Important Job Application Information
Thank you for your interest in NHS Tayside vacancies
Please see below Job Description/Person Specification and General Conditions of Service
Your Application Form must be completed in full. Please note copies of Curriculum Vitae, Qualifications
and Course Certificates will not be accepted at this stage.
Please return your completed Application Form to recruitment.tayside@nhs.net (quoting the vacancy reference
number in the subject box) or to the postal address given on the General Conditions of Service.
All completed applications are held in Human Resources until the closing date. After the closing date a
panel will meet to prepare an interview shortlist. Once this decision has been made, all shortlisted
applicants will be emailed to invite them to attend for interview. It is important that you check your emails
regularly.
This process takes approximately 6 weeks. Therefore, if you have not been contacted regarding interview
within 6 weeks of the closing date, your application has been unsuccessful and you will receive no further
correspondence from Human Resources.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Find out more about living and working in Tayside at:
www.dundeecity.gov.uk
www.angus.gov.uk
www.pkc.gov.uk
NHS TAYSIDE – AGENDA FOR CHANGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
2.
Job Title
Assistant Technical Officer – Aseptic Dispensing
Reports to
Specialist Pharmacy Technician
Department(s)/Locati
on
Number of job
holders
Pharmacy Department, Ninewells
3
JOB PURPOSE
To assist with the provision of the Aseptic dispensing service by participating in:
 The accurate and safe receipt, storage, distribution and delivery of medicines
 The safe and accurate assembly and transfer of products for Aseptic dispensing
 The over labelling of pre-prepared chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition
 The production, monitoring and filing of documentation
3.
ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
Lead Pharmacy Technician
Specialist Pharmacy Technician
Senior Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technician
Student
Pharmacy Technician
Assistant Technical Officer
Other Assistant
Technical Officers
Line manager to all grades
below
Denotes supervision
4.
SCOPE AND RANGE
The aim of the Pharmacy Department is to assure quality of patient care in the provision of treatment with
medicines. To this end the objectives are:
i) To provide pharmaceutical care to individual patients by meeting their particular needs whilst maximising
efficiency in the use of resources
ii) To provide medicines through systems of quality control, which ensures safe, effective and economic use
As a member of the team, the postholder:
 Contributes to the provision of the pharmacy service by assisting with stock management, through accurate
receipt and storage of medicines.
 Assists with the dispensing of medicines in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.
 Assists with the supply and delivery of medicines to destinations across HNS Tayside, which may include wards,
departments, other hospitals and GP practicies.
For the purpose of this job description the term ‘Medicines’ includes all drugs, intravenous fluids, chemicals and
disinfectants.
5.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Induction Standards & Code of Conduct
"Your performance must comply with the national “Mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support Workers in
Scotland 2009” and with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers."
To ensure the provision of a high quality pharmaceutical service the postholder will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Assist in the accurate, timely, safe and secure receipt, storage, distribution and delivery of medicines to
locations including wards, departments, external hospitals, GP practices etc.
Assist with the Aseptic dispensing process by over labelling pre-prepared chemotherapy and parenteral
nutrition.
Transfer materials into clean rooms by swabbing and spraying with appropriate disinfectant.
Assist with stock management including re-stocking shelves, stock rotation, stock balancing, expiry date
checks and maintaining clean and tidy storage areas.
To participate with the ordering of stationery and sundries.
Deliver aseptically prepared products to wards and departments.
Maintain a clean environment in the preparation room through daily swabbing of surfaces with appropriate
disinfectant.
Deal with queries from patients, staff and visitors and answer the telephone in a courteous manner referring to
other staff when appropriate.
Record incoming and outgoing workload on the Electronic data collection unit.
Assemble work trays for Aseptic dispensing including cytotoxic medicines.
Assist in maintaining a safe, secure, clean and tidy department whilst complying with health and safety
policies.
Carry out environmental monitoring including air sampling within the preparation room and the recording of
airflow pressure of the Aseptic unit, and reporting any irregularities. Record refrigerator, freezer and room
temperatures, in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Undertake the production, filing and archiving of requisitions and documentation.
Assist with the accurate and safe disposal of redundant medicines as appropriate.
Assist with the orientation and training of all staff working in the department including: pre-registration
pharmacists, student pharmacy technicians, pharmacy technicians and other Assistant Technical Officers.
Participate in Performance Development Review and Continuous Personal Development.
Follow good practice guidelines while complying with and adhering to NHS Tayside and departmental policies
and procedures at all times.
Attend appropriate educational and training events as required.
Other Duties
The post holder will be expected to participate in the provision of the pharmacy portering service to cover sickness,
annual leave and service delivery which can often be requested at short notice. The pharmacy department
potential opening hours will be from 07.00am – 19.00pm Monday to Friday,9.00am – 14.00pm Saturday and
9.00am – 14.00pm Sunday. Local arrangements and rotations will be discussed and agreed as required for
service needs.
Health and safety




All staff must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other persons who may be
affected by their actions.
All staff must comply with NHS Tayside and Departmental Policies and Procedures at all times and use
approved working methods and any personal protection provided.
Staff must not in any way interfere with or misuse anything provided for their own safety or protection of others.
Staff must report any hazard or unsafe working practice to the appropriate line manager and be aware of
emergency procedures.
6. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The postholder is required to communicate effectively and professionally, providing and receiving routine
information to and from wards, departments, pharmacy and other healthcare staff regarding the supply of
medicines.
Within the pharmacy service

Maintain effective communication with all pharmacy staff
Outwith the pharmacy service




7.
Patients, relatives and carers for routine information and directions.
Nursing staff and healthcare staff from other departments for enquires.
Porters, transport personnel, supervisors and managers of support services regarding the transfer and
transportation of medicines across NHS Tayside.
Visitors to the department for routine information and directions.
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
The postholder must:
 Be capable of understanding and working within Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
 Posses the ability to learn and adapt
 Educated to S/NVQ Pharmacy Services level 2 or equivalent accredited qualification to meet the regulation
requirement of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Or
Be willing to work towards S/NVQ Pharmacy Services level 2 or equivalent accredited qualification as above.
 The post holder must be familiar with drug names, strengths, formulations and storage requirements or be
prepared to undertake training provided by the department to provide this knowledge.
 Be willing to work towards achieving TSET – Aseptic Processing training programme.
It is also desirable that the postholder possesses:
 Basic information technology skills
 Manual handling skills
8.
SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
The postholder will be required to use the following equipment and systems on a daily/weekly basis
Equipment & Machinery
 Pressure gauges
 Air sampler
 Pallet lifter
 Trolleys
 Fax machine
 Photocopier
 Computer
 Telephone
 Electronic data collection equipment
 Kick stools
 Refrigerators and freezers
 Thermometers
 Printer
 Personal protective equipment
 Pharmacy computer system
Systems
 NHS Tayside Health and Safety, Communication and information security and any other relevant policies
 Departmental policies and standard operating procedures
 Performance Development Review
 Paging system
 NHS e-mail and intranet systems
RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All records created in the course of the business of NHS Tayside are corporate records and are public records under
the terms of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937. This includes email messages and other electronic records. It
is your responsibility to ensure that you keep appropriate records of your work in NHS Tayside and manage those
records in keeping with the NHS Tayside Records Management Policy and with any guidance produced by NHS
Tayside specific to your employment.
9.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
The post holder must carry out duties in accordance with NHS Tayside Manual Handling guidelines, contained
within the Health and Safety Policy.
The post holder must possess or be prepared to acquire:
 General keyboard skills
The post holder must
 Ensure that medicines are handled appropriately and stored and supplied accurately
 Manoeuvre loaded trolleys
 Wear personal protective equipment required for working in a clean room, for up to 6 hours daily, which can be
restrictive
 Complete work within agreed timescales in order to meet transport schedules
 Carry out a range of manual handling activities on a daily basis, working within the recommended maximum
load guidelines
The post holder will be required to stand for long periods while assembling aseptic work trays
The post holder will be exposed to hazardous materials on a daily basis
10.
DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
The post holder:




Deals with routine enquiries, refers to line manager when appropriate
Follows standard operating procedures
Uses knowledge of work schedules, medicines and medicines storage to prioritise tasks
Participates in formal appraisal of performance annually, with 3 monthly informal reviews with line manager
11. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB



To be consistently accurate in the identification, selection and storage of medicines and their various
presentations and formulations.
To work within time constraints for the supply of medicines.
Meeting the priorities and demands of working in a busy department through effective teamwork with flexibility
to respond to the needs of the service.
12. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
1. This job description will be reviewed in partnership according to the needs of the service
2. The job description will need to be signed off using the attached sheet by each postholder to whom the job
description applies.
JOB DESCRIPTION AND ESSENTIAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FORM – SIGNATURE OF AGREEMENT
Post Title
Assistant Technical Officer – Aseptic Dispensing
Reference Number
The attached job description and essential additional information will be used as part of the Agenda for Change assimilation
exercise and therefore the job matching panel may wish to seek further clarification on any issues contained within the
documents. Should this be necessary please identify an appropriate Manager and Staff representative who can be
contacted.
Responsible Manager
Linda Milne
Contact No.
32489
Staff Representative
Bob Clough
Contact No.
32489
JOB TITLE/BAND:PHARMACY SUPPORT WORKER (BAND 2)
CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
Previous Pharmacy or
Hospital Experience
(Application)
EXPERIENCE:
Previous stores or
distribution work
(Application)
Experience in storage,
supply and stock rotation
(Application)
Experience of working with
people (Application)
Level 2 Pharmacy Services
or recognised equivalent
qualification or units
(Application)
QUALIFICATIONS:
(Training; Research;
Publications)
Completion of the
Mandatory Induction
Standards for Healthcare
Support Workers
(Application)
KNOWLEDGE &
SKILLS:
Effective numeracy and accuracy
skills and attention to detail
(Assessed at interview)
Good written and verbal
communication skills (Assessed at
interview)
Awareness of the requirement to
complete Mandatory Induction
Standards for Healthcare Support
Workers (Assessed at interview)
KNOWLEDGE &
SKILLS (CONTINUED):
Awareness of the requirement to
complete Level 2 Pharmacy
Services or recognised equivalent
qualification or units
(Assessed at interview)
Willingness to participate in ongoing relevant training
(Assessed at interview)
Awareness of Health and
Safety (Application)
Basic IT skills prior to
training for pharmacy
systems/equipment
(Application and assessed
at interview)
PERSONAL QUALITIES:
Understanding of the importance
of attention to detail and accuracy
(Assessed at interview)
Good organisational skills
(Assessed at interview and
references)
Understanding of the importance
of confidentiality (Assessed at
interview and reference)
Ability to work as an individual and
team member (Assessed at
interview and reference)
Ability to work under pressure to
meet deadlines and time-scales
(Assessed at interview and
reference)
Awareness of own limitations and
the need to seek advice where
appropriate (Assessed at interview
and reference)
Work consistently to high
standards (Assessed at interview
and reference)
Show respect for others(Assessed
at interview and reference)
Be honest and trustworthy
(Assessed at interview and
reference)
Ability to follow written procedures
(e.g. Standard Operating
Procedures) (Assessed at
interview and reference)
OTHER:
(eg travel across Tayside)
Willingness to participate in 7 day
working pattern including public
holidays and weekend working to
meet service needs
Displays professional appearance
Updated July 2013
General Conditions of Service
POST REF NO:
D/LR/167/13
JOB TITLE/GRADE:
PT PHARMACY SUPPORT WORKER, BAND 2
LOCATION:
ASEPTIC DISPENSING, PHARMACY DEPT, NINEWELLS HOSPITAL
Conditions of Service
Remuneration
The terms and conditions of service for this post are those
determined by the NHS Staff Council.
The current salary scale for the post is £15,058 to £17,803 per
annum (pro rata for part-time staff). Placing on the scale on
appointment is normally at the minimum but may be higher
subject to verification of previous relevant service.
Hours of Duty
Salary is paid monthly by Bank Credit Transfer.
The hours of the post are 19 hours per week over a 7 day
working week.
Superannuation
Start and finish times will be determined by the needs of the
service.
Membership of the NHS Superannuation Scheme is not
compulsory but is open to all staff between the ages of 16 and
70 (65 in some instances).
The contributions paid are a percentage of superannuable pay,
which is essentially basic pay excluding, for example, overtime
or travelling expenses.
Contribution rates with effect from 01.04.13 are as follows:
Annual Pensionable Pay
(Full-time equivalent)
Up to £15,278
£15,279 to £21,175
£21,176 to £26,557
£26,558 to £48,982
£48,983 to £69,931
£69,932 to £110,273
£110,274 and over
Annual Leave
Contribution
5%
5.3%
6.8%
9.0%
11.3%
12.3%
13.3%
Contributions are subject to tax relief and reduced National
Insurance contributions. NHS Tayside also makes a substantial
contribution towards scheme benefits – currently around 14% of
basic pay.
On appointment = 27 days (pro rata for part-time Staff) or 5.4
weeks per year.
After 5 years aggregated service = 29 days (pro rata for part-time
staff) or 5.8 weeks per year
After 10 years aggregated service = 33 days (pro rata for parttime staff) or 6.6 weeks per year
References
Occupational Health
Clearance
Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974
(Exclusions and
Exceptions) (Scotland)
Order 2003
Disclosure Scotland
Immigration, Asylum and
Nationality Act 2006
Public Holidays = 8 days (pro rata for part-time staff) or 1.6
weeks per year
All offers of appointment are subject to receipt of two
satisfactory references.
All offers of appointment to new entrants to the National
Health Service are subject to a medical examination.
Medical examinations are arranged and undertaken by the
Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Service (OHSAS).
All current or spent criminal convictions, cautions, warnings or
any case pending must be disclosed prior to commencing in
employment as detailed on the application form.
Please note that having a conviction will not automatically debar
you from obtaining employment with NHS Tayside. Careful
consideration will be given to the relevance of the offence to the
particular post in question. However, if you are appointed, and it
is found that you did not reveal a previous conviction your
employment may be terminated.
This post is subject to a Standard check by Disclosure Scotland
as it involves access to children and/or vulnerable adults. This
will contain details of any convictions on record whether spent or
unspent.
It is a criminal offence for an employer to employ anyone who does not
have permission to live or work in the UK.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to produce specific original
documentation at interview e.g. Passport, or full birth certificate
together with an official document giving the applicants
permanent National Insurance Number and name issued by a
Government Agency or a previous employer, as well as
photocopies of these documents.
Professional Registration/ New entrants to NHS Tayside will be required to achieve the
Induction Standards &
mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support Workers
Code of Conduct
(HCSWs) in Scotland and comply with the Code of Conduct for
HCSWs throughout your employment.
Internal candidates will be required to comply with the Code of
Conduct for HCSWs
Smoking Policy
Smoking is prohibited within NHS premises and grounds.
Applications
Completed forms should be returned to:
recruitment.tayside@nhs.net quoting the job reference in the
subject line
or
to Human Resources Directorate, NHS Tayside, Level 9,
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY
By closing date of Friday 11th April 2014