Senior Clinical Trials Pharmacy Assistant
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Clinical Trials Pharmacy Assistant - Band 3 - Permanent
Hello! My name is Lina and I am the Clinical Trials Pharmacy Technician Team Manager for the Clinical Trials Pharmacy in Oxford.
As a Senior Technician, I manage and support our technical team of Pharmacy Technicians, Assistants, Practitioners, and Apprentices as we provide support services to clinical trial research teams throughout Oxfordshire.
The Clinical Trials Pharmacy consists of Pharmacists, Technicians, Assistants, Practitioners, and Apprentices. We work closely with research teams across the trust and external representatives.
If you are interested in an informal discussion about the Pharmacy Assistant role, please feel free to call or make an appointment for a visit. I look forward to hearing from you.
The majority of correspondence will be via the e-recruitment system; therefore, you should check your emails regularly, including junk mail folders.
Main Duties of the Job
As a Senior Clinical Trials Pharmacy Assistant, you will be involved in maintaining the supply chain of Clinical Trial medications, maintaining financial records, completing drug accountability activities, closing down and archiving completed studies, and facilitating meetings from sponsors.
A successful candidate should possess BTEC Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills, an equivalent qualification, or a related degree (i.e., pharmaceutical or science degree). Applicants without these qualifications will still be considered but will be required to undertake the relevant qualification in Pharmacy Service Skills.
Please ensure that you read the job description and person specification attached below, and that your statement in support reflects this, as your application will be judged against these criteria.
About Us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country, providing a wide range of clinical services and serving as a base for medical education, training, and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals: the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, and the Horton General Hospital.
Our values, standards, and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues, and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, focusing on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement, and excellence.
Job Responsibilities
Core Role - Pharmacy Clinical Trials
* To obtain and maintain Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.
* To apply principles of GCP in the management of clinical trials and work within the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trial) Regulations 2004 and EU directive relating to Clinical Trials.
* To communicate with Investigators, Research Nurses, Trust R&D, Sponsors, Clinical Research Associates, and Pharmacy staff during the set-up and running of a clinical trial.
* To ensure clinical trial protocols and SOPs are followed during dispensing of clinical trial investigational medicinal products and other drugs included in the protocol.
* To order and receive clinical trial drugs, process receipt paperwork, and acknowledge receipt on IVRS (Electronic Medication Supply) systems.
* To check stock levels and expiry dates of clinical trial drugs and keep balance logs up to date.
* To assist with packing down and re-labelling of clinical trial drugs if required.
* To assist with preparation for monitoring meetings, audits, and inspections.
* To maintain Clinical Trial files ensuring items can easily be located and are presentable.
* To process returned clinical trial drugs and ensure the paperwork is kept in order.
* To participate in statutory temperature monitoring of clinical trial stock.
* To assist with the destruction of clinical trial medication.
* To assist with closedown and archiving of clinical trial files.
* To represent the Clinical Trials Team to update dispensary staff at meetings.
* To liaise with Research Nurses to update them on trial progress and stock levels.
* To assist in the collection of data as requested by the Senior Clinical Trial Technician or Clinical Trial Pharmacists.
* To assist in maintaining financial records, including generating invoices and checking payments.
* To assist with general administration such as organizing set-up meetings and being a point of contact within the Clinical Trials Pharmacy Team.
* To maintain clinical trial filing systems and drug accountability documentation for clinical trials.
* To use the computer system and other information technology in all areas of Pharmacy.
Regulatory
* To assist in non-aseptic preparation and dispensing of clinical trial medication in accordance with the RPSGB code of ethics and current legislation including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Health and Safety, Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), and Departmental Procedures.
* To ensure familiarity with and adherence to Pharmacy, CTASU, and Trust standard operating procedures (SOPs).
* To ensure the disposal or recycling of medicinal products is carried out safely and efficiently, in accordance with Health & Safety, COSHH regulations, and Departmental Standard Operating Procedure.
Teaching and Training
* To participate in a programme of work-based training, development, and appraisal.
* To participate in the training and induction of pre-registration students, technicians, and assistants (if required).
General Responsibilities
* To ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.
* To be aware of and involved in good customer service.
* To assist in the audit programme.
* To participate in weekend, evening, and bank holiday working according to rota.
* Any other reasonable duties as requested.
* The management of risk is everyone's responsibility and will be achieved within a progressive, honest, and open environment.
* Staff will be provided with necessary education, training, and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.
* Staff should be familiar with the Major incidents Policy and Fire Policy.
* The post holder should make themselves familiar with the local response plan and their role within that response.
Responsibilities for Health and Safety
* The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all duties and responsibilities of this post are carried out in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Statutory Regulations, and Trust Policies and Procedures.
Infection Control
* Infection Control is everyone's responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Trust's Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times.
* All staff employed by the ORH Trust have key responsibilities, including washing hands or using alcohol gel on entry and exit from clinical areas and/or between each patient contact.
* Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training provided by the Trust.
* Staff members who develop an infection (other than common colds and illness) that may be transmittable to patients have a duty to contact Occupational Health.
Special Working Conditions
* The post holder must adhere to hygiene and clothing requirements of individual work areas, which may involve absence of make-up, removal of jewellery, wearing protective clothing, and working in confined spaces for up to 3 hours at a time.
Please Note:
* This Post is subject to appraisal, which is a two-way process.
* This job description is not definitive or restrictive and should be regarded only as a guide to the duties required. It will be understood that at a time of rapid change within the Health Service, other responsibilities may be added as determined by the Chief Pharmacist.
* The post-holder will be expected to participate in flexible working if introduced.
* Out of hours working may be included, and participation in such arrangements will be required.
* Pharmacists will be required to participate in on-call arrangements according to site and experience.
* Individual continuous Professional Development needs will be identified and supported.
I am very keen to hear from you if you have previously worked in a pharmacy environment and/or have some exposure to clinical trials as we have great opportunities for you to progress your career.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Person Specification
Criteria
* Ability to work at an isolator fully gloved and gowned
* Enthusiastic and responsible attitude
* Professional approach
* Good interpersonal and communication skills
* Uses own initiative
* Team player
* Adaptable to change
* Clinical trials experience
* Well organized
* Experience of working on own initiative
* Experience of team working
* Experience of a changing working environment
Qualifications and Experience
* BTEC Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences OR equivalent (or willingness to undertake)
* Previous NHS experience
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.
Employer Name
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Churchill Hospital / John Radcliffe Hospital
Clinical Trials Pharmacy Technician Team Manager
£24,071 to £25,674 a year pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working Pattern
Full-time
Reference Number
321-CORP-6931675-B3-PUB
Job Locations
Churchill Hospital / John Radcliffe Hospital
#J-18808-Ljbffr