Position Purpose (What Is the Primary Objective for This Role? 2-3 Sentences Maximum)

Position Description

Position Title: / Pharmacist Grade 3 –Aseptic and Manufacturing Services
Reports to: / Director of Pharmacy or as per organisational structure
Award/Agreement/Contract: / Victorian Public Health Sector (Medical Scientists, Pharmacists and Psychologists) Enterprise Agreement 2012 - 2016
Position Type:
eg. RN Div 1, Occupational Therapist Gr1, etc. / Pharmacist Grade 3
Hours per week: / 38
Employment Status:
e.g. permanent, fixed term, maternity leave cover, etc.
Reports: / EFT: / Direct Reports: / NIL
Financial Management: / Budget:

Position Purpose (what is the primary objective for this role? 2-3 sentences maximum)

This position is responsible for the management of the sterile and non-sterile manufacturing service in a safe and cost effective manner.

Key customers are: Pharmacists, Intern pharmacists, pharmacy staff, medical staff, nursing staff, patients.

About Austin Health

Austin Health is one of Victoria’s largest health care providers. Comprising the Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health is a major teaching and research centre with numerous university and research institute affiliations.

Austin Health employs in excess of 8,000 staff across its three sites; including over 1,000 Doctors and 3,000 nurses, and delivers a full range of leading edge clinical services, including several state-wide services (liver transplant, spinal cord injury service, respiratory support service, child inpatient mental health service). In total, Austin Health provides over 900 beds, including mental health, aged care and rehabilitation beds. The current annual operating budget is $800 million.

Austin Health delivers vital state-wide services to Victorians, including diverse multicultural and veteran communities. It provides community and specialty services to the people of Melbourne’s north-eastern corridor in a safety-focused, team-oriented and stimulating work environment.

Austin Health’s vision is to change healthcare for the better through world class research, education and exceptional patient care. As part of bringing our vision to life, the organisation has recently undertaken an extensive brand refresh and reviewed our organisational model to ensure we are best positioned to deliver contemporary, innovative and patient focussed care.

Austin Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Austin Health is committed to providing an inclusive culture where all employees can contribute to the best of their ability.

Local Work Environment (describe the local work environment eg. role of the department)

The Pharmacy Department Mission Statement is:

“Working together to provide optimum pharmaceutical care”.

Comprehensive pharmacy services are provided at the two main sites of Austin and Repatriation campuses and also to Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. Pharmacy staff participate in a co-ordinated work team via a roster system, and they work at different sites (as needed) in order to provide an integrated, high quality service to all pharmacy department customers.

Our philosophy is to foster a learning environment and to promote teamwork as the best method to deliver day to day services, for both our customers and the individual staff members. A priority for all pharmacy staff members must be to use every available opportunity to demonstrate the value of the pharmacy services to our customers. This is a conscious effort to develop and effectively market the pharmacy services, and to target the services offered by achieving a better understanding of the needs of each customer group.

Position Accountabilities (list the main duties & accountabilities of the role)

Role Specific

Abide by Austin Health corporate policies and practices as varied from time to time.
Participate in Austin Health Staff Performance and Review Development Program at least once a year.

Undertake not to reveal to any person or entity any confidential information relating to patients and employees, policies, processes and dealings and not to make public statements relating to the affairs of Austin Health without prior authority of the Chief Executive Officer.

Participate in the emergency incident response activities, as defined within the Emergency Response Manual, as and when required, at the direction of management.

The following activities are components of the position to assist in meeting the key responsibilities

Key responsibilities are:

Provide a high quality, safe and cost-effective sterile and non-sterile manufacturing service

Manage the day- to-day operations of the sterile and non-sterile manufacturing service. This includes but not limited to verifying prescription orders, final check and release of products and clinical decisions.
Prepare or supervise the preparation of all aseptic and non-sterile pharmaceutical products in a timely manner.
Ensure the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and the SHPA guidelines are adhered to at all times.
Ensure all pharmaceutical manufacturing and pre-packing are undertaken to the highest possible standards (accurate, zero defects).
Maintain stock & consumable levels to meet the production requirements.

Conduct in process and end product testing as per policy.
Undertake environmental testing in aseptic manufacturing areas.
Ensure the laminar flow preparation cabinets and HEPA filters/exhaust to the room is tested annually.
Ensure all equipments used in the prescription compounding practice are maintained in accordance with the manufacturer requirement.
Ensure all documentation and labelling complies with regulations and guidelines.

Ensure all equipments are kept clean, dry and protected from contamination when not in use.
Ensure the calibration and proper documentation of scales.
Serve as subject matter expert for sterile and non-sterile products and compounding equipment.
Liaise with HITH pharmacist and manufacturing technician to ensure timely provision of sterile products for the HITH antibiotic service
Engage in cost-saving activities for the pharmacy department

Outcome Measures:

Pharmaceutical manufacturing products are prepared in a timely manner.
High levels of quality of pharmaceutical products are packed in a timely manner.
The Code of Good Manufacturing Practice and the relevant SHPA guidelines are adhered to at all times.
All equipments and facilities relevant to the function of the aseptic and non-sterile production are maintained.

Policies and Procedures

Review and update the Sterile and Non-sterile Manufacturing Manuals in accordance with hospital policies, legal requirements and standard practices of the pharmacy profession.

Provide staff training and familiarisation with the policy and procedural manual and ensure that they are complied with.
Prepare and regularly update sterile and non-sterile formulation master sheets

Outcome Measures:

Aseptic and Non-sterile Manufacturing Manuals are updated and current.
Austin Health Pharmacy protocols (including formula, manufacturing record sheets, pre-packaging methods and sheets, workload statistics collection) for all pharmaceutical manufacturing are available, and used by pharmacy staff.
Up-to-date policies and procedures for compounding sterile and non-sterile products reflecting current standards of practice and quality are written and available to all staff.

Austin Health pharmacy manufacturing policies and procedures are followed on each campus.

Orientation, supervision and training

Regularly review and update the manufacturing orientation program.
Orientate, train and supervise all pharmacy manufacturing staff undertaking pharmaceutical manufacturing tasks.
Ensure regular re-validation of staff working in the manufacturing area.
Keep accurate records of all aseptic validation
Supervise and provide training to pre-registrant pharmacists, ensuring the manufacturing requirements of their pre-registrant training program are met
Ensure pharmacy staff undergo a training and validation program before working in the pharmaceutical aseptic and non-sterile manufacturing area

Outcome Measures:

Orientation sheets are completed for all pharmacy manufacturing staff.
Manufacturing staff are appropriately trained and competent in manufacturing.
Manufacturingstaff have a thorough knowledge, understanding, and level of proficiency to assure adherence to the procedures of the sterile an non-sterile manufacturing.
Aspects of training should include aseptic technique; environmental monitoring, compounding documentation, quality assurance procedures, aseptic preparation procedures etc.
At least 10 other pharmacists undergo a validation program each year to ensure weekend and on-call staff are up-to-date.

Service Standards and Benchmark Service

Establish and maintain key service standards for the provision of sterile and non-sterile pharmacy services
Review and benchmark service with other major Australian hospital to ensure best practice and cost effective service delivery
Replicate at Austin Health other hospitals’ areas of excellence

Outcome Measure:

Service standards implemented and met.
Service benchmark established.
Best practices implemented at Austin Health.

Ongoing compliance with best practice and quality procedures for the area

General responsibilities are:

Policies and Procedures

All pharmacy staff must act in accordance with all relevant legal, Austin Health, Formulary, Drug & Therapeutics Committee etc. policies and procedures.

Outcome Measure:

Any actions which have occurred contrary to policy must be recorded and action taken to minimise future variation from policy.
Works in accordance with the Ward Pharmacy manual.

Occupational Health and Safety

Participation in the pharmacy department occupational health and safety program is mandatory.

Report to the management any unsafe work practices, hazards, and near miss incidents and accidents to the management.

Outcome Measure:

Annual O&HS target activities are undertaken within the designated time frame.
Incidents, clinical issues, hazards, safety risk and near misses are responded to and reported appropriately.

Continuing Education and Competency

All pharmacy staff must participate in the training and assessment processes including relevant competency assessments in the area of practice.

All pharmacists must undertake the continuing professional development (CPD) activities as required by the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

All pharmacists must participate in the Austin Health pharmacist continuing education program.

All pharmacists must participate in an ongoing competence assessment program (shpaclinCAT) as part of an overall staff development program

Outcome Measures:

Training and assessment in the area of practice completed and satisfactory.

CPD requirements are met.
Present at least one CE lecture a year according to the Austin Health Pharmacist CE roster.
shpaclinCAT evaluation completed annually

Other Responsibilities

Contribute to the overall management of the Pharmacy through active participation as a member of senior management.

Regularly communicate with staff and Department on matters relating to education and training..
Participate in the Pharmacy Department’s Performance Development Program.
Other duties as required.

Outcome Measures:

Provide support and input into the overall management of the Pharmacy.

All Employees

Comply with Austin Health policies & procedures, as amended from time to time, which can be located on the intranet (The Hub):

Participate in Austin Health’s annual Performance Review and Development (PRD) program as required.
Engage in processes to monitor service delivery and participate in improvement activities.
Undertake not to reveal to any person or entity any confidential information relating to patients, employees, policies, and processes and do not make public statements relating to the affairs of Austin Health without prior authority of the Chief Executive Officer
Report incidents or near misses that have or could have impact on safety - participate in identification and prevention of risks.
Participate in the emergency incident response activities as directed.

Key Selection Criteria (what are the key qualifications, skills, experience & attributes are required to perform in this role?)

Essential for Performance of the Position

Registered as a pharmacist with Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority (AHPRA)
Knowledge of Code of GMP, SHPA and other relevant guidelines.
Knowledge of chemical, pharmaceutical and clinical properties of the medications.
Previous manufacturing experience.
Well developed clinical pharmacy knowledge.
Effective and courteous communication skills.
Ability to liaise medical, nursing and pharmacy staff.
Leadership and commitment to service development.
Reliable and show due care and attention to accuracy and detail.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Proven ability to use initiative, identify and solve problems..
Commitment to continuing education and professional development
Previous hospital experience
Effective skills in computer applications
A commitment to Austin Health values: Integrity, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.

Selection Criteria (highly desirable):

Relevant post-graduate qualification highly desirable.
Have undertaken projects to improve customer satisfaction or knowledge of customer needs.
Have undertaken projects to improve the pharmacy service.
Ability to represent the pharmacy department on committees (internal or external).
Presentation of more than one paper/poster at pharmacy conferences.
Advanced computer skills.

Other Relevant Information (Other information to be made known to persons interested in appointment to this position)

Pre-Existing Injury

Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position.

Immunisation

Maintain appropriate levels of immunisation in accordance with Austin Health’s Workforce Immunisation/Screening Policies, in the interests of yourself, all Austin Health staff, patients and visitors.

Austin Health Values

The Austin Health values play a critical role in shaping how we operate as an organisation. They influence our performance, planning, recruitment, training and development, along with our relationships with colleagues, patients and their relatives and friends. The Austin Health values set the standard that we expect all staff to live up to in the way they undertake their role and responsibilities across the organisation, our values:

Integrity / We work in the spirit of collaboration and honesty to build effective working relationships across the whole organisation.
Accountability / We are transparent, responsible and build trust by fulfilling promises and communicating effectively.
Respect / We care about others and treat each other with consideration, equality and fairness.
Excellence / We continually strive to advance patient focused care through innovation, research and effective stakeholder management.

Austin Health is a Bully Free and Smoke Free Employer

Austin Health is committed to providing employees with a healthy, smoke free work environment where bullying and harassment does not occur. Consistent with this and Austin Health’s corporate values of integrity, accountability, respect and excellence, Austin Health will not tolerate employees:

Behaving in a bullying or harassing manner in the workplace; or
Smoking on Austin Health premises or in Austin Health vehicles.

Document Review Details

Review date of Position Description: / January 2020
Manager Signature:
I, ______(employee name), have read, understood and accept the content in this position description.
Employee Signature:

Position Description Template Revised: June 2016

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