Quality Assurance Specialist- Aseptic & Radiopharmacy Services, Band 7

NHS

  • Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
  • £47,810-54,710 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 5 hours ago
Are you a person who embraces the challenge of working in a busy environment as part of a friendly multi-skilled team?We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced individual for our new B7 Quality Assurance Specialist - Aseptic & Radiopharmacy Services at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, based at Cheltenham General Hospital, providing treatments to both Cheltenham and Gloucester hospitals. We provide SACT and radiopharmaceuticals , as well as dispensing outsourced items.We are looking for a skilled, experienced and enthusiastic individual to join our evolving quality team as we look toward the future, with the aim to develop our existing workforce as well as welcoming new members to the department.This is a new post which will support the Quality Manager in driving quality improvement within both the aseptic and radiopharmacy departments.It is an exciting time for the aseptic department with an imminent move into a temporary modular unit. The successful applicant will help support this project as well as, in the future, the development of a new permanent facility.The Aseptic and Radiopharmacy departments both operate under S10, with one Accountable Pharmacist, although radiopharmacy is managed separately under Nuclear Medicine. With the planned future introduction of a new electronic Quality Management programme there is also a great opportunity to support the unification of quality services provided to both departments.Main duties of the jobBeing a Pharmacy Professional, the post-holder will act as deputy to the Quality Manager, providing services to both the Aseptic & Radiopharmacy services at CheltenhamGeneral Hospital.Ensure that all aspects of Quality Assurance are completed tomeet agreed Trust and Pharmacy Dept objectives as well as ensuring compliancewith relevant legislation, regulations and guidelines.Implement and maintain the Pharmaceutical Quality Management System and monitor its effectiveness.About usGloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHT) is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. Located between Birmingham (45 miles) and Bristol (32 miles), the beautiful Cotswolds and Forrest of Dean, the county is easily accessible by road including the M5 motorway, with convenient links to the M4 and the M50.Together with main line rail networks, this puts Gloucestershire within easy reach of many metropolitan areas and airports.GHT supports staff with access to the well-being hub, exercise and activity classes and membership of our popular hospital choir.The pharmacy department has over 200 staff across the two sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester, both sites provide full dispensary services, medicines information, procurement services and a full clinical service to wards. There is a regular free shuttle bus allowing easy transport between hospitals both of which are located in the city/town centres with access to shops and cafes.The Pharmacy department is committed to supporting the Trust to deliver its vision of best care for everyone, we strive to provide the whole team with the necessary skills and ongoing support to make a real difference to patient care, including a program to develop prescribing roles within the department.DetailsDate posted03 September 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary£47,810 to £54,710 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)ContractPermanentWorking patternFull-timeReference number318-25-T0624Job locationsCheltenham General HospitalSandford RoadCheltenhamGL53 7ANJob descriptionJob responsibilities1. Deputising for the Quality Assurance Manager, covering periods of absence, you will ensure provision of service, provide suitable advice, draft reports and undertake audits for their authorisation.2. Support implementing the pharmaceutical Quality Systems (PQS)aseptic and radiopharmacy services, maintaining a continuous quality improvement cycle and in response to changes in regulations, legislation and audit recommendations.3. Support the governance of medical gas and ventilation systems, ensuring pharmacy input and adherence to Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 02-01 and HTM-03 and related patient safety alerts is achieved.4. To keep abreast of all standards and guidelines relevant to the work of the Aseptic and Radiopharmacy departments. Update the Accountable Pharmacist and Pharmacy Director as appropriate.5. To maintain and promote continuous improvement of the PQS.6. To provide quality assurance advice to the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit (PAU) and Radiopharmacy senior staff.For full details please also refer to attached job description including person specificationContact DetailsAmanda White (Accountable Pharmacist - Technical Services)amanda.white@nhs.net0300 422 3504Kirsty Higgins (Radiopharmacy Manager)0300 422 4037Job descriptionJob responsibilities1. Deputising for the Quality Assurance Manager, covering periods of absence, you will ensure provision of service, provide suitable advice, draft reports and undertake audits for their authorisation.2. Support implementing the pharmaceutical Quality Systems (PQS)aseptic and radiopharmacy services, maintaining a continuous quality improvement cycle and in response to changes in regulations, legislation and audit recommendations.3. Support the governance of medical gas and ventilation systems, ensuring pharmacy input and adherence to Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 02-01 and HTM-03 and related patient safety alerts is achieved.4. To keep abreast of all standards and guidelines relevant to the work of the Aseptic and Radiopharmacy departments. Update the Accountable Pharmacist and Pharmacy Director as appropriate.5. To maintain and promote continuous improvement of the PQS.6. To provide quality assurance advice to the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit (PAU) and Radiopharmacy senior staff.For full details please also refer to attached job description including person specificationContact DetailsAmanda White (Accountable Pharmacist - Technical Services)amanda.white@nhs.net0300 422 3504Kirsty Higgins (Radiopharmacy Manager)0300 422 4037Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, life science, pharmacy, other relevant scientific subject or Qualified Pharmacy technician with suitable experience
  • Hold statutory professional registration or be eligible to register with relevant professional body (e.g. GPhC, HCPC, RSC, RBS) with knowledge of aseptic or radiopharmacy preparation or manufacturing services and quality control.
Desirable
  • Post graduate qualification (Diploma or MSc) in Pharmaceutical Technology/Quality Assurance (or equivalent qualification/experience). Diploma or MSc
KnowledgeEssential
  • Knowledge in and implementation of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), ventilation (HTM-03) and NHS Quality Assurance of Aseptic Preparation Services (QAAPs)
  • Knowledge in pharmaceutical quality assurance including radiopharmaceuticals
  • The audit process - internal and external. Change Management - Good knowledge of Pharmaceutical Microbiology - Operational Management Risk Management - Validation Requirements for facilities, equipment and products
Desirable
  • Understanding of HTM 02-01: Medical gas pipeline systems Part A: Design, installation, validation and verification and HTM 02-01: Medical gas pipeline systems Part B:
ExperienceEssential
  • Experience Quality Assurance/Control Officer within a pharmaceutical manufacturing / preparation facility (or equivalent)
  • Demonstrable experience in training staffs in quality assurance & quality control method
Desirable
  • Experience of input into the design, business case, development, commissioning and validation of production facilities.
  • Experience as Quality Assurance/Control Officer within a Radiopharmacy facility
  • Experience using QMS supporting software such as Q-Pulse, iPassPort
  • People management including performance, disciplinary and sickness management
Personal AttributesEssential
  • Prioritization, time management, personal effectiveness, influencing, analytical and problem-solving skills of a consistently high standard maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Innovation/implementation skills to develop services in accordance accepted with standards
  • Excellent communication (written, oral, presentations) and interpersonal skills essential to exchange highly complex information to colleagues, patients and relatives, clinicians and senior managers (both within and outside of the trust). Ability to take complex ideas and communicates to all levels of the service
  • Evidence of continuing self-development relevant to role
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • Degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, life science, pharmacy, other relevant scientific subject or Qualified Pharmacy technician with suitable experience
  • Hold statutory professional registration or be eligible to register with relevant professional body (e.g. GPhC, HCPC, RSC, RBS) with knowledge of aseptic or radiopharmacy preparation or manufacturing services and quality control.
Desirable
  • Post graduate qualification (Diploma or MSc) in Pharmaceutical Technology/Quality Assurance (or equivalent qualification/experience). Diploma or MSc
KnowledgeEssential
  • Knowledge in and implementation of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), ventilation (HTM-03) and NHS Quality Assurance of Aseptic Preparation Services (QAAPs)
  • Knowledge in pharmaceutical quality assurance including radiopharmaceuticals
  • The audit process - internal and external. Change Management - Good knowledge of Pharmaceutical Microbiology - Operational Management Risk Management - Validation Requirements for facilities, equipment and products
Desirable
  • Understanding of HTM 02-01: Medical gas pipeline systems Part A: Design, installation, validation and verification and HTM 02-01: Medical gas pipeline systems Part B:
ExperienceEssential
  • Experience Quality Assurance/Control Officer within a pharmaceutical manufacturing / preparation facility (or equivalent)
  • Demonstrable experience in training staffs in quality assurance & quality control method
Desirable
  • Experience of input into the design, business case, development, commissioning and validation of production facilities.
  • Experience as Quality Assurance/Control Officer within a Radiopharmacy facility
  • Experience using QMS supporting software such as Q-Pulse, iPassPort
  • People management including performance, disciplinary and sickness management
Personal AttributesEssential
  • Prioritization, time management, personal effectiveness, influencing, analytical and problem-solving skills of a consistently high standard maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Innovation/implementation skills to develop services in accordance accepted with standards
  • Excellent communication (written, oral, presentations) and interpersonal skills essential to exchange highly complex information to colleagues, patients and relatives, clinicians and senior managers (both within and outside of the trust). Ability to take complex ideas and communicates to all levels of the service
  • Evidence of continuing self-development relevant to role

NHS