Job summaryWe are looking for a for a highly motivated and adaptable Pharmacy Technician to join our Clinical Trials team as our Education and Training lead.The Christie is one of the largest oncology Trusts in the UK with an international reputation for clinical excellence, research, and development. This is a unique opportunity to work with us and contribute to the challenging and rewarding specialty of oncology pharmacy.As a member of the Clinical Trials team, you will play a key role in the planning, implementing, and delivering education and training for clinical trial pharmacy technical staff including apprentice pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians (PTPTs).You will also work closely with other members of the team to ensure that Christie patients have access the latest development of oncology/haematology investigational medicines. You will form an integral part of the clinical disease teams and work closely alongside research teams. The Pharmacy Department are also supporting the large-scale collaborative project alongside several research partners and have strong links with the University of Manchester.The post holder will work closely with the Chief Clinical Trials Pharmacy Technician and other pharmacy technician service leads across the clinical trial pharmacy service. The post holder will have line management responsibilities, including sickness and absence management, undertaking personal development reviews, and managing PTPT rotations.
Main duties of the jobThe successful candidate will:
- Lead, develop and implement an education and training framework to all technical staff within clinical trial trials pharmacy services ensuring a high-quality service is maintained to all key stakeholders.
- Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of pharmacy technicians, assistants and PTPT input into the clinical trial service.
- To support the Chief Clinical Trial Pharmacy Technician ensuring all pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and trainees are supported and developed to the correct level through in-house and regional training programmes, to achieve competency.
- Monitor the standard of professional work undertaken by clinical trial pharmacy technicians, assistants and PTPTs in accordance with local and any national competency frameworks.
- To assist in the development and review of training packages in collaboration with other lead pharmacy technicians for all technical pharmacy staff working across clinical trial services ensuring all staff have received appropriate training.
- Maintaining a Clinical Trial Pharmacy Technician role for study set-ups and accuracy checking.
About usThe Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Job descriptionDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESEducation and Training- To lead, develop and implement an education and training framework to all technical staff within clinical trial trials pharmacy services ensuring a high-quality service is maintained to all key stakeholders.
- To support the Chief Clinical Trial Pharmacy Technician ensuring all pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and trainees are supported and developed to the correct level through in-house and regional training programmes, to achieve competency.
- To assist in the development and review of training packages in collaboration with other lead pharmacy technicians for all technical pharmacy staff working across clinical trial services ensuring all staff have received appropriate training.
- To develop, monitor and integrate written policies, guidelines, and procedures for training and education.
- To help develop and implement new systems of working to improved service quality and efficiency.
- To develop, support and be responsible for PTPTs undertaking the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians for registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council to ensure the designated competencies are met within the required timeframes.
- To monitor and support clinical trial pharmacy assistants undertaking the BTEC level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for support staff.
- To ensure level 2 and 3 candidates successfully achieve their qualifications, within thespecified deadline.
- To be the point of contact for all training providers.
- To monitor and support pharmacy technicians undertaking the accuracy checking pharmacy technician qualification ensuring completion within the specified deadline.
- To develop rotations for PTPTs within the four pharmacy services: clinical, aseptics, clinical trials and The Christie Pharmacy Company Ltd.
- To assist in obtaining funding through HEE for clinical trials pharmacy technical staff.
- To attend Trust, regional and national training, and meetings, relating to the relevant trainee programme you are responsible for.
Clinical Trial Services- The development, implementation, and monitoring of pharmacy technicians, assistants and PTPT input into the clinical trial service.
- Monitor the standard of professional work undertaken by clinical trial pharmacy technicians, assistants and PTPTs in accordance with local and any national competency frameworks.
- Maintaining a clinical trial pharmacy technician role for study set-ups and accuracy checking.
- Attending relevant internal and regional meetings to network, develop standards for clinical trial pharmacy practice and participate in benchmarking and regional audit.
- Developing and implementing new systems of working to improved service quality and efficiency.
- To actively participate in the MRHA drug recall process, in conjunction with the third-party provider, regarding clinical trial service implications and resulting communications with the Trust.
General- To build strong working relationships with regular two-way communication with other lead pharmacy technicians within the pharmacy service and provide support during periods of absence.
- To assist in the investigation of incidents related to technical pharmacy services in accordance with Trust policies and assess processes to mitigate risk of future incidents.
- To deputise for the Chief Clinical Trial Pharmacy Technician in all aspects of the clinical trial service.
- Ensure medication errors and incidents are reported and managed according to Trust policy.
- Be able to use Microsoft office applications and healthcare software e.g., electronic SACT prescribing systems, EPMA and scheduling software.
- To participate in weekend working and bank holiday rotas as required by the clinical trial pharmacy service to meet the needs of the Trust.
- To attend regular training and development opportunities to maintain continuing professional development.
- To be fully aware of COSHH regulations including the handling of cytotoxic and clinical trial materials.
- To contribute to audits of clinical trial pharmacy services to ensure a high-quality service provision is maintained and to identify future service improvements, developments, or initiatives.
Managerial responsibilities- To oversee the management of apprentice pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians within the clinical trial pharmacy service.
- To participate in the recruitment of staff in accordance with recruitment and selection policies and induction programmes.
- Ensure staff have at least one performance and development review annually.
- Ensure staff have their sickness managed in accordance with Trust policies, in particular the Management of Attendance Policy.
- Ensure staff have their education and training needs regularly assessed.
- To support and assist the planning and development of clinical trial service rotas including weekend and bank holiday rotas.
- Assess and approve annual leave requests for technical clinical trial staff.
- Lead, direct and motivate staff, acting as a role model and mentor for pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and apprentice pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians.
- To act independently within the broad framework of the Medicines Practice Operational Policy.
- To actively contribute to service improvement initiatives and projects within the clinical trial pharmacy service.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science or equivalent
- NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services
- GPhC registration
- BTEC Level 4 Professional Diploma in Dispensing Checking or equivalent or willing to work towards
- Educational Supervisor accreditation or A1 Assessor or equivalent
- Management qualification or be willing to work towards
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable- GCP Training
- Member of APTUK
- Member of BOPA
ExperienceEssential- Suitable post qualification experience
- Experience of training staff, giving developmental feedback and implementing training plans
- Experience of providing pharmacy professional training, and supporting training for NVQs
- Experience of tutoring, mentoring, supervising staff and trainees
- Setting SMART objectives and creating action plans
- Experience of working within hospital pharmacy
- Experience in supervision of other staff
- Experience in Clinical Trials
Desirable- Experience within the oncology setting
SkillsEssential- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Able to design and deliver training, and facilitate training sessions and meetings
- Ability to turnaround negative situation to have positive outcomes
- Self-motivating
- Good organisation and time management skills
- Ability to work under pressure, highly organised, work to deadlines
- Ability to manage and implement change
- IT literate
- Ability to influence and negotiate with medical, nursing and pharmacy staff
- Ability to recognise own limitations
DesirableKnowledgeEssential- Knowledge of the career pathway of a pharmacy technician
- Understanding of available post qualification training and development opportunities for pharmacy staff
- Good working knowledge of medicine optimisation
- Good knowledge of clinical trial use of medicines
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable- Experience of drug use in oncology setting
ValuesEssential- Able to deal with varied situations with tact and diplomacy
- To show empathy and understanding to staff and patients
- To treat people with dignity and respect2
- Professional approach
- Ability to adapt to change and to develop services and systems to meet changing need
- Equality and diversity
OtherEssential- Weekend working (Saturdays & Sundays)
- Bank holiday working
- Flexible working hours as required
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.Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
