Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 2-3 progression
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CC25-127A-A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Pharmacy (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £24,169 - £25,674 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 21/07/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 30/07/2025
Employer heading
Pharmacy Assistant Band 2-3 progression - Cancer & Aseptic
Band 2-3 progression
MKUH staff scored highest for ‘I look forward to coming to work’ (NHS Staff Survey 2023).
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free refreshments
- Great flexible working opportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Job overview
Pharmacy Assistant Band 2-3 progression - Cancer & Aseptic
Department: Pharmacy
Band 2-3 progression: £24,169 - £25,674 per annum
Hours: Full-time 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
We wish to recruit a Pharmacy Assistant into our development program, to help support the Pharmacy Cancer & Aseptic team in providing services to cancer patients at Milton Keynes University Hospital.
You will contribute to the dispensing and preparation of cytotoxic medicines; collaborate with others in providing safe, accurate and timely services to patients; make sure aseptic cleanroom environments are are always fit for purpose; take care to ensure your work always meets the high standards required; and have responsibility for checking the work of others.
Previous experience of working within an aseptic unit, with knowledge of good manufacturing practice standards would be ideal. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to progress their career within pharmacy through achievement of competencies.
Interview date: 30.07.2025
Main duties of the job
- Responsible for performing environmental monitoring within the Aseptic Suite.
- Responsible for undertaking the aseptic preparation of pharmaceuticals.
- Responsible for stock control of drugs and disposables for the Aseptic Suite, and top up of ward medicine stocks.
- To perform, under supervision, all types of pharmaceutical work appropriate to the level of knowledge and experience, in order to participate in the provision of pharmaceutical services to our patients and staff.
- To hold the required academic standard and technical skills of, or equivalent to, an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services Skills.
- To function as a dispenser within our hospital pharmacy service, as required as part of our weekend and bank holiday service to the patients of our hospital and other organisations to whom we provide pharmaceutical support.
Working for our organisation
"We Care We Communicate We Collaborate We Contribute"
"A strong 76.6% of this staff group express genuine enthusiasm for their work" (NHS Staff Survey 2024)
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free tea and coffee
- Great flexible working opportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Trust responsibilities:
- To be part of the pharmacy team and work with staff within the pharmacy department and across the Trust to enable the objectives of the Trust to be achieved.
Professional responsibilities:
- To ensure the Pharmacy department is compliant with relevant statutory and professional standards on Health & Safety, COSHH, Clinical Governance, and Medicines Management by ensuring your actions take account of all guidance provided.
Operation responsibilities:
- To be an active part of the cancer & aseptic services team providing timely medications to patients.
Completion of in-house competencies:
- To perform daily recording of isolator and room pressure readings, reporting any anomalies to the Aseptic Services Manager or Accountable Pharmacist as necessary.
Miscellaneous:
- To co-operate with staff in other disciplines to help ensure the safe, effective, and economic use of drugs.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Education Supervisor / Train the trainer or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- NVQ level 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences (or BTEC, City and Guilds equivalent).
- GCP Training (or willing to undertake).
Experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a Pharmacy aseptic environment.
- Education and training of people.
- Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy department.
- Experience of using the JAC Computer system.
- Experience in stock control management
Skills
Essential criteria
- IT Skills for dispensing, monitoring performance and reporting/audit
- Dedication to high quality patient care
- Flexible to meet service and patient need
- Meeting deadlines
Desirable criteria
- Good training skills
- Team builder skills
- Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need
- Evidence of effective support for less experienced staff
- Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Positive Commitment to CPD
- Polite and courteous
- Professional attitude
- Initiative
- Self-motivated and team player
Communication
Essential criteria
- Good Communication skills, written and verbal.
- Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with patients, carers, hospital/ward staff and primary care or community health services and other organisations about medicines management or other technical information
Specific requirements
Essential criteria
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Stephen Thomas
- Job title
- Principal Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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