JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE
:
Chief Technician Quality Assurance & Governance
DEPARTMENT
:
Pharmacy Department Heartlands, Solihull & Good Hope Hospitals
GRADE
:
HOURS OF DUTY
:
Band 6
37.5 hours per week. The Trust operates a 7 day working policy. The
hours will include weekend, late night and bank holiday working on a
rotational basis
MANAGES
:
All Technician, ATO and A&C staff in area of responsibility.
ACCOUNTABLE TO
:
Pharmacy Operational Site Lead
RESPONSIBLE TO
:
Principal Pharmacist Clinical Effectiveness
JOB SUMMARY
The Chief Technician manages the technical/non technical work and is responsible for the specialist
functions of own pharmacy areas, taking responsibility for solving complex problems and dealing with a
broad range of non-routine issues, which are often unpredictable.
The Chief Technician manages the technical staff and their day to day activities of area of work,
including training, appraisal and performance management of all grades of staff in the specialist area(s)
and planning of workload.
The Chief Technician works with the Deputy Director/Pharmacy Operational Services and Pharmacy
operational site leads in planning the strategic development of Pharmacy specialist services. In all
sections operational policies incorporating protocols and guidelines apply.
Participates in the strategic development of services in their specialist area(s).
The Chief Technician will ensure quality-monitoring systems are applied and results are to agreeable
standards.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIIPS
Deputy Director of Pharmacy
Lead Pharmacist Aseptic Services
Works closely with Pharmacists, Pharmacy operational site leads, other Chief Technicians, technicians
and support staff on all sites.
Liaises with external bodies in connection with specialist area(s), including non-trust customer
KEY RESULT AREAS
 Ensures correct storage and handling of pharmaceuticals in accordance with Controls Assurance
Standard.
 Ensures compliance with all standards for manufacturing and aseptic compounding
 Assistance in computer development and support related to pharmaceutical services.
 Participates in the development and delivery of procedures in own area and contributes to the
policy development for other areas.
 Participates in recruitment selection for staff in own area and other areas on request.
 Unlicensed medicine policy adhered to in respect to their receipt, monitoring and issue
 The co-ordination of departmental audits and reports
 Dispensing accuracy and checking technician accreditation.
 Responsible for achieving KPI targets within area of work
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES
The postholder: 1. Manages performance and motivates staff in their area.
2. Plans and implements changes in practice in their area including networking with colleagues across
the region to share best practise and innovations
3. Has responsibility for the day-to-day operational management and technical operation of the
specialist area(s).
4. Deputises for other Chief Technicians/Pharmacy operational site lead(s) where appropriate.
5. Ensures clinical efficacy, safety and compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice/Medicines
legislation.
6. Ensures that policies and procedures are written and are reviewed regularly and are disseminated
effectively.
7. Ensures that Trust and pharmacy policies and procedures are adhered to.
8. Ensures that policies and procedures comply with Health & Safety and COSHH Regulations
9. Ensures maintenance of equipment, furnishings, etc.
10. Ensures appropriate records are maintained.
11. Is involved in dispensing, provision of advice and counselling of patients, in area of speciality,
according to the need.
12. Operates and maintains an appraisal system for staff in the team and identifies training needs.
13. Manages performance and sickness absence in accordance with Trust policy
14. Works closely with other Chief Technicians to implement training and development of support staff
in their section/department.
15. Works closely with other Chief Technicians to organise and implement induction, training and
development of students, technicians and others seconded to the section/department, but takes
overall responsibility for their section.
16. Assists tutors in training and development of pre-registration pharmacists/student technicians in the
relevant areas.
17. Work in conjunction with other Chief Technicians to promote good communication to pharmacy
services, both internal and external to the department.
18. Participating in the development of computerised systems with other Chief Technicians as
appropriate with the needs of the Trust.
19. Take part in projects and audits appropriate to this area of responsibility.
20. Liaises closely with external suppliers to ensure efficient delivery of service to the Trust.
21. Handles complex problems or specific technical issues, which are non-routine.
22. Carries out any other duties as may be required within the nature and grade of post.
Quality Assurance Component 50%
1. Forward planning and lead on the audit for the annual Farwell report
2. Write and maintain current SOPs for own area of work
3. Monitoring:
a. Plan a rolling audit of key aseptic areas completing deviation reports and action plans
and follow ups
b. Lead on the use of Tempulog for the environmental monitoring of the pharmacy
department
c. Deal with deviations in environmental standards liaising with the chief technician for the
area
d. Check path lab results and report to senior technician aseptic services
e. Validation of all cold storage across the three sites ensuring mechanisms are in place to
maintain the cold change
f. Calibration of all environmental monitoring equipment on all three sites
4. Product defects and Drug alerts ensuring the alerts are cascaded to the chief technicians and
ensuring the recall procedure is followed, compilation of a report for pharmacy governance /
medicines and therapeutics committee
5. To update the spills kits and charts on all three sites ensuring all pharmacy staff are trained in
their use
6. COSHH assessment of all new and existing products including unlicensed products
7. Provide COSHH training to staff internal and external to the pharmacy department
8. Compiles a re-commissioning plan to include standards and quality limits following a shutdown
of the ADU
9. Present the pharmacy department presentation at the Trust Corporate Induction for new staff
10. Quality approval & validation of new ADU worksheets.
Governance Component 50%
To support the Principal Pharmacist Clinical Effectiveness in the implementation of the Pharmacy
Governance Agenda.
1. To monitor and support safe systems in relation to the receipt, monitoring and issue of
unlicensed medicines in line with Trust policies and procedures.
2. To provide forward audit planning and co-ordination. To complete audits and reports where
appropriate e.g. drug storage arrangements in clinical areas, adherence to Trust policies.
3. To provide training to clinical staff (Trust-wide) in relation to patient safety issues and Controls
Assurance arrangements e.g. Band 5 Nurse training on Controlled Drugs.
4. To assist in the implementation of changes as a result of national and local guidance in relation
to patient safety e.g. NPSA Safety Alerts
5. To review medication incidents on a daily basis and refer to appropriate leads as appropriate for
investigation or action, to ensure corrective actions & lessons learnt.
6. Data collection and analysis of medication incident reports.
7. Monitoring and management of final accuracy checking & dispensing errors in line with
departmental policy.
8. Monitoring departmental responses to national drug and devise alerts and assisting with trustwide co-ordinated responses. Compilation of a report for pharmacy governance / medicines and
therapeutics committee
DISPENSARY COMPONENT
Carries out the final check of the dispensing process as an accredited checking technician
Undertake routine Dispensary work on a rota system as required by technicians working within HEFT
General
Infection control
Staff will work to minimise any risk to clients, the public and other staff from Healthcare Associated
Infection including MRSA and C difficle by ensuring they are compliant with the Health Act 2006 – Code
of Practice For The Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (They Hygiene Code); and
by ensuring they are familiar with the Trust’s Infection Control Polices, located on the Intranet.
All employees must comply with the Trust Infection Control Policy. All employees must attend infection
control training as required within their department or as directed by their line manager.
Confidentiality
As an employee you have a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information
which comes into your possession regarding patients, employees or any other business relating to the
Trust
In accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protected disclosures are exempt from this
express duty of confidentiality.
Health & Safety
As an employee you have a responsibility to abide by all of the safety practices and codes provided by
the Trust and have an equal responsibility with management for maintaining safe working practices for
the health and safety of yourself and others.
All employees must comply with the Trust Infection Control Policy. All employees must attend infection
control training as required within their department or as directed by their line manager
Quality Assurance
As an employee of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust you are a member of an organisation that
endeavours to provide the highest quality of service to our patients. You are an ambassador of the
organisation and, as such, are required to ensure that high standards are maintained at all times.
As an employee you have a responsibility for data quality. All employees are accountable for the quality
of data they input into Trust systems and/or document in paper-based records, and must ensure that it
is accurate, complete, valid and timely at all times.
Equal Opportunities
As an employee you have a responsibility to ensure that all people that you have contact with during the
course of your employment, including patients, relatives and staff are treated equally in line with the
Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Risk Management
You have a responsibility for the identification of all risk which have a potential adverse affect on the
Trust’s ability to maintain quality of care and the safety of patients, staff and visitors, and for the taking
of positive action to eliminate or reduce these.
Safeguarding
Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust has a responsibility to safeguarding and promoting the welfare
of children, young people and vulnerable adults who use our services. The Trust expects all staff and
volunteers to share this responsibility. As part of the selection process for this post you may be required
to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check and maintain ISA registration. If you are successful
appointed, you will receive confirmation of which checks and/or registration you are required to have.
The Job Description is subject to change and may be reviewed by the manager in conjunction with the
post holder.
The Trust operates a no smoking policy and is working towards a smoke free environment.
Updated:
June 2013