Job summary
- Main area
- Additional Clinical Services
- Grade
- Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CC26-727A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Pharmacy (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £24,465 - £26,598 Per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 20/04/2026
Employer heading
Pharmacy Assistant – Cancer and Aseptics
Band 2
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
Pharmacy Assistant – Cancer and Aseptics
Department: Pharmacy
Band 2 – 3 Progression. £24,465 - £26,598 Per annum pro rata
Hours: Full time, 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Progression from Band 2 to 3
The intention of the role is to progress Pharmacy Assistants into a Band 3 role once performance targets have been achieved.
You will be given support and training to complete set competencies in order to become a Band 3. The expected timeframe to undertake and complete relevant competencies is between 12 to 18 months. Tasks which must be completed to progress include:
• Level 2 Pharmacy qualification completed via external training programme Completion of in-house validations including handwashing, transfer sanitisation and broth test.
• Completion of all in-house training knowledge training modules
• Completion of all dispensing activity logs
If successful, you be joining a supportive team that encourages both professional and personal development. Are you the person to help us make this happen? If so, we look forward to hearing from you.
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Interview date: 20 April 2026
Main duties of the job
We are a department of over 100 staff providing pharmacy services through team-working and prioritising the needs of those we serve. Based in the Aseptic Unit you will provide an excellent service to the trust ensuring prompt and efficient production and supply of medicines.
Duties will include:
• Prepare a range of aseptic products when required.
• Carry out environmental monitoring and cleaning of the aseptic unit.
• Accurately dispense or check outsourced IV treatment, oral and concurrent medications.
• Dispensing for Inpatients, Outpatients and Discharge.
• Participating in the Pharmacy Weekend and Bank Holiday rotas.
Working for our organisation
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
NHS Staff Survey: Our Health and Safety Climate score outperforms the national average, showing our commitment to creating a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for all.
Job responsibilities
• Responsible for performing environmental monitoring within the Aseptic Suite
• Responsible for undertaking the aseptic manufacture of pharmaceuticals
• Responsible for stock control of drugs and disposables for the Aseptic Suite
• To perform, under supervision, all types of pharmaceutical work appropriate to the level of knowledge and experience, in order to participate in the provision of pharmaceutical services to our patients and staff.
• To hold the required academic standard and technical skills of or equivalent to an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services Skills
• To act as a dispenser within our hospital pharmacy service, as required as part of our weekend and bank holiday service to the patients of our hospital and other organisations to whom we provide pharmaceutical support
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Education Supervisor / Train the trainer or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- NVQ level 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences (or BTEC, City and Guilds equivalent)
- GCP Training (or willing to undertake)
Experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a Pharmacy aseptic environment.
- Education and training of staff
- Experience of working in a hospital pharmacy department
- Experience of using the JAC Computer system
- Experience in stock control management
Skills
Essential criteria
- IT Skills for dispensing, monitoring performance and reporting/audit
- Dedication to high quality patient care
- Flexible to meet service and patient need
- Meeting deadlines
Desirable criteria
- Good training skills
- Team builder skills
- Evidence of analytical and judgemental skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient and organisational need
- Evidence of effective support for less experienced staff
- Evidence of implementing policies and/or proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area with an impact beyond own area and contributes effectively to wider policies and service developments
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Amandeep Sandhu
- Job title
- Recruitment Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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