Job summary
We are looking for reliable, conscientious and practical individuals to work within our team based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Newcastle Specials/Production Services is housed in the purpose built Production and Quality Control facility on the Royal Victoria Infirmary site with a Cytotoxic Dispensing Unit based on NCCC, Freeman Hospital.
A core team of twelve Pharmacists and over seventy Technical and support staff provide the Pharmacy Production Service across the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital sites. The specialist services provided comprise a range of activities from non-sterile manufacture of Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) to the aseptic dispensing of chemotherapy. A wide range of specialist GMP equipment is also in operation across all facilities.
- Interview date: 29th September 2023
- 37 hours 30 minutes /week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
You will join our large team of staff working in busy department providing an efficient pharmaceutical service to patients.
As part of the unlicensed team the Senior Production Operative post involves the aseptic preparation of CIVAS, parenteral nutrition, cytotoxics, and monoclonal antibodies throughout the Pharmacy Production Unit.
As part of the licensed team your main duties include manufacture of terminally sterilised and non-sterile products including clinical trials, and the manufacture of aseptic batches and homecare products.
All posts have responsibilities for the cleaning and disinfection of cleanrooms and equipment, environmental monitoring, stock management and stock checking responsibilities.
It is essential that applicants have GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language or previous hospital pharmacy production experience.
There is a requirement for successful applicants to have or complete, a GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role.
Development opportunities include the chance to apply for a level 3 apprenticeship which would give you the skills and qualifications to register as a technician.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
Rated 'Outstanding' by theCQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To carry out the full range of Senior Production Operative duties including the preparation and / or manufacture of products from raw materials, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GMP and Quality Control.
- Provides technical support to production services including carrying out routine procedures in the ordering, packing, distribution and storage of pharmaceutical stock.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To carry out the full range of Senior Production Operative duties including the preparation and / or manufacture of products from raw materials, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, GMP and Quality Control.
- Provides technical support to production services including carrying out routine procedures in the ordering, packing, distribution and storage of pharmaceutical stock.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language or previous hospital pharmacy production experience.
- GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role, or must commence study within 6 months of appointment
- Production induction period of four weeks and initial training period of six months to gain practical experience of work activities (routine duties) and a working knowledge of standard operating procedures
Desirable
- GCSE Chemistry and Biology or Dual Award Science
- Completion of in-house competency based training
- Completion of in-house validation for label production
- Completion of in-house validation for visual checking
Knowledge
Essential
- Must meet General Pharmaceutical Council guidelines which states pharmacy support staff must be able to demonstrate a range of work procedures and practices with base level of theoretical knowledge and understanding of the duties carried out within the role
- Knowledge of environmental monitoring
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical preparation, manufacturing or aseptic processing
- Awareness of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace
Desirable
- Theoretical knowledge and practical experience of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Practical knowledge of isolator or laminar flow technology
- Awareness of COSHH in the workplace
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a clean room environment
- Experience of working in a busy environment
Desirable
- Experience in a pharmaceutical production environment
Skills
Essential
- An ability to follow written standard operating procedures.
- General keyboard skills
- Basic training skills
- Effective organisational skills
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Good customer care skills
- Able to manage own workload and use own initiative
- Ability to work accurately
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE (Min. Grade 4 or equivalent) in Mathematics and English Language or previous hospital pharmacy production experience.
- GPhC approved level 2 qualification specific to the role, or must commence study within 6 months of appointment
- Production induction period of four weeks and initial training period of six months to gain practical experience of work activities (routine duties) and a working knowledge of standard operating procedures
Desirable
- GCSE Chemistry and Biology or Dual Award Science
- Completion of in-house competency based training
- Completion of in-house validation for label production
- Completion of in-house validation for visual checking
Knowledge
Essential
- Must meet General Pharmaceutical Council guidelines which states pharmacy support staff must be able to demonstrate a range of work procedures and practices with base level of theoretical knowledge and understanding of the duties carried out within the role
- Knowledge of environmental monitoring
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical preparation, manufacturing or aseptic processing
- Awareness of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace
Desirable
- Theoretical knowledge and practical experience of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Practical knowledge of isolator or laminar flow technology
- Awareness of COSHH in the workplace
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a clean room environment
- Experience of working in a busy environment
Desirable
- Experience in a pharmaceutical production environment
Skills
Essential
- An ability to follow written standard operating procedures.
- General keyboard skills
- Basic training skills
- Effective organisational skills
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Good customer care skills
- Able to manage own workload and use own initiative
- Ability to work accurately
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).
