Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Aseptic Services

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Bury St Edmunds is seeking a committed individual for a pharmacy role focused on providing high-quality aseptic services. The candidate will be involved in preparing chemotherapy treatments and supporting the dispensary team. This role offers training and career development opportunities. Experience in a pharmacy environment is preferred. The post ensures a collaborative work culture dedicated to patient care.

Benefits

Career development training

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Demonstrable literacy and numeracy skills.
• Experience of working in a pharmacy environment.
• Experience of working in an aseptic compounding unit.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and supply patient intravenous cancer treatments.
• Ensure aseptic preparation following standard operating procedures.
• Assist with dispensing prescriptions for inpatients and outpatients.

Skills

Effective teamwork

Good communication skills

Ability to work in an organized manner

Close liaison with co-workers

Education

GCSE in English Language, Mathematics and Sciences

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent

Job description

Overview

This is a great opportunity to develop your pharmacy career and make a real difference to the lives of those who use our service.

Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to delivering the best quality and safest care to local communities and need dedicated and skilled people to help us achieve this.

The majority of your time will be spent within the aseptic unit preparing chemotherapy and monoclonal therapy for the Trusts cancer patients. Time will also be spent supporting the dispensary team and distribution team with the supply of medicine to wards and departments, inpatients and outpatients.

As a candidate you will have a genuine passion for patient care. You will be committed and dedicated and have a desire to work as part of a friendly and supportive team in a fast-paced environment.

This post will support your career and skills development. All aseptic training will be given in house if you have no previous experience.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for the preparation and supply of patient intravenous cancer treatments within the Trust. The treatments will be aseptically prepared in isolators using aseptic technique and Good Manufacturing Practice.

All supportive oral medication will also be supplied by yourself.

You will be supported to complete a Level 2 Pharmacy Support Staff training course. This will allow you to work in dispensary and support with ward stock distribution. Upon completion of this course and agreed internal, you will progress to a Band 3.

Please refer to the detailed job description for key tasks.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities

Job summary:

To assist in the provision of a high quality, patient focused aseptic service. To ensure that all products are aseptically prepared following standard operating procedures (SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and guidelines detailed in the Rules and Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Distributors and Quality Assurance of Aseptic Preparation Services.

Job responsibilities:

Key Tasks

Production

• a) To be responsible for the start of day and end of day procedures, and the reading and recording of relevant HEPA filter and pressure gauges.
• b) Using aseptic technique and GMP, accurately prepare and dispense preparations including cytotoxic drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and preparations for ectopic and ocular use.
• c) To participate in the dispensing of parenteral nutrition (PN) and Methotrexate, using approved protocols and guidelines.
• d) To complete all booking out and filing of parenteral nutrition (PN), chemotherapy and trial paperwork.
• e) To ensure an adequate supply of chemotherapy and supportive drug stock levels. To supervise and assist with the rotational movement of this stock.
• f) To top up supplies of equipment, materials, and consumables used within the department.
• g) To supervise the monitoring process within the unit, using settle plates and contact plates, and labelling these plates appropriately.
• h) To supervise and assist with cleaning the unit according to procedure, and to supervise and train other staff in these procedures. To ensure that cleaning materials are in stock at all times.
• i) To supervise and assist with the dedicated garment collection for Microclean.
• j) To be responsible for placing orders using SupplyChain and Powergate computer programmes.
• k) To participate in the dispensing of prescribed oral chemotherapy and supportive medication.
• l) To assist the Principal Pharmacy Technician Aseptic Services and Senior Pharmacy Technician Aseptic Services in the co-ordination of the activities of other assistant and student technicians within the aseptic unit.
• m) To supply emergency extravasation boxes to wards and departments, and to ensure that they are kept within their expiry dates.
• n) To ensure the correct handling of cytotoxic/monoconal medication, and disposal of waste and management of drug spills in accordance with COSHH and Trust guidelines.

Dispensary

• a) To dispense prescriptions for both inpatients and outpatients in accordance with departmental guidelines.
• b) Receptionist duties, including dealing with internal and external customers, receiving cash and debit/credit cards for payment and operating the dispensary till.
• c) Maintenance of stock rotation, expiry date checking, and appropriate storage of medicines in the dispensary environment.

Distribution

• a) To issue ward stock items from a picking list, under appropriate supervision and in accordance with written guidelines.
• b) Ensure that to-follow items are issued promptly.
• c) To assist with return of drugs to the department
• d) Act as a messenger in the delivery of controlled drugs and other items.
• e) Participate in the ward top-up service, under appropriate supervision.
• f) Assist the storekeeper in booking in goods received and compiling bulk fluid orders as necessary.

Additional Duties

• a) Receptionist duties, when necessary, including dealing with internal and external customers, receiving cash and debit/credit cards for payment and operating the dispensary till.
• b) To ensure that statutory requirements are met at all times and to implement Trust policy as directed by the Chief Pharmacist.
• c) Undertake Trust mandatory training and in-house competencies to ensure continued compliance.
• d) To undertake other reasonable duties within the framework of the post as directed by the Chief Pharmacist.
• e) To act as an ambassador for the pharmaceutical service at West Suffolk Hospital.
• f) Assist in the training of pharmacy staff, and other hospital staff, as required.
• g) To attend relevant training courses and meeting, where appropriate.
• h) Participate in the departmental appraisal process.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Demonstratable literacy and numeracy skills
• GCSE in English Language, Mathematics and Sciences (Grade 9 - 4 or A*- C)
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services or equivalent (Required for Band 3 role)

Experience and knowledge

• Experience of working in a pharmacy environment.
• Experience of working in an aseptic compounding unit.
• Experience of working in a hospital environment.

Skills and Abilities

• Able to support members of the public and other health care workers in a professional manner.
• Close liaison with co-workers in the department is vital.
• Evidence of self-motivated professional development.
• Able to make decisions.

Personal Qualities

• Effective teamwork
• Good communications skills (both verbal and written).
• Ability to work in an organised and calm fashion in a busy environment.
• Ability to work to deadlines and to meet agreed objectives.
• A flexible approach to working hours and duties.
• Positive approach towards personal / self-development.
• Familiar with standard IT software.

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.

West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£24,465 to £26,598 a yearPer annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Reference number

179-7340557-C

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust