Senior Assistant Technical Officer

To maintain the microbiology and chemistry support areas in a suitable condition including tasks associated with ensuring laboratory and equipment are clean and orderly. To perform enumeration and identification of micro-organisms.

To ensure pharmaceutical products are fit for patient use by carrying out microbiological, physical and chemical testing using a range of classical and instrumental techniques and working under the supervision of a qualified and experienced analyst.

Quality Control North West is part of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and is an NHS regional specialty department responsible for providing pharmaceutical quality control services to NHS and non-NHS clients. The laboratories at Stockport are well equipped and advanced in analytical instrumentation and are regulated by the MHRA and accredited to ISO 17025:2017 by UKAS.

Main duties of the job

1. Under the overall supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out a limited range of microbiological, physical and chemical tests on starting materials, packaging materials and pharmaceutical products to established specifications.
2. To sample raw materials from the production unit with particular regard to, avoidance of cross contamination, health and safety and adequate labelling.
3. To ensure chemicals used in pharmaceutical analysis are accurately prepared, stored, labelled and disposed of in accordance with laboratory procedures.
4. To perform regular inspection of reagents, chemicals reference materials and microbiological media.
5. To ensure glassware is ready to use.
6. To perform calibration checks on glassware using accurate analytical technique, and to produce and maintain accurate records.
7. To perform microbiological and chemical analysis on water and environmental samples in accordance with procedures, using a range of classical and instrumental techniques.
8. To perform routine downloads of temperature records from laboratory areas, to assess compliance.
9. Under supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out the calibration of a full range of laboratory equipment to predetermined time-scales.
10. To work at all times in accordance with the departmental Quality Manual.
11. To keep accurate records of all work performed.

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice

Job responsibilities

1. Under the overall supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out a limited range of microbiological, physical and chemical tests on starting materials, packaging materials and pharmaceutical products to established specifications.
2. To sample raw materials from the production unit with particular regard to, avoidance of cross contamination, health and safety and adequate labelling.
3. To ensure chemicals used in pharmaceutical analysis are accurately prepared, stored, labelled and disposed of in accordance with laboratory procedures.
4. To perform regular inspection of reagents, chemicals reference materials and microbiological media.
5. To ensure glassware is ready to use.
6. To perform calibration checks on glassware using accurate analytical technique, and to produce and maintain accurate records.
7. To perform microbiological and chemical analysis on water and environmental samples in accordance with procedures, using a range of classical and instrumental techniques.
8. To perform routine downloads of temperature records from laboratory areas, to assess compliance.
9. Under supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out the calibration of a full range of laboratory equipment to predetermined time-scales.
10. To work at all times in accordance with the departmental Quality Manual.
11. To keep accurate records of all work performed.

Communications

1. To participate in staff meetings.
2. To take accurate messages and ensure they are passed to the intended recipient.
3. To communicate difficulties to senior staff in a timely manner to minimise delay in sample release.
4. To communicate verbally with Production and Aseptic Unit staff where necessary to resolve sample receipt problems.
5. To communicate verbally to team members any urgent special requests accompanying samples.

Responsibility for Patient Care

1. To ensure safety of medicines by carrying out, under supervision, a limited range of microbiological and chemical testing on packaging and starting materials and finished pharmaceutical products.
2. Under supervision, to carry out correct evaluation of data and production of laboratory reports for submission to the Senior Scientists.
3. To work to predetermined time scales ensuring timely release of products.

Planning and organising

To work within the day to day direction of the Senior Scientists.

Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources

To identify chemicals and other consumables for ordering to time and in suitable quantities. To prolong life of instrumentation by correct use and maintenance.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation

To make suggestions via staff meetings. To operate in accordance with departmental policy and procedures.

Responsibilities for Teaching and Training

To assist the Senior Scientists in training staff in some basic laboratory tasks.

Responsibilities for data and information resources

1. To keep accurate records of own work.
2. To process analytical data generated, to interpret test results and to determine compliance of test material with specification.
3. To enter data on to the LIMS system and to produce reports for approval by the Senior Scientists.

Research, Development and Audit

To assist the Senior Scientists in preparation and hosting internal and external audits including regulatory inspections.

Physical Skills and Effort

To undertake physical handling and safe custody of incoming goods, laboratory consumables and to partake in stock control of laboratory equipment and chemicals.

Person Specification

Education

• Relevant science A level or BTEC

Knowledge

• Broad range of microbiology techniques

Skills

• Excellent Analytical skills
• Time management
• Numeracy
• Good team worker
• Ability to work without direct supervision

Experience

• Relevant experience e.g. during studying or training

Work Related Circumstances

• Flexible to cover occasional out of hours working

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.

Quality Control Northwest - Stepping Hill Hospital

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

362-A-25-7107920

Job locations

Quality Control Northwest - Stepping Hill Hospital