Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Newcastle Advanced Therapies Team in a brand-new job progression post. The candidate will start as a Band 3 Laboratory Assistant and following successful completion of an in-house training program will be promoted to a Band 4 Laboratory Technician.
Newcastle Advanced Therapies are an integral part of the Pharmacy Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We work in partnership with Newcastle University to provide a comprehensive service in processing, storage, development and manufacture of advanced therapy products. Newcastle Advanced Therapies operate a JACIE accredited, MHRA and HTA licensed GMP cleanroom complex across two sites at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and the International Centre for Life. We have a well-established Haematology Transplant Service and a strong track record in delivering ATIMP clinical trials.
Please note progression from 3 to 4 is dependent on successful completion of the training program within 18 months.
- Interview Date: 4 June 2024
- 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
- To undertake a full range of technical activities within cleanroom and laboratory environments.
- To carry out preparation and / or cryopreservation of cells and tissues from donations, having successfully completed the in-house competency-based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance with HTA & JACIE, GMP and Quality Control.
- To carry out the manufacture of advanced therapeutic investigational medicinal products, from cells or tissue, having successfully completed the in-house competency-based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, Regulatory compliance with MHRA, GMP and Quality Control.
- Provides technical support to production services by carrying out routine procedures, facility maintenance, calibration checks, patient record collation and product receipt, distribution, storage and disposal.
- Provides support to external user groups by orchestrating and delivering clinically based patient product reinfusions.
- Undertakes the safe supply of prepared or manufactured sterile cellular or tissue based medicinal treatments in accordance with defined regulatory guidelines.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
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 2 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
Job Purpose Band 3
A Laboratory Technician is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide support to Healthcare Scientists, Clinical teams and other service users from the hospital and community, in the provision of highly specialist treatment using cellular products and transplants. The post holder will use extended technical skills to carry out a variety of laboratory duties including registration and data entry of requests, under the direct or indirect supervision and guidance of a senior staff member. The post holder will use their scientific knowledge to perform maintenance and calibration checks of essential equipment and perform quality control testing of the cleanroom and related environment.
Job Purpose Band 4
- To undertake a full range of technical activities within cleanroom and laboratory environments.
- To carry out preparation and / or cryopreservation of cells and tissues from donations, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance with HTA & JACIE, GMP and Quality Control.
- To carry out the manufacture of advanced therapeutic investigational medicinal products, from cells or tissue, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, Regulatory compliance with MHRA, GMP and Quality Control.
- Provides technical support to production services by carrying out routine procedures, facility maintenance, calibration checks, patient record collation and product receipt, distribution, storage and disposal.
- Provides support to external user groups by orchestrating and delivering clinically based patient product reinfusions.
- Undertakes the safe supply of prepared or manufactured sterile cellular or tissue based medicinal treatments in accordance with defined regulatory guidelines.
- Contributes to stock control and reduction in wastage of consumables and reagents.
- Contributes to training and supervision of Laboratory Assistants and external clinical staff undertaking reinfusion competencies.
- Leads laboratory assistants in facility maintenance, environmental monitoring, stock management and routine cleaning procedures.
- Leads laboratory assistants in technical transplant reinfusions and provides reinfusion competency assessments to laboratory assistants and external clinical staff.
- Assists production staff of all levels in the maintenance of the critical environments and departmental equipment.
- Supports seniors and scientific staff in coordination of specific area workload on a day-to-day basis. Assesses priorities and ensures effective utilisation of assistant staff.
- Collates all materials and reagents in preparation for routine and complex processing procedures
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.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose Band 3
A Laboratory Technician is part of a clinical support team whose purpose is to provide support to Healthcare Scientists, Clinical teams and other service users from the hospital and community, in the provision of highly specialist treatment using cellular products and transplants. The post holder will use extended technical skills to carry out a variety of laboratory duties including registration and data entry of requests, under the direct or indirect supervision and guidance of a senior staff member. The post holder will use their scientific knowledge to perform maintenance and calibration checks of essential equipment and perform quality control testing of the cleanroom and related environment.
Job Purpose Band 4
- To undertake a full range of technical activities within cleanroom and laboratory environments.
- To carry out preparation and / or cryopreservation of cells and tissues from donations, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance with HTA & JACIE, GMP and Quality Control.
- To carry out the manufacture of advanced therapeutic investigational medicinal products, from cells or tissue, having successfully completed the in-house competency based training programme that encompasses the concepts of Quality Assurance, Regulatory compliance with MHRA, GMP and Quality Control.
- Provides technical support to production services by carrying out routine procedures, facility maintenance, calibration checks, patient record collation and product receipt, distribution, storage and disposal.
- Provides support to external user groups by orchestrating and delivering clinically based patient product reinfusions.
- Undertakes the safe supply of prepared or manufactured sterile cellular or tissue based medicinal treatments in accordance with defined regulatory guidelines.
- Contributes to stock control and reduction in wastage of consumables and reagents.
- Contributes to training and supervision of Laboratory Assistants and external clinical staff undertaking reinfusion competencies.
- Leads laboratory assistants in facility maintenance, environmental monitoring, stock management and routine cleaning procedures.
- Leads laboratory assistants in technical transplant reinfusions and provides reinfusion competency assessments to laboratory assistants and external clinical staff.
- Assists production staff of all levels in the maintenance of the critical environments and departmental equipment.
- Supports seniors and scientific staff in coordination of specific area workload on a day-to-day basis. Assesses priorities and ensures effective utilisation of assistant staff.
- Collates all materials and reagents in preparation for routine and complex processing procedures
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.
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.
Person Specification
All Criteria for Band 3
Essential
- NVQ/BTEC level 3 in healthcare science, Pharmaceutical Science or related subject
- High standard of computer skills including Outlook, Excel and Word.
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Good interpersonal skills
- An ability to interact professionally with staff from all disciplines.
- Demonstrates an understanding of issues relating to confidentiality and adheres to Trust policy.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
- Ability to show initiative when required and a willingness to share ideas with others.
- An ability to work as part of a team and maintain good relationships with colleagues.
- Ability to recognise limits of own expertise and to seek advice/support when necessary.
- Ability to cope with and maintain professionalism in potentially upsetting circumstances around serious illness of a patient.
Desirable
- Experience of working in an NHS or clinical environment.
- A desire to explore a career in stem cell science
- Previous experience working across multiple sites or sections of a department.
All Criteria for Band 4
Essential
- S/NVQ Level 3 in scientific / health care discipline or equivalent
- BTEC in scientific / health care discipline or equivalent
- Experience of working in a patient centric, health care or laboratory environment.
- Good organisational skills
- Good oral communication
- Good written communication
- Ability to maintain high level of accuracy in a busy environment
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to work as part of a team
- Ability to work unsupervised
Desirable
- Registered with relevant professional body
- Working knowledge of NHS & laboratory computer systems
- Practical experience of a range of aseptic preparation and manufacturing activities.
- Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Practical experience of Isolator Technology and Laminar Flow Cabinets
- Knowledge of Quality Control and Assurance Systems
Person Specification
All Criteria for Band 3
Essential
- NVQ/BTEC level 3 in healthcare science, Pharmaceutical Science or related subject
- High standard of computer skills including Outlook, Excel and Word.
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Good interpersonal skills
- An ability to interact professionally with staff from all disciplines.
- Demonstrates an understanding of issues relating to confidentiality and adheres to Trust policy.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
- Ability to show initiative when required and a willingness to share ideas with others.
- An ability to work as part of a team and maintain good relationships with colleagues.
- Ability to recognise limits of own expertise and to seek advice/support when necessary.
- Ability to cope with and maintain professionalism in potentially upsetting circumstances around serious illness of a patient.
Desirable
- Experience of working in an NHS or clinical environment.
- A desire to explore a career in stem cell science
- Previous experience working across multiple sites or sections of a department.
All Criteria for Band 4
Essential
- S/NVQ Level 3 in scientific / health care discipline or equivalent
- BTEC in scientific / health care discipline or equivalent
- Experience of working in a patient centric, health care or laboratory environment.
- Good organisational skills
- Good oral communication
- Good written communication
- Ability to maintain high level of accuracy in a busy environment
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to work as part of a team
- Ability to work unsupervised
Desirable
- Registered with relevant professional body
- Working knowledge of NHS & laboratory computer systems
- Practical experience of a range of aseptic preparation and manufacturing activities.
- Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Practical experience of Isolator Technology and Laminar Flow Cabinets
- Knowledge of Quality Control and Assurance Systems
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
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).
