Job overview
We are recruiting for a Quality Assurance and Development Support Technician who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.
To actively participate in all training activities related to the post and keep own training records up to date. To train new and junior members of staff in aspects of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Good Manufacturing Practice
At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.
Main duties of the job
To provide active support to Senior QA pharmacist in implementation and maintenance of Pharmaceutical Quality Management System
To provide active support to QC Scientist [Operations& Development] with implementation and monitoring of service delivery and process improvements and developments.
To ensure all routine calibration and service activities for QC equipment are completed on time and correctly documented.
To actively participate in all training activities related to the post and keep own training records up to date. To train new and junior members of staff in aspects of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Good Manufacturing Practice.
Working for our organisation
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.
We run the following hospitals:
* The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
* New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
* Hertford County, Hertford
* Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Person specification
Qualifications / Training
Essential criteria
* NVQ3, BTEC inpharmaceutical science or equivalent level of qualification in a live science based discipline followed by further specialist training and experience to degree or equivalent level.
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience in pharmaceutical QA/QC or in a range of pharmaceutical or scientific technical procedures acquired through training or practical experience whilst working in Hospitals, Pharmaceutical or other scientific environments Experience in in Hospitals, Pharmaceutical or other scientific environments
* Demonstrated ability to undertake staff supervision, training and coaching and day to day organization of tasks or staff rota.
* Experience in management and investigations of Quality Exceptions and/or research projects, review and interpretation of data
* Experience of writing of test reports and preparation and implementation of standard operating procedures as well as communication of technical information to other staff and clients
* Experience in use and understanding of a range of analytical techniques and measurement instrumentation and calibration processes
Desirable criteria
* Experience in handling hazardous materials and undertaking risk assessments
Skills
Essential criteria
* Ability to work with high precision laboratory equipment requiring a high degree of hand-eye co-ordination. Ability to work at speed accurately and concentrate for prolonged periods of time whilst able to deal with interruptions while maintaining accuracy
* Good IT skills to include proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Power Point
* Ability to use the technical knowledge, reasoning and professional judgement to critically review and assess complex data and information.
* Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with all levels of staff and customers with confidence, assertiveness and tact. Excellent customer care skills.
* Ability to allocate and check work of laboratory support staff and less experienced technical staff
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of both chemical and microbiological analytical techniques
* Knowledge of a range of pharmaceutical technical procedures and scientific testing processes including chemistry, physical and microbiological testing
* Knowledge of a range of pharmaceutical technical procedures and scientific testing processes including chemistry, physical and microbiological testing
* Awareness of Health and Safety at Work act, COSHH legislation and understanding of laboratory safety issues.
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of validation requirements for pharmaceutical facilities, equipment and processes.
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
* Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion issues
* Role model our Trust values every day
* Required to wear personal protective apparel for prolonged periods of time whilst working in health care clean rooms as well as plant rooms
* The post holder may be required to work in aseptic facilities and therefore they must not be a ‘high shedder’( this term describes excessive skin shedding that may be caused by some skin conditions
* Required to have the ability to carry and handle moderately heavy equipment as well as the ability to occasionally work at height and also in confined spaces
* Required to be flexible and willing to work out of hours and at weekends to meet customer service demands
* Must have the ability to travel to customer sites as required, may be necessary out of hours and at short notice