Lead Pharmacist - Aseptics (XR08)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000

Job description

We are looking for a registered Pharmacist who is looking for the next step to progress their career with a new leadership role in Aseptic Services at LTHT. This role will involve the operational management of a busy Aseptic service as well as leading on aspects of the pharmaceutical quality system.

This is a great opportunity to work alongside a wide range of like-minded professionals in a dynamic, collaborative, and supportive team. The role has a varied portfolio of work to support patient care at LTHT and will allow you to showcase and develop your leadership skills and expertise.

The Aseptic service at LTHT prepares a vast array of cutting-edge medication being one of the busiest services in the UK. We have a large portfolio of Phase 1 Clinical Trials, prepare over 55,000 chemotherapy doses per year as well as producing bespoke complex Parenteral Nutrition for Adult, Paediatric, and Neonatal patients.

This is a great time to join our department as we are part of a national programme to transform aseptic services in England, with West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT) identified as one of five pathfinder sites.

We will give you the opportunity to further develop your skills in a friendly and progressive department. We are committed to on-going development of our staff ensuring you can reach your full potential.

There is a weekend, late night, and Bank Holiday commitment on a rota basis.

Planned Interview Date

02/05/2025

Main duties of the job

Duties will include but not limited to:

1. Support the Associate Lead Clinicians to effectively manage all operational aspects of the Aseptic Service which will include being the Aseptic representative for MMPS Bronze meetings.
2. Support the Associate Lead Clinicians in the delivery, management, and development of the Aseptic service ensuring legislative and statutory controls are met.
3. Support the Accountable Pharmacist to ensure the effective management of the Pharmaceutical Quality System e.g. quality risk management, root cause analysis, out of specification results, and change management.
4. Plan and manage projects to support continuous improvement within Aseptic Service and the wider LTHT Preparative Services.
5. Ensure all professionals working within Aseptics are highly trained and assessed against current procedures and competencies. This will include participating in the induction of new staff working within Aseptic Services.
6. Participate in regular Core Professional Commitments (CPCs) within Aseptics, supporting workflow management and supervising other staff members completing their CPC.
7. Provide supervision across both Aseptic Units at St James Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. There will be an expectation to travel between sites as necessary to support the service.
8. May be expected to gain experience in Radiopharmacy and provide CPC support to this area as required.
9. Line management of substantive staff +/- trainees.

About us

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is one of the biggest and busiest NHS Trusts in the country, offering a range of both general and specialist hospital services with excellent clinical outcomes for patients. We have an international reputation for excellence in specialist care, research, and academic training.

We are also part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.

The Aseptic Service at LTHT is highly respected, forward-thinking, and recognised within the organisation for collaborative working. We offer excellent career progression whilst working in a friendly and supportive team.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay, or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job responsibilities

Principle Duties and Areas of Responsibility:

1. Participate in regular Core Professional Commitments (CPCs) within Aseptics, supporting workflow management and supervising other staff members completing their CPC. Working as an authorised pharmacist the post holder will be responsible for supervising aseptic dispensing sessions and releasing products.
2. Ensure the Aseptic Units have the necessary staffing levels to allow the service to run safely and efficiently including appropriate skill mix of those carrying out CPCs. This will include escalating to the Bronze commander and attending the daily Bronze meetings as necessary to resolve on the day issues.
3. Attend weekly MMPS Operational Planning Meetings to discuss and review CPC cover across the week day, weekend and Bank Holidays.
4. Ensure all professionals working within Aseptic Services are highly trained and assessed against current procedures and competencies. This will include participating in the induction of new staff working within Aseptic Services, which includes all Pharmacists, Trainee Pharmacists, and other Aseptic staff as necessary.
5. Manage highly complex queries relating to Aseptically produced products. This will include analysis of information from a range of sources, which may not be in agreement or be ambiguous, to formulate a response. Use of negotiating and persuasive skills will be necessary as opinions may differ on preferred outcomes.
6. Work with the Accountable Pharmacist and the Quality Assurance team to develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, and documentation which will ensure that the service complies with appropriate standards.
7. Participate in internal and external audits as deemed necessary by the Accountable Pharmacist ensuring audit actions are completed by the specified deadlines, feeding back updates and outcomes to the relevant quality meetings.
8. Be responsible for investigating and documenting and reporting medication errors occurring in Aseptic Services and as required in consultation with the Aseptic Advanced Scientist, Aseptic Errors Team, and Risk Management Team produce action plans to prevent recurrence.
9. Working with Aseptic Advanced Scientist, Clinical pharmacists, and Clinical Trial team the postholder will support the management of the introduction of clinical trials into Aseptic Services.
10. Identify, plan, and manage projects to support continuous improvement within Aseptic Service and the wider LTHT Preparative Services in accordance with the change control procedure.
11. May be expected to gain experience in Radiopharmacy and provide CPC support to this area as required.

Person Specification

Experience

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice
• Excellent organisational skills
• Experience of managing a team to ensure an agreed outcome is achieved
• Experience of delivering high-quality training to ensure individuals are assessed against procedures and competencies
• Experience of investigating errors and producing action plans to prevent recurrence
• Experience of planning and managing projects to support continuous improvement (ideally within Aseptic Services)
• Understanding of legislation and statutory controls within Aseptic Services

Qualifications

• Registrant of GPhC
• Post graduate diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Technology & Quality Assurance

Skills and Behaviours

• Be highly adaptive to changing circumstances and situations
• Highly developed influencing and negotiating skills
• Advanced attention to detail and thorough approach to completing assigned tasks

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.