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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
432-HR272-25
Employer
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Colchester Hospital
Town
Colchester
Salary
£29,970 - £36,483 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
05/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Technical Services Senior Operative - Aseptics

NHS AfC: Band 5

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole.  The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

 

Job overview

Specialist Technical Services Senior Operative (including Pharmacy Technicians)

Have you got the enthusiasm and confidence to take up the challenge of this exciting post in the Pharmacy Technical Services department.

About our Pharmacy Service

Working as part of the team within the Main Pharmacy department you will deliver a high quality, flexible and responsive service. 

Consideration will be given for strong candidates who may not meet the essential criteria to undertake this role on a developmental basis with set competency targets.  These roles will be banded lower than originally advertised until competency targets are met.

You will need to be qualified to BTec, NVQ level 3 in pharmacy services (Pharmacy Technicians) or BSc or equivalent in scientific or related subjects.

Main duties of the job

  • Carry out any necessary checking processes required during the production of manufactured, repacked or extemporaneous products
  • Dispense aseptically prepared products for inpatients, outpatients and outside customers, including cytotoxic products and radiopharmaceuticals, by calculating appropriate dosage and quantities required against prescriptions/requisitions, following departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 
  • With the Aseptic Production Leaders, take responsibility for staff deployment, prioritisation of workload, supervision of staff and delegation of duties. Liaise as appropriate with other Technicians and Senior Operatives to ensure the efficiency of all activities.
  • Prepare and dispense Radiopharmaceutical products within the correct designated area, following the Local Rules at all times and ensuring Registration Limits are adhered to.
  • Select, prepare and use isolators and work areas correctly, in line with aseptic procedures.
  • Accurately select and measure all ingredients as per product worksheet.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. 

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience of working within a technical area of pharmacy or pharmaceutical manufacturing facility
  • In handling materials which are hazardous
Desirable criteria
  • Working within a sterile environment e.g. Laminar Flow cabinets or isolator
  • Training of others.
  • Demonstrated supervisory skills

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BTec, NVQ level 3 in pharmacy services or Science Manufacturing Technician, or Level 5 qualification in a scientific subject. Level 5 qualifications are: diploma of higher education (DipHE), foundation degree, higher national diploma (HND), level 5 award, level 5 certificate, level 5 diploma, level 5 NVQ
Desirable criteria
  • Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Good Manufacturing Practice, Rules and Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Distributors (Orange Guide)
Desirable criteria
  • Good knowledge of pharmaceutical calculations
  • Hospital environment or systems
  • COSHH regulations

Personal Skills

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrate ability to communicate information effectively using clear written and spoken English
  • Ability to work under pressure accurately

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.NHS Pastoral CareDisability confident committedStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Amanda Williams
Job title
Aseptic Production Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01206 742643

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Colchester General Hospital
Telephone
07789651269
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