Senior Pharmacy Assistant - SATO in Aseptic Services in Manchester

Senior Pharmacy Assistant - SATO in Aseptic Services

Band 3

Main area Clinical Network Services - Aseptic Pharmacy Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Contract Hours 37.5 hours per week (Full time permanent) Job ref 413-111574-CNS-RS

Site Pharmacy Aseptics - E00921 Town Manchester Salary £25,760 - £27,476 Per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 21/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

The successful candidate will assist in the aseptic production of clinical trial anti-cancer treatment, Early Access to Medicine and Compassionate Schemes and gene therapy injectable medicines. If you have an interest in the safe manufacture of injectable medicines, then this could be the role for you.

The Aseptic Services Unit at the Christie NHS Trust is a world leader in the production of phase one clinical trial materials and has an extensive portfolio of products for specialist preparation. The ideal candidate should possess a high level of concentration and the willingness to develop the ability to manipulate syringes and needles to withdraw liquid media and to be able to accurately read volumes on syringes.

All work is carried out in a clean room environment under the supervision of an accountable pharmacist and a highly trained technical team.

Main duties of the job

We are an ever-expanding, multi-disciplinary team who strive to produce exceptionally high-quality injectable medicines for each patient that uses our service.

The Aseptic team is a diverse and dynamic collective who work in a specialised cleanroom environment where teamwork is the key to efficiency and managing the patient experience. Each day is both challenging and rewarding in equal measures, with cancer treatments constantly evolving and new types of drugs being trialled each year.

We are at the forefront of developments in terms of drug innovation and team development as we were one of the first Hospitals in the country to introduce the progressive role of Aseptic Practitioner to the Aseptic workforce and we are looking forward to adding the Science Manufacturing Technician qualification to our large portfolio of training and staff qualifications here at The Christie Hospital.

So, if you want to work as part of an ever-progressing team and you enjoy a challenge then we could be the team for you.

• Preparation of worksheets and labels for aseptically prepared products
• Setting up work trays for aseptically prepared products
• Sanitisation and transfer of all materials required for production
• Aseptic preparation of injectable materials
• In process checks
• General house keeping
• Telephone queries
• Involvement in all aspects of the Aseptic Process

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To aseptically prepare high quality cytotoxic/MABS/EAMS etc. in accordance with departmental procedures, Good Manufacturing Practice and COSHH regulations ensuring that all work complies with all regulatory frameworks and standards.
• Undertake daily cleaning and disinfection of the aseptic clean rooms including Isolators, according to Standard Operating Procedures.
• To ensure ingredients and disposables are assembled, disinfected and transferred through the Aseptic Services Unit appropriately.
• To carry out in-process checks of aseptically prepared products upon completion of appropriate training.
• Participate in the safe preparation and delivery of Intrathecal chemotherapy in accordance with Trust policy upon completion of departmental training.
• To accurately prepare worksheets and labels for aseptic products using the unit’s computer system using CMM and iQEMO program if required.
• To assist with the preparation of documentation within the aseptic unit.
• To assist with the recording of data, both manually and on the computer
• Answer the telephone promptly and politely and refer queries to the appropriate person.
• To assist the Specialist/Senior/Chief Technician to ensure the validation of all staff, equipment and processes are completed in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.
• To assist the Specialist/Senior/Chief Technician to ensure maintenance and monitoring of environmental monitoring standards of the Aseptic Unit is carried out in compliance with QCNW and Standard Operating Procedures.
• To be responsible for the maintenance of all stock in the Aseptic Unit including evaluating stock levels within the Aseptic Unit assisting the ordering Technician to ensure adequate stock is maintained at all times.
• Ensure all Environmental monitoring plates are received and stored in the correct manner to ensure they are protected from contamination.
• Prepare environmental samples and documentation for dispatch to QCNW.
• To be responsible for receiving and documenting Environmental Reports from QCNW and referring any variances to senior staff in a timely manner.

Education and Development:

• Undertake any mandatory training, updates and courses in line with local and Trust policies.
• To complete NVQ2 in pharmacy services if not currently in possession of this qualification
• To complete all Aseptic Services Unit competency-based training packages.
• To participate in and co-operate with, individual personal assessment, continuing professional development and continuing education programmes to develop personal competencies and knowledge base.
• When appropriate to demonstrate activities to, work experience students, pre-registration pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacy technicians and staff undergoing induction.

Communication and Leadership:

• Communicate with other team members regarding activities within the Aseptic Services Unit.
• Answer the telephone promptly and politely and refer queries to the appropriate person.
• To ensure effective communication channels are maintained by all staff and any disagreements are dealt with promptly and in line with the Trusts respect policy.
• Participate in staff discussions during internal meetings and as part of a group when required.

Finance:

• To effectively manage a designated stockholding to ensure that stock wastage is minimised.
• To assist the Senior/Specialist Technicians in managing the Aseptic Services stock takes. To comply with legal and Trust requirements relating to the purchase, supply, use safe custody and destruction of medicines within Pharmacy and other areas of the Trust.

Effort and Environment Factors:

• Demonstrable skills for manipulation of pharmaceutical products.
• There is a requirement/combination of Manual Handling such as sitting, standing, and walking.
• The post holder must have the ability to lift and handle pharmaceutical items.
• The post holder must have the ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
• Manual Handling i.e. In the stores area, frequent lifting and handling of heavy packages and boxes.
• Regular use of a PC for data inputting and training.

Policy:

• To be responsible for the adherence and upholding of all Trust and departmental policies and procedures.
• To comply with the updated national guidance and local Trust policy for the Safe Administration of Intrathecal Chemotherapy.

Other Duties:

• The provision of a high-quality service delivered in a professional and courteous manner is a requirement of all staff employed by the Pharmaceutical Service.
• It is presently a requirement of the post to participate in a Saturday / Sunday and Bank Holiday rota and be able to work between the hours of 7am and 5pm with the potential for this to change as the service requires.

Person specification

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English grade C or above
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• NVQ level 2 pharmacy services

Experience

• Pharmacy experience in either a hospital or community setting
• Experience of working within a clean room setting

Skills

• Ability to work under pressure
• Lone and team working skills
• Accurate and logical approach to work
• Flexible to changing situations
• Motivated and flexible/open to change
• Ability to undertake manual tasks eg: mopping floors, walls, ceilings and to clean within an isolator

Knowledge

• Knowledge of COSHH
• Knowledge of GMP
• Knowledge of QC/QA

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

• Makeup, nail polish and false nails are prohibited within the aseptic department
• Rotation shift patterns applied between 7am and 5pm, to cover full service
• Weekend and bank holiday on call rota to be covered by all staff
• Ability to stay beyond shift should the workload require

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Pre-Employment Checks -

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history andreferences.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information - We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect.The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Aaron Turner Job title Highly Specialist Aseptic Services Technician Email address aaron.turner2@nhs.net Telephone number 016

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