Specialist Radiopharmacy Technician

Job overview

We're seeking a Specialist Radiopharmacy Technician to join our small, friendly team at Northampton General Hospital. As a key member of the team, you'll be responsible for aseptic manufacture and quality control of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. If you're a team player with excellent communication skills, a strong attention to detail, we'd love to hear from you! The role is Monday to Friday, 5:30am-22:45pm

Main duties of the job

To provide a role in the Pharmaceutical Quality System of the Radiopharmacy service.

To carry out aseptic manufacture and quality control of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.

To provide a key role in the provision of the comprehensive clinical Radiopharmacy service

The postholder is required to work to extremely high standards of accuracy and safety, involving significant personal responsibility for product quality. The post holder will be expected to work independently and undertake complex tasks and operate complex equipment, in accordance with QA, GMP compliance, local rules and standard operating procedures.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Managerial

• Assist the Radiopharmacy Production Manager to plan and schedule work in the Radiopharmacy ensuring correctly assigned staffing, space and facilities for subsequent performance of department.
• To act as a role model to rotational staff and provide a consistently high standard of service to all internal and external customers of the Radiopharmacy Unit.
• To ensure that technical roles are performed by the appropriate grade of staff.
• Assist the Radiopharmacy Production Manager with departmental radiation safety. Ensuring adequate equipment and facilities are available for tasks utilising ionising radiation.
• Undertake ordering and delivery of non-stock radiopharmaceuticals.
• To liaise with clinic staff and external customers regarding preparation and supply of aseptically prepared products
• Liaise with reception and clinical staff in Nuclear Medicine to organise therapeutic isotopes are ordered with the correct radioactivity and timing, as to be available for planned patient administrations. To query prescriptions if there is any ambiguity or concern
• Maintain inventory of supplies and re-order as required.
• To keep administrative and legal records as are necessary, in particular the receipt, administration and disposal of radiopharmaceuticals.
• Maintain records, so as to validate the receipt of all external orders purchased directly with the suppliers and correlate with the correct invoices to ensure only appropriate payments are made.
• To ensure rotational staff are familiar with the current procedures for the unit and lead the training of new staff in the local procedures, maintaining training records

Professional

• In collaboration with the Senior Radiopharmacy Technician co-ordinate day-to-day operation of the Radiopharmacy Service to ensure that prepared Radiopharmaceuticals are made in a safe, timely and efficient way in line with the current GMP standards.
• To provide technical information and advice to nuclear medicine customers, medical personnel and other staff on matters relating to Radiopharmaceuticals.
• Development of new radiopharmaceutical procedures and techniques; prepare reports and analysis setting forth progress, adverse trends and appropriate recommendations or conclusions.
• Lead aseptic sessions of the preparation and dispensing of sterile diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, working within agreed departmental protocols.
• To participate in the ‘final checking and release’ of aseptically prepared and dispensed products
• To carry out QA checks throughout the manufacturing process including Radiochemical purity (RCP), Radionuclide purity, chemical breakthrough, process validations etc.
• To lead and participate in the Radiopharmacy blood labelling service.
• To carry out aseptic blood labelling techniques according to local operational procedures.
• Be involved in development and validation of new techniques implemented within the unit
• Where appropriate organise and carry out the validation measurements on the incoming radioisotopes.
• Receiving, handling and manipulating blood samples as part of Nuclear Medicine diagnostic tests; within local protocols.
• Ensure all open and sealed radioactive sources are accounted for and kept secure at all times.

Non-Imaging

• Perform accurate and precise manipulations of patient samples using a variety of laboratory and related equipment.
• Undertake the use of radiation counting equipment to determine the levels of radionuclides present in patient specimens.
• Undertake the input and manipulation of counting data into complex computer program and spreadsheets to generate analysis results for diagnosis.

Safety and Quality

• To have a sound knowledge of the equipment used in the Radiopharmacy in order to identify any malfunctions and act appropriately.
• To participate in quality assurance and audit programmes in line with departmental strategy covering all aspects of quality in the Radiopharmacy to ensure that the highest standards are set, monitored and maintained.
• To assist the Radiopharmacy Production Manager in the maintenance of facilities and equipment
• Perform assessment of the integrity of the clean room systems and workstations prior to use.
• To adhere to the Ionising radiation regulations, Health and Safety and COSHH regulations.
• Lead on safety and risk management in Radiopharmacy
• To be involved with risk assessments within the Nuclear Medicine department.
• Assist with the regular update of protocols for the Radiopharmacy
• To maintain all clinical and laboratory areas as a clean and safe environment.
• To ensure the proper and safe use of all equipment used in the Radiopharmacy.
• Ensure that the work areas are maintained in as safe, clean and tidy manner with respect to mechanical, electrical and radiation safety. Be aware of mechanical, electrical and radiation hazards surrounding imaging and related equipment and the potential risk and harm to patients and staff.
• Perform routine checks, calibration and quality assurance testing of all Radiopharmacy equipment. Report any faults, defects or deviations from expected results to clinical scientists and the Radiopharmacy Production Manager.
• Undertake the installation of radionuclide generators into the isolator workstation observing radiation safety, sterility and manual handling issues.
• To ensure aseptically prepared medicines are made according to the standards set out in ‘Rules and Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Distributors’ and ‘Quality Assurance of Aseptic Preparation Services’.
• To be aware of and enforce guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure standards of Good Manufacturing Practice are met.
• To maintain that the unit operation complies with the Environment agencies Environmental permitting.
• Review local SOP’s and maintain they are in-line with the current product SPC’s
• To assist the implementation of recommendations made following inspection by the MHRA Regional and QA Audit.

Teaching and Training

• Take lead in providing theoretical and practical training for members of staff in all aspects of Radiopharmacy.
• To induce new staff into the service
• To produce, maintain and update Radiopharmacy training manuals
• Perform assessments on junior staff to ensure they are competent in performing tasks involved in the Radiopharmacy. Report competency evaluations to the Radiopharmacy Production Manager.
• Act as a trainer for supernumerary Medical Physics trainees in practical Radiopharmacy related topics. Liaise with Radiopharmacy Production manager to ensure training is complete.
• To provide or support appropriate training for medical, nursing, paramedical and other NHS staff in aspects of Radiopharmacy.

Research and Development

• To participate in research and development in Nuclear Medicine, commensurate with the achievement of clinical objectives, in liaison with the Radiopharmacy Production Manager and the Hospital Research and Development Department.
• To keep abreast of developments having immediate or potential applications in Radiopharmacy and Nuclear Medicine.

General

• The post holder will be working within a clean room and a laboratory environment, which require them to have high levels of personnel hygiene and be able to continuously work within the protocols defined for such areas.
• The post holder will be working with hazardous materials on a routine basis and manufacturing products that will be used with patients. As such a high level of concentration and attention to detail is required.
• The post holder will have the ability to apply a high degree of mental effort for long periods of time. For example, calculating radioactive decay and dose volumes in a high pressure environment.
• To communicate complex scientific data both verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner.
• The work hours start early (earliest 05:00) and the post holder must be able to maintain standards at this time.
• Due to the nature of some of the Hazardous materials, dense shielding will need to be handled and there the post holder must be able to physically move heavy objects safely and adhere to manual handling techniques.
• To deputise for the Radiopharmacy Production Manager where appropriate
• Participate in the Department’s Appraisal Scheme.
• Participate in the Department’s response to NAIR incidents and other emergencies.
• To participate in Emergency Radiation Plan as required by the Health Circular HC(89)8, and in particular act as a member of the decontamination squad as required.
• To assist in the other reasonable duties of the work of the department, in the absence of other members of the department.
• To ensure that confidentiality is maintained. Any breach of confidence may result in disciplinary proceedings, which could result in dismissal and may also result in civil action for damages.
• The post holder is expected to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data, whether in computerised or manual systems or storage. Trust policies and statutory regulations must be adhered to.