Chief Technician

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Guildford is seeking a Senior Aseptic Services Lead to oversee the training programs and ensure the safe delivery of aseptic products. This role involves managing technical staff and ensuring compliance with hospital policies. The ideal candidate should have senior aseptic experience and a commitment to continuous professional development. Join a compassionate team at an outstanding rated Trust investing in healthcare improvements.

Benefits

Comprehensive health and wellbeing program

Career development opportunities

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a senior role within aseptic services.
• Experience in line management of technical staff in an aseptic environment.
• Annual certificated training to deliver intrathecal chemotherapy.
• Knowledge of hospital policies for aseptic products and intrathecal administration.
• Ability to interpret prescriptions and intervene on dosing, routes, timescales.
• Strong commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of training programs for aseptic services.
• Final check and release of aseptic products.
• Deputise for the Head of Production in the department.
• Line-manage technical staff within the Pharmacy Aseptic Services Unit.
• Coordinate the permit-to-work system for external contractors.
• Interpret prescriptions and ensure accurate drug administration.

Skills

Senior role experience in aseptic services

Line management of technical staff

Certificated training for intrathecal chemotherapy

Knowledge of hospital policies

Prescription interpretation skills

Commitment to professional development

Job description

Full time: 37.5 hours per week fixed term maternity cover.

The Royal Surrey County Hospital Aseptic Services department supplies aseptic products for St Luke's Cancer Centre and other specialties across the Trust. This role offers the opportunity to play a critical leadership role in service delivery and development. You would have the lead role for the development of training programmes for all roles in the department and would be responsible for the final check and release of aseptic products and deputising for the Head of Production.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of training programs for all roles in the department.
• Final check and release of aseptic products and deputise for the Head of Production.
• Deputise for the Aseptic Services Manager.
• Line‑manage technical staff within the Pharmacy Aseptic Services Unit.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of all processes, procedures and related disciplines within aseptic services.
• Propose and implement procedural changes within own area of expertise.
• Keep staff informed of departmental developments.
• Collate and report workload statistics, errors and performance markers to the Aseptic Services Manager monthly.
• Handle verbal complaints and contribute to written responses to complaints.
• Coordinate the permit‑to‑work system for external contractors.
• Sign off records of evidence for pre‑registration pharmacists and NVQ trainees.
• Assist with training of new staff in aseptic technique and supervise newly validated staff during aseptic production.
• Supervise the validation work of other aseptic staff.
• Undertake certificated training each year to be able to final check and deliver intrathecal chemotherapy to wards in accordance with hospital policy.
• Ensure process validations (sterility and decontamination) are performed.
• Complete accreditations for in‑process checking and calculation of aseptically prepared products.
• Complete accreditations for final checking and release of aseptically prepared products.
• Undertake continuing professional development and keep up to date with legislation and best practice.
• Interpret prescriptions and intervene regarding dosing, routes of administration, timescales, methods of drug delivery and appropriateness of treatment.
• Perform in‑process checking of aseptically prepared products after accreditation.
• Ensure timely preparation of products to meet agreed turnaround times, prioritise workload accordingly.
• Prepare aseptic products safely and accurately after completing appropriate validations.
• Label aseptic products accurately.
• Pack finished products for distribution, including temperature‑controlled transport where required.
• Transport aseptic products to wards, departments and Guildford Nuffield Hospital as required.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the Site Master File.
• Review published data to support formulations and expiries and authorise drug stability reviews.
• Approve aseptic manufacturing worksheets, including those for investigational medicinal products.
• Ensure environmental monitoring, cleaning and operator validations are performed, and act immediately on out‑of‑specification results.
• Manage revision and distribution of worksheets and logs.
• Enforce intrathecal and other hospital policies for aseptically prepared drugs.
• Provide stability expert advice on availability, stability and compatibility of aseptically prepared drugs.
• Resolve out‑of‑specification results before product release.
• Manage time effectively when competing demands arise and work independently and accurately under pressure.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and records that are accessible.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a senior role within aseptic services.
• Experience in line management of technical staff in an aseptic environment.
• Annual certificated training to deliver intrathecal chemotherapy.
• Knowledge of hospital policies for aseptic products and intrathecal administration.
• Ability to interpret prescriptions and intervene on dosing, routes, timescales, methods of drug delivery and appropriateness of treatment.
• Strong commitment to continuous professional development.

Working for our organisation

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.

We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.

Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and are investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.

Although it isn't the Trust's normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Video about the Royal Surrey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo