Job summary
Join our Pharmacy Team at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust!
We're seeking an experienced Senior Support Pharmacy Technician with proven leadership and extensive aseptic experience for our expanding Aseptic Services team.
UHB's Cancer Services Division delivers world-class cancer care with specialised oncology and haematology services, supported by specialist pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistant technical officers.
You'll provide essential support to the Specialist Pharmacy Technician in day-to-day leadership and supervision of aseptic services. Responsibilities include maintaining KPI oversight, ensuring service provision meets operational and financial metrics, and coordinating daily operations while working independently.
Ideal candidates demonstrate exceptional communication skills, proven staff supervision and training experience, and commitment to professional development. You should be comfortable deputising for senior staff and handling routine and complex problem-solving.
We encourage innovative working and promote learning and development, providing excellent training opportunities including potential to become an Accredited Checking Technician and complete specialised aseptic training courses.
Join our team and help build healthier lives through our values of being Kind, Connected, and Bold.
For information or to apply, contact Louise Chamberlain, Pharmacy Operations and Performance Manager: louise.chamberlain@uhb.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
Provide day-to-day responsibility for supervision, direction and technical operation of aseptic services.
Support the Specialist Pharmacy Technician in coordinating daily rosters and ensuring cancer patients receive timely, accurate and cost-effective service
Aseptically manipulate cytotoxic agents, monoclonal antibodies, CIVAS/OPAT and clinical trial materials using good aseptic technique in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Maintain communication links between aseptic services and wards/units served, coordinating service delivery effectively
Ensure all daily key performance indicators (KPIs) are achieved with full utilisation of electronic systems
Provide stock rotation management, oversee daily stock checks, and act on weekly expiry date checks to reduce expired medication and stock losses
Take responsibility for health and safety within aseptic services and management of waste and medicine returns according to Trust policies
Participate in environmental monitoring for quality assurance and respond to temperature monitoring system alarms
Supervising staff and participate in staff induction, training and development
Act as 'Accredited Checker Technician' performing final accuracy checks
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and service development
Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details on the role. If you have any questions, please contact us to discuss.
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note for a specific detailed job description for this vacancy please see attached job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note for a specific detailed job description for this vacancy please see attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- * GCSEs -- Mathematics and English (Grade B/5) and four other subjects including Science (Grade C/4)
- Or
- GCSEs: Mathematics, English and Science (Grade C/4 or equivalent) and two other GCSEs (Grade C/4) and successful achievement of the pharmacy service skills Level 2 NVQ
- qualification (or equivalent)
- Or
- Three A levels, one of which is a relevant science subject and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- Or
- Degree in science or humanities and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- * Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians
- Or
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills
- Or
- Equivalent as defined by the General Pharmaceutical Council
- * Dispensing Accuracy Accreditation, West Midland's scheme or equivalent
- * Evidence of Continued Professional Development
- * Professional Registration with the GPhC
Desirable
- * Accredited Checking Technician (National Framework)
Experience
Essential
- * Currently practicing as a registered pharmacy technician with post-qualification experience
- * The ability to demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge and the relevant practical experience for the post
- * Significant experience within a pharmacy setting
- * Experience of the specialist function for area of responsibility
- * Experience of organising other grades of staff and their workload
- * Experienced in working to policies and procedures
- * Significant experience within a hospital pharmacy setting
- * Deputising for senior personnel, co-ordinating daily work flow including situational staff management
- * Understanding of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
- * Health and Safety at Work and COSHH
- * Understanding of stock control and supply processes
- * Knowledge of Code of Practice / Customer Care
- * Knowledge of medicines, side effects and where to find further information
- * Knowledge of practices, policies and procedures associated with the job
- * Understands the need for delivering a cost effective service and the required work practices to reduce waste
- * Understanding of Pharmacy dispensing/stock control IT systems
Desirable
- * Post qualification experience working in aseptic services
- * Experience in setting up new working practices or procedures
- * Participation in training of staff
- * Experience of managing other grades of staff
- * Participation in student technician training in a mentor relationship
- * In-depth practical experience of aseptic work.
- * Understanding of ward environment
- * Aston 5 day course in Technical Pharmacy Training in Aseptic Processes / Leeds 5 day course in Aseptic Dispensing and Preparation of Medicines or willing to complete
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- * GCSEs -- Mathematics and English (Grade B/5) and four other subjects including Science (Grade C/4)
- Or
- GCSEs: Mathematics, English and Science (Grade C/4 or equivalent) and two other GCSEs (Grade C/4) and successful achievement of the pharmacy service skills Level 2 NVQ
- qualification (or equivalent)
- Or
- Three A levels, one of which is a relevant science subject and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- Or
- Degree in science or humanities and Mathematics B/5 (GCSE or equivalent)
- * Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians
- Or
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills
- Or
- Equivalent as defined by the General Pharmaceutical Council
- * Dispensing Accuracy Accreditation, West Midland's scheme or equivalent
- * Evidence of Continued Professional Development
- * Professional Registration with the GPhC
Desirable
- * Accredited Checking Technician (National Framework)
Experience
Essential
- * Currently practicing as a registered pharmacy technician with post-qualification experience
- * The ability to demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge and the relevant practical experience for the post
- * Significant experience within a pharmacy setting
- * Experience of the specialist function for area of responsibility
- * Experience of organising other grades of staff and their workload
- * Experienced in working to policies and procedures
- * Significant experience within a hospital pharmacy setting
- * Deputising for senior personnel, co-ordinating daily work flow including situational staff management
- * Understanding of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
- * Health and Safety at Work and COSHH
- * Understanding of stock control and supply processes
- * Knowledge of Code of Practice / Customer Care
- * Knowledge of medicines, side effects and where to find further information
- * Knowledge of practices, policies and procedures associated with the job
- * Understands the need for delivering a cost effective service and the required work practices to reduce waste
- * Understanding of Pharmacy dispensing/stock control IT systems
Desirable
- * Post qualification experience working in aseptic services
- * Experience in setting up new working practices or procedures
- * Participation in training of staff
- * Experience of managing other grades of staff
- * Participation in student technician training in a mentor relationship
- * In-depth practical experience of aseptic work.
- * Understanding of ward environment
- * Aston 5 day course in Technical Pharmacy Training in Aseptic Processes / Leeds 5 day course in Aseptic Dispensing and Preparation of Medicines or willing to complete
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
