Releasing Pharmacist

This post is only open for applications for individuals employed within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Care System

Organisations within scope are as follows:

• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board
• Southern Health Foundation Trust
• Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
• University Hospital Southampton
• Solent NHS Trust
• South Central Ambulance Service
• Isle of Wight NHS Trust
• Hampshire Hospitals

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

An exciting opportunity has become available at our Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Unit for Portsmouth Hospital University. If you have a passion for quality control and patient safety, delivered through the production of vital medication, this could be the role for you.

Our offsite facility supplies not only Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, but number of other NHS Trusts across the country. This unit is going through some exciting changes in regard to future plans , you will play a key part in the development and implementation of these plans, ensuring the future success of the unit and the continued care for the patients within Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. You will be supported by a diverse and energetic team of professional Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technicians.  

Job Summary

• To perform final product approval (releasing officer) for items produced under the MHRA Manufacturer's Specials Licence and, if appropriate,  for items produced under Section 10 of the Medicines Act 1968 and Regulation 37 of The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004.
• To ensure finished products are examined for their compliance with approved specifications and fitness for their intended purpose and to release or reject each batch as appropriate. This will require consideration of all factors relevant to the batch release including facility status, staff training status, production documentation review, and the final product.
• Apply specialist technical knowledge of good manufacturing practice and quality systems to ensure development and maintenance of quality control and assurance, including quality monitoring; preparation and review of work instructions; investigating quality deviations, non-conformances’, and complaints and reporting to pharmacy management in accordance with procedures.

• Degree in Pharmacy, registered with the general pharmaceutical council.

OR

• Formal qualification in Chemistry or Biology   registered with the Royal society of Chemistry or Biology

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to think strategically, develop services and manage change
• Ability to identify risk and carry our risk assessments
• Ability to analyse and solve problems
• Ability to set targets and meet deadlines
• Ability to appropriately recommend, substantiate and communicate  decisions and influence senior staff
• Ability to promote & develop a quality work environment and ethos
• Good personal organization, time management and meeting skills
• Good computer literacy for report writing and presentations
• Able to work in clean room environments and operate precision equipment

 Experience

• Previous work experience within the NHS is desirable
• Thorough understanding of GMP and the requirements of the MHRA
• A good understanding of current microbiological or chemical methods and instruments used in QA/QC
• An excellent understanding of equipment and techniques used in aseptic manufacturing or compounding
• Working experience as a Releasing Officer
• Formal qualification as an accredited product approver is desirable

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.