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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
203-SS1147
Employer
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Warwick Hospital
Town
Warwick
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Pharmacy ATO Aseptics

Band 3

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare. 

The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks

Many of the roles we advertise have a requirement for a DBS check to be carried out. If you are successful for a role and it requires a DBS check the Trust will carry out the initial check and subscription to the DBS Update Service, however successful candidates will be expected to cover the associated costs . Details of this will be sent to successful candidates in their offer letter.

Probationary Period

All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.

As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2

We appreciate you completing the survey.

Agile and Flexible Working

All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.

The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.

Staff Benefits

The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available. 

Car Parking

The Trust currently have limited availability of car parking spaces, as such are operating a waiting list for new starters joining the organisation. 

To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).


Job overview

Invitation to join the Pharmacy Aseptics Team!

The Pharmacy Department is looking to recruit enthusiastic Senior Pharmacy Assistants to support in the delivery of excellent hospital pharmacy aseptic services. As the successful candidate, you will join our friendly team working in the Aseptic Unit at Warwick, preparing chemotherapy and related treatments for patients across Warwickshire.

 We will provide a comprehensive in-house training programme during which you will learn all about our clean room environment and the many different procedures that we have to maintain the high standards of cleanliness and efficiency needed in a busy Aseptic Unit.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Lead technician for Aseptics and working closely with the cancer and aseptics team to deliver a high standard aseptics service for the trust’s treatment suites and our external customers. Ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good distribution Practice (GDP) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and other relevant standards and legislation.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Managed by the Lead Technician - Aseptics

Supervises Pharmacy technicians, Pharmacy Assistants, Senior Assistants and Trainees on rotation within the pharmacy aseptic unit.

Works and co-operates with all Pharmacy and healthcare staff in the provision of services.

Works and co-operates with the nursing staff on the Aylesford and Rigby Day treatment units.

Maintains a network with counterparts in other Trusts, for the exchange of information and the sharing of ideas

GEH & other external customers.

Working for our organisation

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2

We appreciate you completing the survey.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Aseptic Unit duties

Assist in the delivery of safe, effective and efficient aseptic dispensing service in accordance with SOPs of the unit working under the direction of the senior technical staff

Comply with all requirements for environmental monitoring in the pharmacy aseptic unit including sessional monitoring, daily monitoring, weekly monitoring and less frequent monitoring as outlined in the pharmacy aseptic unit SOPs

Participation in the examination of environmental monitoring media and recording of results. Reporting any alert/action levels to Senior technicians.

Arrange for test sample to be sent promptly to the appropriate microbiology laboratories when necessary

Carry out the regular quality assurance programme according to SOPs and complete accurately any required paperwork

Complete manual leak tests when required on isolators

Undertake regular cleaning of the pharmacy aseptic unit according to SOPs including daily, weekly and monthly intensive specialist cleaning

Assemble ingredients for items to be made according to the worksheet and SOPs noting down accurately batch number and expiry dates, checking for any particles, discolouration or breakages

Assist with operation of specialist equipment involved in the pharmacy aseptic unit

Assist with the completion of all required documentation

Undertake training to participate in assisting the safe aseptic preparation

Dispensing of prefilled products

The following tasks will become part of the main duties once a required level of competence has been achieved;

Generating worksheets and labels according to SOPs and prescriptions

Assisting in the preparation of aseptically dispensed items including chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies and CIVAS items

Preparation of aseptically dispensed items including chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies and CIVAS items

Carry out Pre- and In – Process Checks (PIPC) on assembled items and accuracy checks during the preparation of products

Delivering released products to clinical areas

Assist in the laundry management of clean room items

Liaise with senior technicians with regard to ordering of consumable items used in the pharmacy aseptic unit

Stock control duties including receiving, unpacking, checking and storing of delivered items, ensuring stock rotation and expiry date checks

Assist in the maintenance of adequate levels of drugs and equipment by informing senior technicians when stock levels are low

Maintain an adequate supply of worksheets and other record sheets photocopying more as required

To carry out accurate entry of data into the Pharmacy computer system.

To maintain the Controlled Drug register and to carry out regular stock level checks of Controlled Drugs in line with legal responsibilities as appropriate.

General duties

Undertake general housekeeping duties to main a clean, tidy and safe working environment

Assist with the filing and safe storage of all documentation

Dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste appropriately according to SOPs and trust procedures

Participate in regular stock dates

Assist with ward top ups as required

Assist in workplace audits

Foster and maintain good relationships with pharmacy, medical and nursing staff through effective communication

Deal with all service users as quickly and efficiently as possible while being sensitive to their various problems and the needs of patients, staff and other visitors. Answer telephones promptly and courteously

Maintain own skills and undertake continuous professional development consistent with grade and developments within the profession of pharmacy

Work in accordance with the pharmacy department and trust SOPs

Maintain patient confidentiality at all times as per trust procedures

To ensure the security of the Pharmacy department, drug stores and out-lying pharmacies at all times during working hours and at the end of the working day by maintaining responsibility for keys and swipe access cards and by the setting of alarms as necessary.

Attend aseptic unit departmental meetings

Participate in weekday early start/late night weekend and bank holiday rotas

Work in accordance with the goals and values of the trust

Education and training

Undertake the pharmacy aseptics unit training programme

Undertake any private study when necessary

Assist with the training and support of other staff when required

Undertake and attain Buttercups level 2 Pharmacy manufacturing course or equivalent

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Education to secondary school standard
  • GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English at grade C or above
  • Level 2 in pharmacy services or pharmacy manufacturing course or equivalent relevant qualification.
  • Able to successfully complete the required comprehensive training and competency programme within an agreed timescale (approximately 12 weeks) followed by Pre and In- process checking training (PIP-C) to a higher practice standard.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with the public
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience of working in a laboratory
  • Previous hospital experience.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Basic Keyboard skills
  • Good numerical skills
  • Has knowledge of record keeping
  • Participation in the training of others
  • Used to working in a team
  • High levels of accuracy when record keeping
  • Ability to concentrate whilst dealing with background distractions such as the telephone or intercom
Desirable criteria
  • Able to cope with pharmaceutical names
  • Knowledge of hospital environment
  • Knowledge of pharmacy environment
  • Stores and stock keeping knowledge

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Enthusiastic
  • Motivated
  • Reliable
  • Team worker
  • Professional level of personal presentation
  • Flexible
  • Able to use initiative
  • Able to deal with angry/upset staff
  • Able to create a rapport
  • Knows and respects their limits of discretion (i.e., when to hand over)
  • Works to protocols, procedures and SOPs
  • Good verbal communication – face to face and telephone
  • Good written communication
  • Able to keep accurate records

Other

Essential criteria
  • Able to participate in late duties and Saturday/Sunday/Bank holiday working
  • Some flexibility in working hours
  • Physically fit and able to stand/sit for long periods
  • Able to use a VDU
  • Capable of occasional moderate lifting (<13kg)
  • Manual dexterity as required to prepare sterile products
  • Able to participate in essential cleaning procedure which can be strenuous
  • Able to work with cleaning agents and disinfectants
  • Able to work with cytotoxic drugs
  • Able to work in an Aseptic environment

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Care quality commission - OutstandingStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mark Powney
Job title
Pharmacy Operations Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01926495321
Additional information

01926495321  Ext. 4454

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