Job summary
To provide comprehensive technical support and assist in the provision of aseptic medicines dispensing, aseptic medicines preparation and to carry out support duties as required, includingthe daily, weekly and monthly cleaning of the aseptic unit cleanrooms and Isolator cabinets, completing monitoring duties of the aseptic unit facility, and other duties as required.
Main duties of the job
- Aseptic Compounding:Preparing and assembling sterile products (chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, IVs) using aseptic techniques within controlled environments (cleanrooms).
- Quality & Compliance:Adhering strictly to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Good Documentation Practices (GDP).
- Environmental Monitoring:Conducting tests, cleaning, and maintaining the integrity of the aseptic unit's environment.
- Stock Management:Monitoring and maintaining adequate stock levels of raw materials and finished products, managing expiry dates, and ordering as needed.
- Documentation:Accurately recording all processes, completing batch records, training records, and supporting audits.
- Equipment Maintenance:Assisting with the cleaning, sterilization, calibration, and maintenance of equipment.
- Waste Disposal:Properly disposing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
About us
Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.
We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.
If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities
Effectively participate in the delivery of all services from the Technical Services unit.
Duties to include:
- Aseptic dispensing, including the preparation of cytotoxic, intrathecal injections, intravenous additives, clinical trial drugs, and any other drugs which require aseptic preparation after the required training, accreditation and validation.
- Ordering of drugs, consumables and equipment used within Technical Services.
- Ensure medication is prepared to meet agreed delivery times and to minimise waiting times for patients.
- Maintains effective communication links with Lead Pharmacist and Lead Technician and all members of the Technical Services team.
- To follow relevant procedures, including adherence to GMP, The Orange guide, QAAPs, Section 10 requirements, Waste Management, Health & Safety legislation, COSSH regulations and the Trust Medicines Policy in order to deliver the service in a safe and effective manner.
- Ensure stock levels of all products and materials are accurate and support the appropriate ordering of stock through liaison with the Pharmacy Buying Office. Inaccuracies in all medicines should be investigated before being referred to line manager without delay.
- Be responsible for the maintenance of stock rotation in order to make sure that medicines are stored appropriately and in date using the expiry date database.
- Ensure documentation is filed accurately and in a timely manner.
- Liaise with the Senior Technicians and Lead Technician on management issues
- Dispenses injections and infusions for (e.g. chemotherapy, CIVAS , Clinical trial materials) under aseptic conditions to all required standards.
- Issues systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) medicines to the designated nursing staff.
- Helps to maintain good stock control by ensuring stock checks are completed on a weekly basis and investigates and corrects discrepancies according to local procedure.
- Ensure excellent labelling standards for chemotherapy medicines using the Cancer Services Chemocare system.
- Assists with accurate booking out of medicines on the pharmacy JAC/Wellsky system.
- Assists with generating patient-specific aseptic preparation worksheets using our Pharmacy Chemotherapy Chemocare system.
- Assists with the generation of patient-specific manual worksheets and labelling using Epysis labelling occasionally as required for non-Chemocare items.
- Daily, weekly and monthly cleaning of isolators and preparation areas including.
- To carry out cleaning of the aseptic unit which involves daily cleaning, weekly cleaning, and quarterly cleaning using multiple cleaning agents. The cleaning work is repeated at least twice day, multiple times each week. The daily cleaning involves the use of one type of agent, while the weekly and quarterly involves the use of 3 types of agents sequentially. The quarterly clean includes cleaning the unit ceilings and walls. The daily clean includes daily floor cleaning. To carry out Isolator cleaning, at least twice daily before and after each aseptic medicines preparation session.
- Participates in physical and environmental monitoring including unit pressures, and laying media plates around the unit.
- Undertake specific projects in accordance with objectives set within Personal Development Plan, to be reviewed at appraisals
- Help to ensure that all equipment (e.g. isolators and air handling unit) is operating to the required standard.
- Attend and participate in departmental meetings and participate in departmental quality initiatives.
- Ensure that all necessary accreditations are up to date for working in the dispensary for weekend and late duty rotas and ensure familiarity with systems and procedures.
- Undertake any other duties as reasonably required by the Chief Pharmacist.
Other Duties
- Covers dispensary in line with the dispensary rota
- Participates in weekend and bank holiday duties (dispensary based) and late duty.
- Undertakes any other duties agreed with the Lead Pharmacist/Technician Cancer and Technical Services or Chief Pharmacist.
This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager.
All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge or training level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities
Effectively participate in the delivery of all services from the Technical Services unit.
Duties to include:
- Aseptic dispensing, including the preparation of cytotoxic, intrathecal injections, intravenous additives, clinical trial drugs, and any other drugs which require aseptic preparation after the required training, accreditation and validation.
- Ordering of drugs, consumables and equipment used within Technical Services.
- Ensure medication is prepared to meet agreed delivery times and to minimise waiting times for patients.
- Maintains effective communication links with Lead Pharmacist and Lead Technician and all members of the Technical Services team.
- To follow relevant procedures, including adherence to GMP, The Orange guide, QAAPs, Section 10 requirements, Waste Management, Health & Safety legislation, COSSH regulations and the Trust Medicines Policy in order to deliver the service in a safe and effective manner.
- Ensure stock levels of all products and materials are accurate and support the appropriate ordering of stock through liaison with the Pharmacy Buying Office. Inaccuracies in all medicines should be investigated before being referred to line manager without delay.
- Be responsible for the maintenance of stock rotation in order to make sure that medicines are stored appropriately and in date using the expiry date database.
- Ensure documentation is filed accurately and in a timely manner.
- Liaise with the Senior Technicians and Lead Technician on management issues
- Dispenses injections and infusions for (e.g. chemotherapy, CIVAS , Clinical trial materials) under aseptic conditions to all required standards.
- Issues systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) medicines to the designated nursing staff.
- Helps to maintain good stock control by ensuring stock checks are completed on a weekly basis and investigates and corrects discrepancies according to local procedure.
- Ensure excellent labelling standards for chemotherapy medicines using the Cancer Services Chemocare system.
- Assists with accurate booking out of medicines on the pharmacy JAC/Wellsky system.
- Assists with generating patient-specific aseptic preparation worksheets using our Pharmacy Chemotherapy Chemocare system.
- Assists with the generation of patient-specific manual worksheets and labelling using Epysis labelling occasionally as required for non-Chemocare items.
- Daily, weekly and monthly cleaning of isolators and preparation areas including.
- To carry out cleaning of the aseptic unit which involves daily cleaning, weekly cleaning, and quarterly cleaning using multiple cleaning agents. The cleaning work is repeated at least twice day, multiple times each week. The daily cleaning involves the use of one type of agent, while the weekly and quarterly involves the use of 3 types of agents sequentially. The quarterly clean includes cleaning the unit ceilings and walls. The daily clean includes daily floor cleaning. To carry out Isolator cleaning, at least twice daily before and after each aseptic medicines preparation session.
- Participates in physical and environmental monitoring including unit pressures, and laying media plates around the unit.
- Undertake specific projects in accordance with objectives set within Personal Development Plan, to be reviewed at appraisals
- Help to ensure that all equipment (e.g. isolators and air handling unit) is operating to the required standard.
- Attend and participate in departmental meetings and participate in departmental quality initiatives.
- Ensure that all necessary accreditations are up to date for working in the dispensary for weekend and late duty rotas and ensure familiarity with systems and procedures.
- Undertake any other duties as reasonably required by the Chief Pharmacist.
Other Duties
- Covers dispensary in line with the dispensary rota
- Participates in weekend and bank holiday duties (dispensary based) and late duty.
- Undertakes any other duties agreed with the Lead Pharmacist/Technician Cancer and Technical Services or Chief Pharmacist.
This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager.
All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge or training level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- NVQ 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences equivalent recognised qualification
- Maths, English Language, Science GCSE grade C/4 or above
Desirable
- Training undertaken in hospital environment
- Attendance on LPET Fundamentals of Aseptic study day
Experience
Essential
- Recent relevant BAND 3 Technician with experience in NHS Technical services experience
- Training undertaken within a hospital environment
- Experience of preparing cytotoxic products
- Pharmacy labelling and stock control systems
- Understanding of procurement methods
- Adherence to and implementation of procedures
Desirable
- Hospital Pharmacy Experience
- JAC/ Wellsky pharmacy stock control system
- Use of Oracle E-PROC software (for placing orders)
- Clinical trial dispensing
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Good communication (written and oral)
- Knowledge of EU GMP and Principles of aseptic and cytotoxic dispensing with demonstrable accuracy
- Prioritisation, planning and Organisational skills to prioritise workload
- Dealing with interruptions to normal work pattern
- Time management
- Computer literacy (including word-processing, e-mail, accurate data entry skills)
- Mathematical skills to perform basic mathematical calculations in relation to work
- Interpret and dispense prescriptions accurately
Desirable
Personal qualities
Essential
- Enthusiasm for the position and personal development
- Methodical with attention to detail
- Flexible working to reflect service development
- Friendly, empathetic and reliable team worker able to relate to all grades of staff
- Self-motivation
- Ability to cope well within a busy environment
- Able to use initiative
- Reliable
- Ability to perform light/moderate physical duties (lifting inanimate loads, standing for periods) working in an isolator, light cleaning
- Hardworking
- Occupational health clearance to dispense aseptic and cytotoxic drugs
- Able to work independently
- Able to problem solve
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- NVQ 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences equivalent recognised qualification
- Maths, English Language, Science GCSE grade C/4 or above
Desirable
- Training undertaken in hospital environment
- Attendance on LPET Fundamentals of Aseptic study day
Experience
Essential
- Recent relevant BAND 3 Technician with experience in NHS Technical services experience
- Training undertaken within a hospital environment
- Experience of preparing cytotoxic products
- Pharmacy labelling and stock control systems
- Understanding of procurement methods
- Adherence to and implementation of procedures
Desirable
- Hospital Pharmacy Experience
- JAC/ Wellsky pharmacy stock control system
- Use of Oracle E-PROC software (for placing orders)
- Clinical trial dispensing
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Good communication (written and oral)
- Knowledge of EU GMP and Principles of aseptic and cytotoxic dispensing with demonstrable accuracy
- Prioritisation, planning and Organisational skills to prioritise workload
- Dealing with interruptions to normal work pattern
- Time management
- Computer literacy (including word-processing, e-mail, accurate data entry skills)
- Mathematical skills to perform basic mathematical calculations in relation to work
- Interpret and dispense prescriptions accurately
Desirable
Personal qualities
Essential
- Enthusiasm for the position and personal development
- Methodical with attention to detail
- Flexible working to reflect service development
- Friendly, empathetic and reliable team worker able to relate to all grades of staff
- Self-motivation
- Ability to cope well within a busy environment
- Able to use initiative
- Reliable
- Ability to perform light/moderate physical duties (lifting inanimate loads, standing for periods) working in an isolator, light cleaning
- Hardworking
- Occupational health clearance to dispense aseptic and cytotoxic drugs
- Able to work independently
- Able to problem solve
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).