Lead Pharmacy Technician - SDU

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Pharmacy Technician for the SDU to support stock management, training and quality improvement across the department. You will lead, supervise and develop staff, ensure SOPs are followed, maintain training records and participate in 7-day service, with weekend work as required.

A qualification as a Pharmacy Technician (GPhC) and relevant experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience post qualification as a pharmacy technician.
• Experience supervising others and providing feedback for development.
• Education and training of staff.
• Experience of holding regular team meetings.
• Experience of giving feedback and communicating outcomes to the wider team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop staff, recruit per policies and conduct appraisals.
• Ensure regular 1:1s, clear objectives and personal development plans.
• Monitor sickness absence and manage return-to-work interviews.
• Organise induction programs and maintain training records.
• Ensure mandatory training compliance and SOP adherence.
• Oversee CPD and staff training, and facilitate education activities.
• Promote quality improvement and ensure infection control standards.

Skills

Pharmacy technician experience

Staff supervision

Education & training of staff

Team leadership

Quality improvement

Education

NVQ/QCF level 3/BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent

Registered Technician with GPhC

Regional Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Manage batch stock levels, including the regular review and maintenance of PAR levels, and proactively identify and implement solutions to line changes and supply issues relating to Batch and PS products.
• 2.11 Liaise with relevant stakeholders in adding of new lines to EPIC following the required authorisation requirements.
• 2.12 Be responsible for expiry and stock check reviews for batch lines to actively minimise wastage.
• 2.13 Undertake weekly monitoring and maintenance of high-cost stock lines to minimise avoidable wastage and attend the monthly Pharmacy Waste Meeting to review waste trends, identify issues and support appropriate actions.
• 2.14 Ensure minimum stock levels are maintained for all batch lines by regularly reviewing outstanding orders, proactively liaising with and chasing suppliers, and communicating with Aseptic Services regarding any out-of-stock or supply issues.
• 2.15 Together with the procurement / stores team, co-ordinate and manage the processing and payment of invoices in a timely manner and ensure RMH accounts are kept in good standing in liaison with the Pharmacy Systems Manager and Finance Accounts Payable team.
• 2.16 Undertake supply review meetings with the main suppliers.
• 2.17 Take responsibility for the accurate and timely filing, retention and archiving of all relevant documentation in accordance with Trust requirements and procedures.
• 2.15 Ensure Standard Operating Procedures are regularly reviewed and monitored and comply with external standards e.g., 'Good Dispensing Practice' guidance from the GPhC and audit them regularly to ensure they are being followed, to maintain high standards and ensure staff are made aware of any changes.
• 2.16 Handle and investigate errors and complaints appropriately ensuring they are reported and referred appropriately to senior management.
• 2.17 Undertake duties and responsibilities in all activities of the SDU according to Standard Operating Procedures and participate in the checking process as an Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician.
• 2.18 To monitor equipment within the SDU and report any problems promptly and assist in their correction.
• 2.19 To ensure the appropriate storage and accurate expiry records of Batch and PS doses are kept up to date and archived for future reference.
• 2.20 To be responsible for the collection of KPI's, workload figures and other management information.
• 2.21 To assist in all aspects of internal and external audit of the SDU, including audits of current practice, and development of service improvement strategies.
• 2.22 To assist in the investigation of Trust Incidents (DATIX) of outsourced products.
• 2.23 To ensure good communication between SDU and other members of pharmacy and the healthcare teams.
• 2.24 Identify areas within the SDU to increase operational efficiency and/or cost-saving initiatives

Management / Leadership and Education & Training Responsibility

• 2.25 All posts with responsibility for managing staff are expected to lead, motivate, develop and reward staff and are required to comply with the Trust's policies and Manager's Code of Conduct in the following areas:

2.25.1 Be responsible for the effective recruitment and selection of new staff in line with the Trust's Recruitment Code and Recruitment & Selection Processes and Standards.

2.25.2 Ensure staff are appraised annually and have regular 1:1's with clear objectives which link to department, care group or corporate objectives and a personal development plan.

2.25.3 Ensure performance issues are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner and follow the Trust's Disciplinary or Capability Procedures where formal action is necessary

2.26 Responsible for sickness absence monitoring including HR meetings, Occupational Health referrals and completion of return-to-work interviews.

2.27 To act as a role model for other technicians and staff.

2.28 Oversee the training and accreditation in processes of Technicians and ATOs working within the SDU and identify training and development needs of staff in line with departmental and Trust objectives.

2.29 Organise induction programmes in advance for new starters and trainees to ensure training is completed within a set time frame.

2.30 Take responsibility for ensuring all staff leave is accurately recorded and maintained on HealthRoster in a timely manner, in accordance with Trust procedures.

2.31 Maintain and update training records for all staff trained within the SDU.

2.32 Be responsible for ensuring statutory and mandatory training compliance.

2.33 Be an Educational and/or Practice Supervisor for training programmes e.g. Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) and Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (when appropriate) on call pharmacists

2.34 To ensure all personal have knowledge and training of ICH-GCP guidelines, UK and EU legislation is kept up-to-date and ensure all staff adhere to these guidelines and legislations.

2.35 Assist in the provision of 1:1 technical training for all pharmacy technicians and assistants, identifying any staff training needs and liaising with the Pharmacy Education and Training Team.

2.36 Liaise with technical staff and other section managers about relevant staff development projects.

2.37 Assist in the facilitation of CPD for staff.

2.38 Develop professional knowledge and competence by attending in-house as well as external training programmes as appropriate and identified as part of your appraisal/PDP.

General

2.39 Participate in late/early shifts and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday rotas as required to meet service provisions and requirements for 7-day working. The Pharmacy is in a transitional period and moving over to a 7-day service, therefore staff are required to participate in a 7-day service which includes the requirement to work weekends, late shifts and bank holidays

2.40 Be familiar with procedures and activities of other internal departments within the pharmacy and their potential interactions with the SDU activities.

2.41 Strive to identify any areas for Quality improvement and actively engage in the department's wider quality improvement agenda.

2.42 Observe and comply with the Trust's policies and procedures for Health and Safety ensuring the environment in which you and your staff work is safe, clean and tidy.

2.43 Comply with standard infection control precautions to prevent or minimise the spread of micro-organisms and communicable diseases to patients, staff and surrounding community.

2.44 Observe and continually promote equal opportunities in compliance with the Trust's policies on Equality and Diversity and Dignity at Work.

2.45 Ensure the benefits to patients are maximised through careful, economical and appropriate use of NHS resources including equipment, property, money, time, etc.

2.46 As requested, undertake any other duties consistent with the nature of the post, which may vary from time to time.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• NVQ/QCF level 3/BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent
• Registered Technician with GPhC
• Regional Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician

Desirable criteria

• Practice supervisor/Educational supervisor certificate / Train the Trainer or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience post qualification as a pharmacy technician
• Experience of supervising others and providing feedback for development
• Education & training of staff
• Experience or organising a service on a day-to-day basis
• Experience of holding regular team meetings
• Experience of giving feedback and communicating outcomes to the wider team

Desirable criteria

• Staff management experience as a senior technician
• Working knowledge/experience of writing and reviewing SOPs
• Experience of implementing change
• Experience of recruitment
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of Good Clinical Practice
• Knowledge of chemotherapy and safe handling requirements of cytotoxic drugs.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Flu Vaccination - What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.