Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Aseptic Services Unit

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A large NHS trust is looking for a Senior Pharmacy Assistant to join their Aseptic Services Unit in Reading. Previous experience is not required as training will be provided. The role involves working with chemotherapy preparation and requires excellent attention to detail and willingness to learn. The ideal candidate should have a GCSE in English, Mathematics, and two science subjects, and possess good communication skills.

Benefits

Supportive team environment

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• GCSE (or equivalent) English and Mathematics.
• GCSE (or equivalent) grade 9-4/A*-C in 2 Science subjects.
• Experience of following detailed protocols or procedures.
• Experience of working towards and meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Involved in all aspects of chemotherapy supply.
• Transcribe prescription details onto a computer system.
• Assemble materials for chemotherapy preparation.

Skills

Attention to detail

Good communication

Ability to work independently

Desire to learn

Manual dexterity

Education

GCSE in English and Mathematics

GCSE in 2 Science subjects

Tools

Computer systems

Job description

Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Aseptic Services Unit

PLEASE NOTE: PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT REAPPLY

Band 3 Pharmacy Aseptic Services Unit Senior Assistant

We are looking for someone new to join our Pharmacy Cancer Services Team which includes Pharmacists, Technicians and Assistants.

We are committed to providing a safe and efficient service for our patients.

This is an exciting time to join our team, as we have recently been issued a LOW risk rating during our last external audit in September 2025.

No previous Pharmacy experience is required for this Pharmacy Assistant role as training will be given.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate excellent attention to detail, good written and verbal communication, the ability to work alone and as part of a team and a desire to learn new skills. A high level of manual dexterity is required for some aspects of this role.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be involved in all aspects of the supply of chemotherapy to the wards at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and our satellite units. The postholder will be responsible for:

• Transcription of details from prescriptions onto a computer system which will generate worksheets and labels.
• Assembling raw materials and consumables used for the preparation of chemotherapy.
• Sanitising (disinfecting) products to be passed into the cleanroom suite.
• Working in an isolator to prepare chemotherapy.
• Cleaning the cleanroom suite and equipment.
• Physical and microbiological monitoring of the clean environment.
• Ordering, receiving, quality checking and dispensing outsourced chemotherapy products.
• Dispensing oral medications for our patients.

The successful candidate will undertake a Level 2 qualification that is relevant to the role.

When applying please include all of your qualifications and grades from GCSE onwards.

About us

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest District General Hospitals in the country. The hospital achieved Foundation Trust status on 1st June 2006. It was the first Foundation Trust in the South Central Strategic Health Authority. The Trust has a successful record of delivering high quality acute medical and surgical services for 500,000 patients across West Berkshire, an area extending from Newbury in the west to Henley-on-Thames in the east, and including Wokingham and parts of Hampshire to the south and parts of Oxfordshire to the north. The Trust is Reading's biggest employer.

We put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision "Working together to provide outstanding care for our community."

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

The Pharmacy Department is a friendly and progressive team, committed to supporting professional development. The department consists of approximately 120 members of staff and includes Pharmacists, Technicians, Assistants and Admin staff from almost 40 different nationalities.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don't you come and join us?

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the role.

Person Specification

Education

• GCSE (or equivalent) English and Mathematics
• GCSE (or equivalent) grade 9-4/A*-C in English, Mathematics and 2 Science subjects

Experience

• Experience of following detailed protocols or procedures
• Experience of working towards and meeting deadlines
• Previous experience of handling medicines
• Stock control experience
• Experience of working with hypodermic needles

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Basic computer and IT skills: email, word, accurate data entry
• Understanding of GMP

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.