Aseptics Senior Pharmacy Technician

Do you want to make a difference helping to supply life-saving cancer treatments?
Do you want to work at a strongly innovative "UK Top 40" award -winning and CQC Outstanding Foundation Trust?
If you are a registered pharmacy technician with aseptic preparation experience and have great organisation skills, this is a great opportunity to join our supportive, inclusive and dedicated team.
The Pharmacy Cancer and Aseptics team support two busy treatment suites and external hospitals through our licensed aseptic manufacturing unit.
This is an opportunity to join us in this integral role as we build and expand our team and our service to be fit for purpose to the ever expanding needs of our local community.
Standard NHS conditions of service apply., To provide an effective technical service in the section of work to which allocated, including final accuracy checks of dispensed medicines.
Key Working Relationships
Managed by the section Lead Technician or the Lead Pharmacist for the clinical team to which allocated.
Supervises other Pharmacy Technicians, and Pharmacy Assistants and Senior Assistants, and Trainees on rotation in the section of work to which allocated.
Works and co-operates with all Pharmacy and healthcare staff in the provision of services.
Maintains a network with counterparts in other Trusts, for the exchange of information and the sharing of ideas., Depending on the service section in which the post holder is based, their priorities will vary but will include some or all of the following:
To assess the prevailing demands on the work of the section, in conjunction with any transport deadlines, and to decide the order in which tasks are undertaken, with the aim of ensuring optimum service delivery to patients and healthcare staff.
To carry out dispensing of drugs, medicated dressings, enteral feeds, and drug-related devices for outpatients, in-patients and clinical trial patients, from either dispensary as required.
To give routine clinical and pharmaceutical advice to healthcare staff, referring to a pharmacist if required.
To undertake the final accuracy checking (as an Accredited Checker Technician ACT) of dispensed prescriptions in the dispensary and / or the aseptics unit, in accordance with pharmacy departmental policies and procedures. Note that discharge medicines dispensing may move to wards, and this will involve on-ward accuracy checks by the postholder alongside the clinical check by a Pharmacist.
To ensure the timely and supportive notification to dispensers, of any error found when checking. To ensure such errors are recorded, and to participate in the Trust Incident Reporting process as appropriate.
To maintain a working relationship with the Outpatients Pharmacy, which is operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust.
To refer patients and staff seeking treatment of minor ailments, to the duty pharmacist for advice.
To counsel all out-patients when issuing drugs, and in-patients as appropriate, in order to ensure the safe and effective use and storage of their medicines.
To cover day to day managerial duties in the absence of the section Lead Technician, including managing and prioritising daily workload, organising staff breaks and ensuring adequate cover in all areas during times of absence.
To undertake unaccompanied visits to wards at the base hospital and to outlying hospitals, including wards without pharmacist input; to undertake materials management duties relating to the drug distribution and non-stock pharmaceuticals supply service; and to provide basic clinical and pharmaceutical advice to ward staff as required.
To participate in the operation of the Aseptic Service at ward level:
+ Specialised medication counselling, eg, inhaler use.
+ Medicines reconciliation against home medicines and GP records (including the NHS Summary Care Record).
+ Discharge planning, including the identification of patients requiring their discharge supply in a monitored dose device, and liaison with community Pharmacies, and with care homes and hospices which may have non-standard arrangements.
To liaise with ward pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and ward staff in determining appropriate pharmaceuticals stock levels, for the production and updating of ward-stock lists and to assist in the provision of advice to ward staff on the storage and handling of pharmaceuticals.
To check, maintain and replenish the out of hours drug cupboard and resuscitation cupboard.
To undertake audits, which include regular safe handling and storage of medicines audits on wards and in Departments. To work with ward staff to develop action plans on audit outcomes and give advice and support as appropriate.
To participate in stock replenishment procedures in all areas of the pharmacy, understanding the need for appropriate stockholding and the financial implications.
To monitor the continued suitability of pharmaceutical stock on wards and in departments and to arrange the appropriate removal/destruction in accordance with environmental regulations.
To monitor and record drug storage temperatures and to alert section managers of any discrepancies.
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.
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.
To participate fully in the provision of a drugs reconstitution service, including aseptic preparation of cytotoxics, antibiotic injections, and other products.
To manage the buying in of aseptic doses which are not made on site, such as dose banded chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition.
To undertake disposal of cytotoxic drug waste in accordance with COSHH regulations, and to deal with cytotoxic drugs spillage in accordance with established written procedures.
To undertake quality assurance in the aseptics unit, and validation of products and processes, including environmental monitoring of products, plant, processes, and personnel, interpreting the results of settle plates, and reporting adverse results to the supervisor.
To use networks and other resources to identify opportunities to improve the service.
To assist in the individual and group training of pharmacy assistants (ATOs), senior Assistants, pharmacy technicians, pre-registration pharmacy technicians (trainees), and pre-registration pharmacists to provide the service to the agreed standards.
To assist section managers in the orientation, induction and training of pharmacy staff new to those sections.
To contribute to ideas for improving cost-effectiveness and to assist in their implementation where agreed.
To participate in weekday late night, weekend and Bank Holiday services on rotation.
To undertake other duties at the base hospital and other hospitals in the area as required by the Head of Pharmacy in accordance with this grade of post.
To provide short-term cover for colleagues during periods of leave. To provide cover as necessary for Stores & Distribution.
To ensure that all Trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all who come into contact with services provided by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of the health and safety of him/herself and of other persons who may be affected his or her acts or omissions at work and to cooperate with the Trust to ensure that statutory and Trust regulations are complied with.
To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.
To participate in appropriate service developments, which currently include Lorenzo software for discharge and Outpatient prescribing, and the automation of Pharmacy Stores and Distribution, and the rebuild of Aseptics, and the expansion of Pharmacy services to wards and the community.
To participate in team, professional and personal development activities and promote commitment to continuous development and improvement.
To ensure that all staff consciously review mistakes, complaints and incidents/near misses as well as successes, to improve performance and the level of customer care., Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don't want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.
The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).
Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.
We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.
Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it's a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.
The Trust is part of a 'Foundation Group' through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
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 whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don't need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, 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.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual - we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire 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.
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, 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.