Band 5 - Senior Production Technician, Pharmacy in Watford

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Production Technician to support our Pharmacy Manufacturing Unit at Watford General Hospital. The successful candidate will be involved in the day-to-day supervision of manufacturing activities alongside colleagues, with a goal of delivering a high-quality service to our patients. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your cleanroom supervision and Technical Services skills, whilst embracing digitalisation. The Pharmacy Manufacturing Unit holds an MHRA Manufacturer’s “Specials” License for its activities. We are looking for a qualified technician with relevant post qualification experience (in a hospital preparative services) to join our small, friendly team. You must have experience of aseptic compounding, staff supervision, team working and work planning. You will act as an expert witness for Science Manufacturing Technician (SMT) students.

Main duties of the job:

• To prepare products appropriately, efficiently and cost effectively within the unit by strictly adhering to departmental procedures and in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), MHRA and all other relevant pharmaceutical guidelines related to aseptic production.
• To provide technical support to the Pharmacy Production/Aseptic Services.
• To supervise the activity of Production/pharmacy Assistants, SMT/SMPO students and Pharmacy Technicians.
• To perform in-process checks for aseptically prepared/manufactured products after undertaking an accreditation program.
• To participate in aseptic preparation of cytotoxic and monoclonal antibodies.
• To support and participate in the maintenance of the Pharmaceutical Quality Systems within the technical services department.
• To support meeting financial expectations for income generation and expenditure reduction targets within the department.
• To ensure maintenance of the pharmacy manufacturing unit facilities (including monitoring, calibration, validation and general maintenance) is carried out.

Working for our organisation:

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

To support and participate in the maintenance of the Pharmaceutical Quality Systems within the Technical Services department including – Deviations, Change Controls, Risk management, non-compliances, Root Cause Analysis, Complaints and Recalls. The post holder will work closely with the Technical/Cancer Services pharmacists, pharmacy/production technicians and production assistants, and all other pharmacy staff, medical, nursing staff, cancer unit staff and other staff, clinical pharmacists, QC/QA staff, maintenance contractors and the general public. We provide opportunities for education and training and support continuing professional development.

Person specification:

• Education and qualifications: NVQ 3 or BTEC in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent. Science Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Level 3. Registration with professional body. Accredited Checking Qualification. Evidence of further post qualification training in Technical Services. Registered with the GPhC or relevant professional body.
• Knowledge: Understanding of the principles of GMP and QA in Aseptics/Production manufacturing environment. Understanding of Pharmaceutical Quality Systems. Knowledge of Audit and validation. Computer and IT competent. COSHH Regulations and Health and Safety at Work Act. Need for confidentiality. Good Dispensing Practice. Familiar with chemotherapy regimens. EMIS (Ascribe) Pharmacy System. BD Cato aseptic workflow system.
• Experience: Working in a Pharmaceutical GMP manufacturing facility or in a manufacturing environment that employs a quality system (Previous Production/Aseptic experience). Demonstrate ability to deliver induction and competency-based training of staff. Training and supervision of junior staff. Writing reports. Supervisory experience. Experience of implementing change. Developing training packages. Advanced use of e-mail, internet, MS Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire. As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.