Advanced Specialist Pharmacist - Aseptic Services

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking an Advanced Specialist Pharmacist to work in aseptic services. Responsibilities include compliance with regulations, managing daily operations, and staff training in a fast-paced environment. Applicants should hold an MPharm and possess relevant experience in hospital pharmacy, especially in aseptic production. This role offers a chance to lead quality improvement initiatives and work with a dedicated team. Competitive benefits and opportunities for career development are also provided.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme

NHS Discounts

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• Relevant post-registration employment in a hospital pharmacy department.
• Recent experience in aseptic production handling cytotoxics.
• Clinical pharmacy experience in oncology and haematology.

Responsibilities

• Assist Daily Operations to ensure efficient aseptic service delivery.
• Optimize Aseptic Services for effective resource utilization.
• Ensure Compliance with QAAPs and maintain a safe environment.

Skills

Effective communication

Leadership

Critical appraisal skills

Time management

Ability to work independently

Education

MPharm or equivalent

Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council

Job description

Overview

Go back North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Advanced Specialist Pharmacist - Aseptic Services

The closing date is 15 February 2026

Working in a fast paced Section 10 Aseptic unit ensuring compliance with current directives, legislation, external audits, GMP, GCP and Health and Safety. This service includes the provision of chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody aseptically prepared products. To critically evaluate the aseptic quality systems with a view to ensuring that best practice is in operation within Aseptic Services. Liaising with the clinical team for rotas to ensure cover for the aseptic unit. To be responsible for reviewing documentation within Aseptic Services ensuring compliance with good manufacturing practice and QAAPs. To support the implementation of audit action plans, guidelines, procedures, policies and service changes within the aseptic unit. To work effectively as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary and pharmacy environment, and maintain rapport with medical and other colleagues. To supervise staff working in the pharmacy aseptic unit and deputise for the Accountable Pharmacist in their absence. To assist in the supervision of Trainee Pharmacists, Technicians and Student technicians and other rotational pharmacy staff. To monitor the quality of the aseptic service, line managing the QA specialist Scientist and working with the Accountable Pharmacist to maintain regulatory compliance and the low risk rating of the Aseptic unit.

Main duties of the job

• Assist Daily Operations: working with the Lead technicians ensuring the day-to-day delivery of our aseptic service, ensuring efficient and safe use of resources, establishing capacity, and timely preparation of clinically appropriate medications.
• Optimize Aseptic Services: Play a key role in organizing and managing aseptic services to guarantee that products meet their intended use, resources are utilized effectively, and products are delivered promptly.
• Ensure Compliance: In conjunction with the Accountable Pharmacist to provide professional expertise and ensure our services comply with Section 10 Exemption and National Standards (QAAPs), maintaining a safe aseptic environment.
• Train and Develop Staff: Implement and oversee training programs in aseptic unit with Lead Technicians, ensuring that all staff members are fully equipped to perform their duties safely, consistently, and efficiently. Be responsible for training authorising pharmacists.
• Drive Innovation and Improvement: Lead project and development work within the aseptic dispensing service, fostering continuous improvement and adherence to high standards.
• Line management: Managing QA specialist scientist and rotational pharmacists

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see ourPolicy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information(Please ask recruiting manager and delete if not appropriate) This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as followsif applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• MPharm or equivalent.
• Registration with General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Working towards or be willing to work towards post graduate PTQA certificate
• Further post graduate qualifications

Experience

• Relevant post-registration employment in a hospital pharmacy department
• Recent experience in aseptic production handling cytotoxics.
• Undertaking audit work, including analysis of results.
• Presenting data in a variety of formats and to a wide range of groups.
• Audit of services by external auditing organisation i.e. Regional Quality Assurance Specialist.
• Managing / training staff
• Clinical pharmacy experience in oncology and haematology.
• Clinical Trials experience Policy design and implementation
• Trained in appraisal skills

Knowledge

• Pharmaceutical Audit
• Aseptic Dispensing
• Requirements for the provision of pharmacy production and / or preparation services for cytotoxic chemotherapy.
• Extensive practical and theoretical knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (Rules & Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Distributors) and Part 10 exemption , Clinical Trials Directive/Regulations.
• Validation/documentation/QA/drug administration equipment & methods/aseptic technique, contamination control and environmental Monitoring
• Microbiology/formulation/product design, and the chemical, pharmaceutical and clinical properties of ingredients
• Working knowledge of isolator and/or laminar flow technology
• Application of health and safety and COSHH in pharmaceutical setting
• Requirements for training of all grades of technical and professional staff in the aseptic setting
• Able to demonstrate working with Pharmaceutical Quality Management System, and experience of managing deviation, change controls and adverse events
• Experience in the preparation of parenteral nutrition, cytotoxic chemotherapy, intravenous additives
• Clinical Pharmacy experience
• Experience of clinical trials provision within a hospital or healthcare setting / understanding of GCP
• Understanding of HVAC operation

Skills and Aptitudes

• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to make judgements based on incomplete or conflicting data using critical appraisal skills
• Ability to manage time, people and resources.
• Able to organise and prioritise workload
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to work accurately to deadlines
• Ability to identify and implement best practice
• Ability to identify and manage risk
• Ability to lead meetings
• Demonstrate Leadership /Delegation Ability to manage unexpected systems failures/ implement contingency arrangements
• Counselling / mentoring
• Interviewing / appraisal
• Competency in using pharmacy computer systems
• Coaching skills

Personal

• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Flexible approach to work
• Ability to manage change and meet changing deadlines
• Smart professional appearance
• Accepts personal responsibility
• Motivates and encourages teams and individuals whilst working in a fast paced environment

Other requirements

• Able to support the out of hours service by providing information and guidance to colleagues.

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.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust