Senior Pharmacist - Aseptic Services

Job overview

The post holder will be part of a team of pharmacists responsible for the day-to-day preparation of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and clinical trials doses within the Aseptic Services department; as well as covering parenteral nutrition ward round services. The Aseptic Services Pharmacist will work alongside Senior and Specialist Aseptic Services Pharmacists, as well as Technicians in the Section 10 production units at the Denmark Hill site. Here they will carry out the clinical validation of chemotherapy prescriptions, parenteral nutrition orders, worksheet checks, final check and release of manufactured products.

Late duties, weekend and bank holiday working (including 7-day service) will also apply to this role and the post holder will be added to a wider pharmacy rota to fulfil these commitments.

Main duties of the job

The post holder has essential operational responsibilities in ensuring the smooth running and delivery of the day-to-day production pharmacy service supporting, managing and developing specific aspects of the service in collaboration with the Specialist Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Aseptic Services. This includes the development, maintenance and provision of training programmes and resources for trainee pharmacists, preparing staff rotas for pharmacists, and organising technical workflow for chemotherapy, centralised intravenous additives and parenteral nutrition on a daily basis. Quality assurance is an integral part of Aseptic Services to which the postholder will promote, maintain and improve in relation to all aspects of their work.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To co-ordinate day-to-day preparation of chemotherapy and clinical trial patient doses. To provide a comprehensive Aseptic Service to the Trust, ensuring compliance with current directives, legislation, external audits, GMP, GCP and Health and Safety. This service includes the provision of chemotherapy, PN, CIVAS, clinical trials and aseptically manufactured products. To liaise with the Senior Pharmacy Technicians to ensure the safe, efficient and timely delivery of aseptic products. To critically evaluate the aseptic quality systems with a view to ensuring that best practice is in operation within Aseptic Services. Issuing rotas to ensure the staff know their duties and setting up monthly feedback meetings for the pharmacists in Aseptic Services. To be responsible for the reviewing documentation within Aseptic Services ensuring compliance with current directives relating to good practice and Health and Safety. To be accountable for own professional actions, but to be guided by national protocols, KCH Formulary and other local policies and procedures in relation to the provision of a clinical service. To ensure services provided are in line with local and national policies, guidelines and frameworks. To support the implementation and audit of plans, guidelines, procedures, policies and service changes within the production units. To provide complex advice about medicines including dose modifications, mechanisms of action, calculations, dose benefit effects, choice of medicines, formulations, adverse effects, drug interactions, chemical compatibility and stability, pharmacokinetics, etc. to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals individually and in multidisciplinary groups . To work effectively as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary and pharmacy environment, and maintain rapport with medical and other colleagues. To supervise staff working in the pharmacy aseptic unit and deputise for the Specialist Pharmacists in their absence. To assist in the supervision of Trainee Pharmacists, Technicians and Student technicians and other junior pharmacy staff. To monitor the quality of the production pharmacy service and the performance of junior pharmacy staff. To undertake the dispensing, screening and checking of aseptically prepared clinical trials. To report errors internally and nationally to improve aseptic processes such as manufacturing.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Masters degree in Pharmacy - MPharm or equivalent
• Competency assessed and examined professional registration GPhC/PSNI

Desirable criteria

• Specialist post-graduate certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (PGDip)

Experience

Essential criteria

• Post registration experience relevant to hospital pharmacy with assessed competencies
• Knowledge of GCP, GMP, QA and regulations and legislation relevant to aseptic services

Desirable criteria

• Post-registration experience in Aseptic Services, including day to day management and supervision

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Be able to interpret prescription charts and patient information
• Be able to provide highly complex information on medicines use, clinical pharmacy and financial issues to multidisciplinary groups including senior consultants and managers

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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