Pharmacy Technician - Preparative Services

NHS Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

27 days annual leave

Cycle to Work Scheme

Study bursaries

Flexible working opportunities

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is seeking a Band 5 Pharmacy Technician for a 12-month secondment in the West of Scotland Cancer Centre Pharmacy Team. You will contribute to aseptic preparation, dispensing and accuracy checking of SACT/IV treatments, under GMP standards.

The role offers exposure to specialist cancer services and opportunities to develop accuracy checking, prioritisation and workload management within a high-demand setting.

Qualifications

• GPhC registered with current competency qualifications.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff.
• Good IT skills including Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Prepare high-risk aseptic medicines, including chemotherapy, CIVAS and clinical trial products.
• Perform final accuracy checks and in-process verifications.
• Maintain cleanroom quality systems and GMP documentation.
• Investigate deviations, incidents and quality concerns; support continuous improvement.
• Contribute to dispensing, supply and stock management for cancer services; mentor staff.

Skills

GPhC registration

Final accuracy checking

Staff supervision

IT skills

Effective communication

Education

GPhC-approved competency qualification (S/NVQ 3 in Pharmacy Services)

NC Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Pharmacy Technician to join the West of Scotland Cancer Centre Pharmacy Team on a 12-month secondment. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and experience within a specialist cancer centre environment, working as part of a supportive and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team.

You will contribute to the preparation, dispensing and accuracy checking of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) and intravenous (IV) treatments, ensuring the highest standards of quality, governance and patient safety.

The role offers exposure to a wide range of specialist pharmacy services and opportunities to further develop your accuracy checking, prioritisation and workload management skills within a high-demand setting. The post will also support service resilience and the continued safe, effective and timely delivery of patient care in response to increasing service demands.

All roles will be assessed for sponsorship eligibility in line with current Home Office requirements. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) can only issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) where these are met.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern

• This is a 12-month fixed-term post, working 36 hours per week.
• The post is based within the West of Scotland Cancer Centre Pharmacy Team.
• The working pattern is 5 days over 7 (5/7), worked across standard service hours.

Key Responsibilities

You will prepare high-risk aseptic medicines, including chemotherapy, CIVAS and clinical trial products, within GMP-compliant cleanroom and isolator environments. You will perform final accuracy and in-process checks, ensuring aseptically prepared products meet all quality, safety and regulatory standards prior to release. You will maintain and monitor cleanroom quality systems, including environmental monitoring, equipment checks, cleaning activities and GMP documentation. You will investigate, document and report deviations, incidents and quality concerns and support continuous improvement and patient safety initiatives. You will contribute to the dispensing, supply and stock management of medicines used within specialist cancer services and support the training, mentoring and competency assessment of pharmacy staff. You will work collaboratively with pharmacy and multidisciplinary colleagues to support efficient service delivery and high-quality patient care.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job

• Registered Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Completion of a current GPhC-approved competency and knowledge-based qualification, such as S/NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services and NC Pharmaceutical Sciences, together with the required period of work-based experience.
• Recognised and accredited Final Accuracy Checking qualification.
• Experience of supervising, training or mentoring staff.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly in spoken English.
• Commitment to ongoing training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Experience of interacting with people in a variety of situations.
• Ability to work to established procedures and standards.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload using own initiative.
• Experience of stock management and inventory control.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a wider team.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive and flexible approach to service delivery.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to patient safety.
• Effective communication and problem-solving skills.
• Experience of training, mentoring or supervising staff.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development.

Desirable

• HNC Pharmacy Services or equivalent.
• A1 Assessor Qualification or equivalent.
• Professional Development Award (PDA).
• Experience demonstrating leadership and managerial responsibilities.

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.