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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Band 3
Contract
22 months (Fixed term- 22 months)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
37.5 hours per week (Hours to be split depending on candidates.)
Job ref
318-26-T0179
Employer
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Pharmacy Department- Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Town
Gloucester
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 (pa pro rata if part-time)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Clinical Trials Senior Pharmacy Assistant (SATO), Band 3

Band 3

At Gloucestershire Hospitals, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the county’s largest employer, we are proud to provide high-quality acute, elective, and specialist services to more than 650,000 people across our county. Our care is delivered across Gloucestershire Royal, Cheltenham General and Stroud Maternity Hospital.

With over 9,000 employees representing more than 95 nationalities, bringing together a mix of cultures and experiences to the care that we deliver. Whether you’re beginning your NHS journey or looking to take the next step in your career, this is an exciting time to join us. We’re investing heavily in innovation, research, and transformation, with more than 100 active clinical studies and major developments underway across our hospitals.

We take pride in working as one team, driven by a shared ambition to grow, develop, and continually improve. Every contribution is valued and by combining our collective strengths, we support not only our diverse communities but one another. You can expect a warm, supportive culture and colleagues who are passionate about teamwork, professional development and delivering exceptional care. We offer structured development programmes, mentoring and leadership opportunities to help you progress in your career.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from a comprehensive package that includes flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, the NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, local discounts, access to on-site nurseries, reduced public transport costs, reward and recognition schemes and a wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives.

Be part of Gloucestershire Hospitals, explore your future with us today.

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic SATO to work as part of the friendly pharmacy clinical trials team to provide an efficient and safe pharmacy clinical trials service to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHNHSFT) and other neighbouring Trusts, as required.

The successful post-holder will perform a wide range of duties. Key duties include being involved in clinical trial dispensing, receipt of clinical trial drug deliveries, ordering of clinical trial stock, undertaking trial stock checks, collating workload and finance statistics, temperature monitoring, and completing accountability for patient returns.

 Past experience in pharmacy is helpful but not essential to the role as full training will be provided, based on your existing qualifications and future role requirements. Candidates would ideally already hold the NVQ 2 in pharmacy services or equivalent or be willing to work towards this.

We are able to offer full-time or part-time working pattern which can be discussed at interview.

Additional working pattern details: Hours to be split depending on candidates.

 

Main duties of the job

In your clinical trials role, you will work as part of the clinical trials team setting-up new studies and contributing to the on-going management of established trials. You will be required to work collaboratively with pharmacy colleagues, research teams and external trial Sponsors to ensure that trials are set up in a timely manner and managed in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP). 

The post will be based within Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and you will be expected to work across our two main sites, Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, with occasional travel to our neighbouring Trusts within the county which we also support.

Working for our organisation

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. Both hospitals are located in the city centres with access to shops and cafes.

The pharmacy department has approximately 240 staff. The 2 sites provide dispensary services to inpatients & outpatients, medicines information, procurement services and full clinical service to wards; the onsite aseptic and manufacturing services are centralised at CGH.

Pharmacy is at the forefront of many exciting projects including an award-winning service provided by pharmacist prescribers in orthopaedic pre-admission clinic.

Within the department are specialist clinical teams; the Specialist Mental Health Pharmacy facilitates delivery of Specialist services for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities. The cancer services team provide a pharmacy service at both sites for oncology & haematology and satellite pharmacy.

We are a friendly, inclusive department who wish to nurture and develop our staff at all grades.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

- To attend site monitoring visits where required to ensure the trial documentation and associated IMPs are available to the monitor and to help answer any questions and resolve any queries as required.

- To be responsible for ensuring clinical trial supplies are adequate by liaising with our Clinical Trial Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacy Stores Managers and any other support staff. 

Clinical Governance

- To set up Pharmacy Site Files and ensure they are well maintained and inspection-ready.

- To respond to actions arising out of monitoring visits and ensure these actions are completed and reported back to the sponsor where required.

- To ensure each clinical trial close out visit is conducted in accordance with sponsor’s requirements and current legislation.

- To comply with the risk management strategies of the Department and Trust, by participating in local and Trust error reporting mechanisms. 

Other

- The post holder may be part of the weekend, late night and bank holiday working rota, covering the acute pharmacy.

General Working Conditions 

- Accountable for own professional actions and activities, guided by legislation, national and local policies, procedures and protocols.

- Responsible for ensuring safe working practices and environment through legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH regulations, along with local policies and procedures including manual handling

- Use of VDUs for extended periods.

- Standing and walking are required for the majority of the day.

- Possible exposure to occasional verbal aggression from outpatients.

- Frequent interruptions to work pattern to answer telephone, and respond to questions or requests

- Occasional handling of potentially hazardous substances (e.g. cytotoxics) in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and COSHH regulations. 

 

Additional Contact Details

Rachel Durrant

Joint Lead Pharmacist - Clinical Trials

[email protected]

0300 422 2944

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ Level 2 in Pharmaceutical Sciences or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • NHS hospital pharmacy experience or working within a ward, clinic or nursing home
  • GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent)
  • Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria
  • Be proficient in Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook
  • Self-motivated and able to use initiative & prioritise workload as well as work in a team
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of GCP and clinical trials

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in teams
  • Experience of working in a busy environment
  • Experience of stock control
Desirable criteria
  • Previous handling of clinical trial medicines

Personal attributes

Essential criteria
  • Professional appearance and behaviour

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesWorkplace Wellbeing Charter LogoArmed Forces Covenant Gold Awardcorporate covenantStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Judith Spurway
Job title
Senior Pharmacy Technician - Clinical Trials
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
03004226838
Additional information

Rachel Durrant

Joint Lead Pharmacist - Clinical Trials

[email protected]

0300 422 2944

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