Job Description

The post holder will ensure that Production services are delivered in a safe, effective, economic and timely manner ensuring that all procedures are carried out in accordance with current legislation and guidelines and undertake preparations in all areas of the Production unit.

The role of an Apprentice:

To undertake a 24 month development programme to become a Pharmacy Science Manufacturing Technician through work based learning and by attending regular training sessions. Supervision and

support will be provided during all tasks, enabling the apprentice to work within the organization to gain experience, confidence and to deliver effective and safe patient focused support, to the designated team.



Successfully completing the training programme will lead to a Level 3 Diploma in the Principles of Aseptic Pharmaceuticals Processing.



1. To be involved in all aspects of the day to day delivery of the production service ensuring that the service complies with all current regulatory requirements.

2. To ensure a prompt and responsive service to the users under the direction of the Chief Technician and Authorised Pharmacist, such that chemotherapy is compounded ahead of appointment times and waiting time targets are met.

3. To ensure that all activities undertaken within the unit meet current legislation such as GMP, GCP, Health and safety, COSHH and that all work, documentation, and procedures meet these regulations.

4. To ensure that all products are checked and released by the Production Pharmacist in a timely manner, ready for distribution to the appropriate ward or clinic and to ensure that all products are stored correctly and at the required temperature so that finished products requiring refrigeration are not kept out of the fridge for a longer time period than is absolutely necessary.

5. To support the Non sterile section and take part in all Non sterile activities ensuring that this service meets the needs of our users.

6. To take part in all sterile activities including clinical trials, maintain personal aseptic techniques for reconstitution of cytotoxics, ensuring own validations are up to date and competency is maintained in all areas of production activities.



NMUH North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Hospital Trust (NMUH) is one of London's busiest healthcare providers, providing hospital care and community services for the 350,000 people living in Enfield, Haringey and beyond. Our specialist services include HIV, cardiology, blood disorders, diabetes, fertility, sickle cell and thalassemia. In addition to a full range of cancer diagnosis and treatment services, the Helen Rollason Cancer Support Centre is based on-site and provides services to support cancer patients' wellbeing. We also provide community services and have a dedicated 0-19 service for children and young people in Enfield so that they can get the best possible start in life. This includes health visitors and school nurses who are delivering the national Healthy Child Programme, which provides a structured framework for the delivery of key interventions to support the health and wellbeing of children and families from 0 to 5 and school aged children from 5-19. The 0-19 service aims to improve pathways and partnerships with services in the hospital and deliver excellent care for the children and families. For more information, please access the following link: https://www.northmid.nhs.uk/



To prepare documentation and labels using available computer systems ensuring all training and checking logs are completed in a timely manner.

To assemble trays of raw materials and consumables according to worksheets and record batch numbers and expiry dates, ensuring all training and checking logs are completed in a timely manner.

To be part of the compounding team, take part in regular compounding activity and audit of compounders.

To undertake disinfection of items going into the clean rooms and isolators in accordance with standard operating procedures.

To maintain a high standard of cleanliness and tidiness in all working areas.

To take part in the cleaning and monitoring of the clean rooms Isolators following Standard Operating Procedures and complete daily log audits.

To ensure that the sterile unit and all equipment is cleaned according to Standard Operating Procedures, is in a safe condition to use and is left in a clean and safe condition at night.

To ensure that all monitoring and cleaning records and departmental logs are filled in correctly before and after each compounding session in line with SOPs and at the specified frequency and to report any out of specification results to the Chief Production Technician.

To ensure that the required environmental monitoring is carried out and that microbial plates are labelled and sent for incubation in a timely manner.

To be responsible for ordering, receipt, issue and storage of all consumables and raw material drugs in conjunction with other production senior technicians.

To order stock using PECOS and JAC systems.

To undertake in conjunction with the production senior technicians, daily rolling stock take on all raw materials used in the Production unit, keep correct and accurate records of stock takes and report any discrepancies to the Chief Production Technician.

To check computer transaction logs under supervision of a senior Technician on a daily basis to ensure all computer entries and items received from stores or directly from Pharmaceutical manufacturers match with computer entries and to report and investigate any discrepancies in the information to the Chief technician.

To liaise with the Production Pharmacist ensuring that all returned drugs are appropriately documented and computed and where possible re used in a timely manner to avoid wastage.

To ensure that work load figures for sterile, non sterile and TPN's are made available at the end of each month to the Accountable Pharmacist/Chief Technician.

To assist the Chief technician in carrying out risk assessments of systems within production and take any necessary steps to reduce risk.

To ensure all waste is disposed of correctly in line with SOP and appropriate records kept.



To ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and all other relevant legislation, national and local policies and procedures.

To uphold the principles of Clinical Governance within the Trust.



To ensure that communication channels exist within the Production unit so that staff, at all levels, are kept up to date with information that is appropriate to their role.

To keep the chief technician up to date on work related issues, communicating in a timely manner any problems that may cause delay in service provision.

To liaise with the dispensary and distribution departments and review procedures for request, preparation and delivery of all products from the Production unit to minimise waiting times.

To liaise with QA Lead to ensure that the required environmental monitoring is carried out and that any non-compliance is reported to the QA lead and Chief technician (Production).

To report all errors in a formally documented way to the Production Chief Technician and Accountable Pharmacist.

To communicate effectively with all users of the service.

To attend and contribute to all relevant meetings as required by the Pharmacy Production Manager e.g. Production meetings, Departmental meetings, Education & Training Planning and organisation.

To liaise with other senior members of the production staff to ensure the most efficient use of staff and facilities.

To assist the Accountable Pharmacist/Chief technician in the implementation of change in the Production unit.

To ensure the correct operation of the permit to work system for both internal and external contractors in the Production Department.

To supervise the non-sterile section of the production unit ensuring all non sterile activity is processed in a timely manner and all JAC computer transactions completed.

To assist the Pharmacy Production management team and participate in the overall development of pharmacy services.

To be aware of and be able to initiate a full product recall procedure for in house produced medicines.

To ensure that records for all products including Clinical trials are maintained and up to date and that the facilities and documentation are suitable for audit when required.

To review and prepare for approval Standard operating procedures, Master worksheets including labels, Exception reports and change control procedures.

To support the department in effective cost saving measures

Financial/budgetary responsibilities.

To uphold and comply with the Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions of North Middlesex University Hospital.

To be responsible for stock control for the department for both consumable items, drugs and Raw materials and to charge all outgoing items to the appropriate consultants' budgets.

To provide a role model for aseptic technique and assist in the training of new staff in all aspects of aseptic preparation and departmental procedures.

To assist the Chief technician in the development of a training programme for the junior technicians and SATO's and deliver all training to the above.

To supervise the training of the specialist cleaners ensuring all training is documented in the production training manual.

To participate in relevant education and training and CPD activities as appropriate to ensure professional development including A1 assessors award.

To participate in audits as required both internal and external to improve practice.

To assist in the implementation of recommendations in external audits on pharmacy production General.

To maintain satisfactory personal performance and professional standards and to achieve, where possible, agreed objectives described in the Annual Staff Appraisal system undertaken by the Head of Pharmacy or his /her nominees.

All employees of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust are required to carry out their duties with regard to the Fair Access Policy and respect the cultural beliefs and customs held by clients and staff.

To work as part of the general Pharmacy team and help in other areas of the Pharmacy department e.g. Late duties Saturday working and Bank holidays in the Dispensary.

To undertake any other relevant duties, as may be required by the Head of Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Production Manager.

Nothing omitted or written here shall absolve the pharmacy technician from at all times ensuring that correct, professional techniques, ethics, attitudes and procedures are maintained

by the staff for whom he/she is responsible.

Strict confidently should be maintained regarding all matters pertaining to patients and other Trust issues.