participate in compounding of aseptic preparations, using appropriate equipment and in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice standards (GMP).

• Identify, select, compound and dispense drugs (may include clinical trial material) in accordance with prescriptions.

• Liaise with other healthcare workers to maintain and develop the service.

• Use of computer systems to generate work sheets for compounding aseptic products.

• Participate in the in-house and regional checking schemes, including tray checks and volume checks.

• Carry out environmental monitoring.

• Ensure action for drug/drug related recalls are carried out in accordance with SOP’s.

• Maintain awareness of current trends and practices.

• To work as part of the Pharmacy Team in the provision of a dispensary-based Pharmacy service to.

• Take part in patient counselling and provide information on medicines to patients, doctors and other health care staff.

• Carry out reception duties, involving dealing with patients, relatives and all grades of healthcare workers.

• Deal with telephone enquiries and handle prescription charges.

• Use the computer systems to track prescriptions.

• Operate the automated pharmacy storage and dispensing system.

• Accuracy check of dispensed items following completion of Regional Checking Accreditation.

• To deputise for the Pharmacy Technical Services Manager in the Pharmacy Technical Service Unit in their absence.

• Follow all standard operating procedures (SOP’s) accurately.

• Maintain a clean and tidy working environment.

• Ensure disposal of pharmaceutical waste in all areas is carried out according to SOP’s.

• Identify pharmaceutical items which are unavailable and follow appropriate SOP.

• Ensure any problems are referred on to the most appropriate member of staff, where necessary.

• Ensure professional and legal standards are adhered to.

• All work will be checked by a pharmacist and or the designated staff in accordance with SOP’s, except for areas covered by a competency framework agreed by the Chief Pharmacist.

• Contribute to the updating of existing SOP’s.

• To follow all Health and Safety standards in compliance with Trust policies and procedures. This includes:

• Report all accidents, incidents and near misses

• Dealing with hazardous chemicals (including cytotoxic drugs) used in the department, following COSHH regulations.

• Attendance of all mandatory training.

• Participate in technician on-call and dispensary stand-by.

• To ensure adequate training of Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officers, Pre-registration Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Technicians, Pre-Reg Pharmacists and Vocational/Work Experience students, ensuring GMP standards are maintained.

• Ensuring safe and legal systems of work are in operation at all times following quality standards whilst ensuring a timely and customer focused service in a busy environment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3, BTEC Pharmaceutical Sciences or Equivalent
• Registered with GPhC or Equivalent recognised registered body

Desirable

• Accredited Accuracy Checking Technician

Experience

Essential

• Licensed or unlicensed Hospital Aseptic unit

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

Employer's website

https://www.pah.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)