Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- 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

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.
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
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Documents to download
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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