Job summary
Invitation to join the Pharmacy staff bank as part of the Aseptics Team!
The Pharmacy Department is looking to recruit enthusiastic Senior Pharmacy Assistants to support in the delivery of excellent hospital pharmacy aseptic services. As the successful candidate, you will join our friendly team working in the Aseptic Unit at Warwick, preparing chemotherapy and related treatments for patients across Warwickshire.
We will provide a comprehensive in house training programme during which you will learn all about our clean room environment and the many different procedures that we have to maintain the high standards of cleanliness and efficiency needed in a busy Aseptic Unit.
Main duties of the job
Reporting to the Lead technician for Aseptics and working closely with the cancer and aseptics team to deliver a high standard aseptics service for the trust's treatment suites and our external customers. Ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good distribution Practice (GDP) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and other relevant standards and legislation.
About us
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Aseptic Unit Duties
Assist in the delivery of safe, effective and efficient aseptic dispensing service in accordance with SOPs of the unit working under the direction of the senior technical staff.
Comply with all requirements for environmental monitoring in the pharmacy aseptic unit including sessional monitoring, daily monitoring, weekly monitoring and less frequent monitoring as outlined in the pharmacy aseptic unit SOPs.
Participation in the examination of environmental monitoring media and recording of results. Reporting any alert/action levels to Senior technicians.
Arrange for test sample to be sent promptly to the appropriate microbiology laboratories when necessary.
Carry out the regular quality assurance programme according to SOPs and complete accurately any required paperwork.
Complete manual leak tests when required on isolators.
Undertake regular cleaning of the pharmacy aseptic unit according to SOPs including daily, weekly and monthly intensive specialist cleaning.
Assemble ingredients for items to be made according to the worksheet and SOPs noting down accurately batch number and expiry dates, checking for any particles, discolouration or breakages.
Assist with operation of specialist equipment involved in the pharmacy aseptic unit.
Assist with the completion of all required documentation.
Undertake training to participate in assisting the safe aseptic preparation.
Dispensing of prefilled products.
The following tasks will become part of the main duties once a required level of competence has been achieved:
Generating worksheets and labels according to SOPs and prescriptions.
Assisting in the preparation of aseptically dispensed items including chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies and CIVAS items.
Preparation of aseptically dispensed items including chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies and CIVAS items.
Carry out Pre- and In Process Checks (PIPC) on assembled items and accuracy checks during the preparation of products.
Delivering released products to clinical areas.
Assist in the laundry management of clean room items.
Liaise with senior technicians with regard to ordering of consumable items used in the pharmacy aseptic unit.
Stock control duties including receiving, unpacking, checking and storing of delivered items, ensuring stock rotation and expiry date checks.
Assist in the maintenance of adequate levels of drugs and equipment by informing senior technicians when stock levels are low.
Maintain an adequate supply of worksheets and other record sheets photocopying more as required.
To carry out accurate entry of data into the Pharmacy computer system.
To maintain the Controlled Drug register and to carry out regular stock level checks of Controlled Drugs in line with legal responsibilities as appropriate.
General Duties
Undertake general housekeeping duties to main a clean, tidy and safe working environment.
Assist with the filing and safe storage of all documentation.
Dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste appropriately according to SOPs and trust procedures.
Participate in regular stock dates.
Assist with ward top ups as required.
Assist in workplace audits.
Foster and maintain good relationships with pharmacy, medical and nursing staff through effective communication.
Deal with all service users as quickly and efficiently as possible while being sensitive to their various problems and the needs of patients, staff and other visitors. Answer telephones promptly and courteously.
Maintain own skills and undertake continuous professional development consistent with grade and developments within the profession of pharmacy.
Work in accordance with the pharmacy department and trust SOPs.
Maintain patient confidentiality at all times as per trust procedures.
To ensure the security of the Pharmacy department, drug stores and out-lying pharmacies at all times during working hours and at the end of the working day by maintaining responsibility for keys and swipe access cards and by the setting of alarms as necessary.
Attend aseptic unit departmental meetings.
Participate in weekday early start/late night weekend and bank holiday rotas.
Work in accordance with the goals and values of the trust.
Education and Training
Undertake the pharmacy aseptics unit training programme.
Undertake any private study when necessary.
Assist with the training and support of other staff when required.
Undertake and attain Buttercups level 2 Pharmacy manufacturing courseor equivalent.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Education to secondary school standard
2. GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English at grade C or above
3. Is willing and able to complete a comprehensive training and competency programme within an agreed timescale (approximately 12 weeks)
4. Is willing to complete the Level 2 pharmacy manufacturing course in an agreed timescale ( if a level 2 pharmacy qualification is not already held)
5. Is willing to complete Pre and In- process checking training (PIP-C)
Desirable
6. Level 2 in pharmacy services or pharmacy manufacturing course
Experience
Essential
7. Experience of working with the public
Desirable
8. Previous experience of working in a laboratory
9. Previous hospital experience
Skills
Essential
10. Basic Keyboard skills
11. Good numerical skills
12. Has knowledge of record keeping
13. Participation in the training of others
14. Used to working in a team
15. High levels of accuracy when record keeping
16. Ability to concentrate whilst dealing with background distractions such as the telephone or intercom
Desirable
17. Able to cope with pharmaceutical names
18. Knowledge of hospital environment
19. Knowledge of pharmacy environment
20. Stores and stock keeping knowledge
Personal Qualities
Essential
21. Enthusiastic
22. Motivated
23. Reliable
24. Team worker
25. Professional level of personal presentation
26. Flexible
27. Able to use initiative
28. Able to deal with angry/upset staff
29. Able to create a rapport
30. Knows and respects their limits of discretion (, when to hand over)
31. Works to protocols, procedures and SOPs
32. Good verbal communication - face to face and telephone
33. Good written communication
34. Able to keep accurate records
Other
Essential
35. Able to participate in late duties and Saturday/Sunday/Bank holiday working Some flexibility in working hours Physically fit and able to stand/sit for long periods Able to use a VDU Capable of occasional moderate lifting (<13kg) Manual dexterity as required to prepare sterile products Able to participate in essential cleaning procedure which can be strenuous Able to work with cleaning agents and disinfectants Able to work with cytotoxic drugs Able to work in an Aseptic environment