Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant - Aseptic Services

Merseywestlancs; Knowsley; Remote; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust invites applications for a Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant - Aseptic Services at Whiston Hospital. The post involves preparing aseptic injectable medicines under supervision, following GMP principles and SOPs.

The role requires NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services and aseptic training with relevant hospital experience. In this NHS Trust, duties include stock control, ward liaison, and ensuring a high quality aseptic dispensing service across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Completed and passed a full NVQ level 2 Pharmacy Services qualification.
• Undertaken primary level training for aseptic personnel (Principles of Aseptic Preparation and Good Manufacturing Practice).
• Significant previous experience in Hospital Pharmacy.
• Knowledge of GMP requirements in aseptic services.
• Experience of working with computer systems.
• Experience in Aseptic Services.
• Knowledge of stock control systems and rotation experience.
• Ability to manage own workload in order to meet service requirements.
• Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team.
• Ability to participate in the departmental rota for late, weekend and Bank Holiday working.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the dispensing of aseptically prepared products, usually intravenous injections or infusions, in accordance, at all times, with GMP and SOPs.
• Use the appropriate specialised equipment for the dispensing of aseptic products, such as isolators, syringes, needles and other consumables, and protective clothing.
• Assist in the receipt of prescriptions, accurately and according to safe working practices.
• Take part in the ward visits, liaise with ward staff and pharmacists regarding patients’ requirements.
• Prepare and assemble supplies of aseptically prepared injectable products for delivery to wards and departments.
• Prepare and set up aseptic products, e.g. total amounts of antibiotics required for the day can be set up, given identity numbers, documents and labels making sure that each tray is correct.
• Enter and prepare clean rooms, making sure that all required tests are carried out on a daily basis, and report any problems to Chief / Senior Technician, Aseptic Services.
• Assist in the provision of a high quality aseptic pharmaceutical dispensing service to all users of the service including the complex compounding of aseptic products including parenteral nutrition (PN), cytotoxic chemotherapy, special delivery systems, clinical trials medicines, intrathecal injections, Centralised Intravenous Additive service (CIVAs) items, and any other special aseptically manipulated products that may be required.
• Ensure that all volumes and additives are correct.
• Assist in monitoring and rotation of stock within the Aseptic Dispensing Unit (ADU), with particular reference to expiry date checks, availability etc.
• Check and order stock of sundries and record batch numbers on delivery.
• Comply with Quality Control (QC) monitoring, preparing plates/swabs for clean rooms, labelling and filling in documentation, and ensuring samples of products are sent for sterility testing to QC as per the schedule.
• Ensure that sufficient stocks of clean room protective clothing are available at all times.
• Clean down isolators once all the work has been carried out, following the clean down procedures.
• Label aseptically prepared products, then heat seal and prepare products for final check by a pharmacist.
• Ensure that ingredients and consumables are assembled, disinfected and transferred into and through the ADU appropriately, which involves frequent exposure to strong smells such as generated by alcohol 70% sprays.
• Monitor and record fridge temperatures throughout the ADU using the Everyware logger system.
• Receive and check drug deliveries ensuring their safe storage i.e. cytotoxic drugs / fridge items.
• Co-operate in the provision of necessary staffing within the ADU.
• Assist in the completion and filing of department documents.
• Use keyboard skills necessary for accurate labelling and data entry or storage of data on computer systems, e.g. charging of drug issues on CMM Pharmacy Computer System.
• Co-operate with senior pharmacy managers in the overall provision of an efficient and cost-effective pharmacy service.
• Assist in carrying out annual internal audit.
• Assist other members of the department in performing their duties.
• Participate in the provision of clinical trial data.
• Participate as necessary in on-call, weekend, evening and Bank Holiday rotas in response to the changing needs of the service.
• Provide cover in the dispensary as necessary, e.g. working on reception, booking in, answering telephone, taking in prescriptions, returning stock to shelves and bagging up for porters.
• Provide cover in Pharmacy Stores as necessary, e.g. picking stock.
• Comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.
• Maintain current knowledge and keep abreast of relevant developments.
• Assist in the development of new processes and working arrangements as necessary.
• Utilise a high degree of concentration, physical skill and accuracy, with a narrow margin for error, required when carrying out manipulations.
• Work independently using judgmental skills and consulting a pharmacy technician or a pharmacist when required.
• Assist with the induction of rotational staff to the ADU, making them aware of correct SOP’s and assisting in training.
• In accordance with the requirements of the Research Governance Framework, comply with all reporting requirements, systems and duties of action put in place by the Trust to deliver research governance.

Skills

Ability to manage own workload

Ability to work on own initiative

Teamwork

Education

NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services qualification

Job description

We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations.

Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.

Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant - Aseptic Services

NHS AfC: Band 3

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 409-8271754

Site Whiston Hospital Town Prescot Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 20/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 02/11/2026

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change

Job overview

The post holder will be part of a team whose responsibility is to safely prepare, under the supervision of an Authorised Pharmacist, a wide range of complex aseptic products to a high quality and with a high level of accuracy, utilising appropriate techniques, carrying out all duties in compliance with Rules and Guidance for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and with departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Main duties of the job

Preparation of injectable medicines in a ready to administer form, including parenteral nutrition, cytotoxic agents, biologic agents, antibiotics, following GMP principles and SOPs.

Use of isolators, syringes, needles, etc.

Stock control and safe storage of medicines and consumables.

Assembly and checking of ingredients and consumables for products to be prepared.

Sanitisation of isolators, product ingredients and consumables.

See detailed job description for further information.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Assist in the dispensing of aseptically prepared products, usually intravenous injections or infusions, in accordance, at all times, with GMP and SOPs.
• Use the appropriate specialised equipment for the dispensing of aseptic products, such as isolators, syringes, needles and other consumables, and protective clothing. The use of isolators and protective clothing requires the post holder to work in a restricted environment with limited flexibility of movement for substantial periods of each day.
• Assist in the receipt of prescriptions, accurately and according to safe working practices.
• Take part in the ward visits, i.e. liaise with ward staff and pharmacists regarding patients’ requirements.
• Prepare and assemble supplies of aseptically prepared injectable products for delivery to wards and departments.
• Prepare and set up aseptic products, e.g. total amounts of antibiotics required for the day can be set up, given identity numbers, documents and labels making sure that each tray is correct.
• Enter and prepare clean rooms, making sure that all required tests are carried out on a daily basis, and report any problems to Chief / Senior Technician, Aseptic Services.
• Assist in the provision of a high quality aseptic pharmaceutical dispensing service to all users of the service including the complex compounding of aseptic products including parenteral nutrition (PN), cytotoxic chemotherapy, special delivery systems, clinical trials medicines, intrathecal injections, Centralised Intravenous Additive service (CIVAs) items, and any other special aseptically manipulated products that may be required.
• Ensure that all volumes and additives are correct.
• Assist in monitoring and rotation of stock within the Aseptic Dispensing Unit (ADU), with particular reference to expiry date checks, availability etc.
• Check and order stock of sundries and record batch numbers on delivery.
• Comply with Quality Control (QC) monitoring, preparing plates/swabs for clean rooms, labelling and filling in documentation, and ensuring samples of products are sent for sterility testing to QC as per the schedule.
• Ensure that sufficient stocks of clean room protective clothing are available at all times.
• Clean down isolators once all the work has been carried out, following the clean down procedures.
• Label aseptically prepared products, then heat seal and prepare products for final check by a pharmacist.
• Ensure that ingredients and consumables are assembled, disinfected and transferred into and through the ADU appropriately, which involves frequent exposure to strong smells such as generated by alcohol 70% sprays.
• Monitor and record fridge temperatures throughout the ADU using the Everyware logger system.
• Receive and check drug deliveries ensuring their safe storage i.e. cytotoxic drugs / fridge items.
• Co-operate in the provision of necessary staffing within the ADU.
• Assist in the completion and filing of department documents.
• Use keyboard skills necessary for accurate labelling and data entry or storage of data on computer systems, e.g. charging of drug issues on CMM Pharmacy Computer System.
• Co-operate with senior pharmacy managers in the overall provision of an efficient and cost-effective pharmacy service.
• Assist in carrying out annual internal audit.
• Assist other members of the department in performing their duties.
• Participate in the provision of clinical trial data.
• Participate as necessary in on-call, weekend, evening and Bank Holiday rotas in response to the changing needs of the service.
• Provide cover in the dispensary as necessary, e.g. working on reception, booking in, answering telephone, taking in prescriptions, returning stock to shelves and bagging up for porters.
• Provide cover in Pharmacy Stores as necessary, e.g. picking stock.
• Comply with the legal and other requirements related to the purchase, supply, use, safe custody and destruction of drugs both within the pharmacy and in all other areas of the Trust.
• Maintain current knowledge and keep abreast of relevant developments.
• Assist in the development of new processes and working arrangements as necessary.
• Utilise a high degree of concentration, physical skill and accuracy, with a narrow margin for error, required when carrying out manipulations.
• Work independently using judgmental skills and consulting a pharmacy technician or a pharmacist when required.
• Assist with the induction of rotational staff to the ADU, making them aware of correct SOP’s and assisting in training.
• In accordance with the requirements of the Research Governance Framework, comply with all reporting requirements, systems and duties of action put in place by the Trust to deliver research governance.

Person specification

Values

• Demonstrates 'We are Kind'
• Demonstrates 'We are Open'
• Demonstrates 'We are Inclusive'

Qualifications

• Completed and passed a full NVQ level 2 Pharmacy Services qualification
• Undertaken primary level training for aseptic personnel (Principles of Aseptic Preparation and Good Manufacturing Practice)

Knowledge and Experience

• Awareness of the range of duties involved in the post
• Knowledge of 'GMP' requirements in aseptic services
• Significant previous experience in Hospital Pharmacy
• Experience of working with computer systems
• Experience in Aseptic Services
• Knowledge of stock control systems and rotation experience

Skills

• Demonstrates ability to manage own workload in order to meet service requirements
• Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team

Other

• Ability to participate in the departmental rota for late, weekend and Bank Holiday working

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective