Band 3 Pharmacy Support Worker Aseptic

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Pharmacy Support Worker Aseptic to join the Pharmacy Cancer & Aseptic Unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. You will support the accurate preparation and dispensing of a wide range of aseptically prepared medicines to wards, outpatients, and the Cancer Day Unit, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, and other aseptic products, under the supervision of a pharmacist.

You will assist with dispensing oral cytotoxic medicines and supportive treatments for cancer patients using the JAC computer system, participate in tray assembly of raw materials for aseptically prepared products, and help record patient and product details. You will also contribute to environmental monitoring and cleaning schedules within the aseptic unit, follow all legal and departmental practices including SOPs, GMP (Orange Guide), COSHH, and lifting and handling regulations, and support the development of pharmaceutical services while promoting professional practice, all work carried out under the supervision and guidance of the pharmacy team.

Main duties of the job

As a Pharmacy Support Worker, you will be responsible for maintaining a high level of concentration when producing paperwork and dispensing medicines to minimise the risk of errors, particularly as doses are individually calculated for each patient. You will use manual dexterity to accurately draw up volumes using syringes and needles, fill elastomeric pumps and other infusion devices, connect giving sets, and handle other equipment such as mini spikes, butterfly needles, and transfer devices, always applying good aseptic technique.

You will prioritise tasks as they are received, manage frequent interruptions to answer queries from medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff, and escalate issues to senior colleagues when necessary. You will routinely lift heavier items such as waste bins, IV fluids, and 2.5L parenteral nutrition bags, and work safely with hazardous compounds including cytotoxic medicines, monoclonal antibodies, and cleaning materials. You will regularly operate within the restricted space of a pharmaceutical isolator and carry out all tasks with attention to accuracy and safety under the supervision of the pharmacy team.

About us

Here at NHS Professionals, we run England's largest NHS staff bank and are experts at putting people in places to care. Every year we help thousands of dedicated and highly skilled NHS workers enjoy better career opportunities, more flexible shifts, and a healthier work-life balance across our partnered Trusts.

Career Progression access to Learning & Development opportunities, so that you can take on new roles and challenges

Work-life Balance flexible shifts, committed shifts, wellbeing resources and build paid annual leave

Opportunity & Access over 50 partner NHS Trusts to give you the flexibility of choice to work how and where you want

Job Role s & Responsibilities

• To maintain and document all aseptic validations, including broth tests and hatch transfers, always ensuring readiness for work in the aseptic suite.
• To assist in quality control and quality assurance activities, including cleaning, labelling, and sending agar plates for testing, as well as monitoring room and isolator conditions and escalating any deviations to senior staff.
• To manage stock and consumables within the aseptic unit, ensuring timely reordering, correct rotation, proper storage, and accurate completion of sessional stock checks.
• To support safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials, including cytotoxic and radioactive waste, following departmental procedures and maintaining a safe working environment.
• To provide guidance and supervision to rotational staff, students, and pre-registration pharmacists, assisting in their training within the aseptic unit under the direction of higher-level staff.
• To participate in additional departmental duties, including top-up services for wards, dispensary sessions, local rota arrangements, and any other tasks requested by the Aseptic Unit Manager or Chief Pharmacist to maintain service continuity.

Person Specifications & Qualifications

• NVQ2 in Pharmaceutical Services (or in training).
• Experience in an aseptic unit.
• Accurate manual dexterity with syringes/needles.
• Able to work in confined spaces (isolator).
• Recent relevant pharmaceutical/aseptic training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

NHS Professionals Limited

Location

Stoke Mandeville Hospital Nhs Trust, Mandeville Road,
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 8AL