Job Title

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 ServicesNHS AfC: Band 3Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent HoursFull time Part time 37.5 hours per week Job ref 409-7390862 Site Whiston Hospital Town Prescot Salary £24,937 - £26,598 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 27/08/2025 23:59 Interview date 10/09/2025 After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to "name of trust" transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Job overviewThe 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). The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change Main duties of the jobPreparation 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 organisationMersey 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 specificationValuesDemonstrates 'We are Kind' Demonstrates 'We are Open' Demonstrates 'We are Inclusive' QualificationsCompleted 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 ExperienceAwareness 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 SkillsDemonstrates ability to manage own workload in order to meet service requirements Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team OtherAbility 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 and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. As aDisability ConfidentLeader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form. If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form. The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision-making process. The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.Certificate of Sponsorship Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click here to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship. eVisa UpdateFor successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK.Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account.Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to: Understand how to generate an eVisa share code Disclosure and Barring Service Check If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 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. Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies. Flexible Working We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that: · All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment. · There is no limit on the number of requests they can make. · Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason. At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage. Working for Team MWL Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. The Trust is a non-smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website. You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software. Additional Information Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here . An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents. Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon. Employer certification / accreditation badgesThe 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 Amy Rogers Job title Chief Pharmacy Technician - Aseptic Services Email address Telephone number 0151 430 1749 Originaltext#J-18808-Ljbffr