Go back Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Pharmacy Technician - Cancer and Technical Services
The closing date is 20 January 2026
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a suitably experienced hospital technician to apply for this post. The post-holder will help manage the technical services unit and deputise for the Lead Technician in their absence.
We require an experienced, enthusiastic and self-motivated Pharmacy Technician with excellent communication skills to join our motivated forward thinking Technical Services department, which actively encourages training. You will work in an exceptionally friendly department delivering a customer focused service.
This is an ideal opportunity for a technician who is keen to build on their aseptic experience, as well as their management skills to help develop a patient focused Technical Service to meet the changing needs of the organisation and to help support the planned expansion of Cancer and Chemotherapy services within the Trust.
If you are interested in a full time post in Pharmacy Technical Services and being an integrated part of the multidisciplinary team, then this is the job for you.
We are ideally looking for someone with experience of working within a hospital pharmacy production unit.
Main duties of the job
Works closely with the Lead Technician in helping manage and develop all operational aspects of technical services.
Helps to ensure that services are provided in a safe, efficient and effective manner according to local, national and Regional QA requirements and the principles of good manufacturing practice.
Contributes to monitoring and management of performance and quality for technical services unit and services provided to cancer speciality
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job responsibilities
Technical Services
Assists with managing the workload and co-ordinating the workflow for sterile (cytotoxicreconstitution and CIVAS) and non-sterile (training pharmacist non-sterile dispensingaccreditation) in the technical services unit to help maintain a safe and responsive service. Liaising with Chemotherapy day unit staff of all grades to support the work flow. Assist with generating reports on technical services unit performance (quality, safety andefficiency) according to local standards including dispensing errors and other incidents. Assists with departmental drug expenditure system for cancer services. Maintains effective communication links with Principal Pharmacist, Principal Technician andQuality Assurance Manager to ensure practices reflect adherence to GMP and section 10requirements, Health and Safety legislation, COSHH and Trust Medicines Policy. Helps to ensure that all legal and procedural requirements are met and that all records aremaintained. Assists with writing and maintenance of all standard operating procedures for workprocesses in technical services in collaboration with QA and Principal Pharmacist or Technicianand advises staff to support their professional functions. Participates in technical services dispensing and accredited checking schemes according tostandard operating procedures. To take part in Medicines Management to provide information to patients and take drughistories as required on Chemotherapy Day Unit. To help ensure that all technical services activities are compliant with GMP principles, Section10 requirements and medicines legislation. Dispenses injections and infusions for (e.g. chemotherapy, CIVAS, Clinical trial materials)under aseptic conditions to all required standards. Issues systemic anti-cancer therapy prescriptions to the designated systemic anti-cancertherapy nursing staff. Helps to maintain good stock control by ensuring stock checks are completed on a daily basisand investigates and corrects discrepancies according to local procedure. Assists with the generation, maintenance and development of monthly performanceindicators and data for technical services unit including error monitoring, CQUINS, monthlyworkload statistics and capacity planning and provides interpretation and remedial actions tocorrect variation in performance. Report these to relevant senior staff where necessary. Assists with accurate booking out of medicines on the pharmacy computer system. Helps to co-ordinate drug and non-drug orders and liaises with purchasing and stores staffwith regard to stock problems.
Assist with development and creation of new worksheets on the EPISYS system. Participate in Quality Assurance initiatives associated with the technical services unit including assisting with environmental monitoring, equipment and cleaning. Participate in technical and cancer services developments to manage demand and improveservice provision including gathering information and project work Assist with ordering and maintenance of stock of all medicines and consumables required bytechnical services unit and ensures that these are used efficiently within available resources. Help to ensure that all equipment (e.g. isolators and air handling unit) is operating to therequired standard. Holds accreditation for or is working towards accreditation for checking worksheets for systemic anti-cancer therapy that is compounded in the technical services unit. Deputises for the Lead Technician in their absence.
Staff Management
Supervises staff working in Technical Services unit (technicians, assistants, pre-regpharmacists and PTPTS (Pre-reg technicians) including induction and performance appraisal of relevant staff and day to day problem solving. Assists with the deployment of staff in the technical services unit including contribution to weekly rotas and approval of annual leave and lieu time in the absence of the Principal Technician. Assists with managing performance and all other human resource issues for technicians and assistants working in Technical services.
Training and development
Ensure that all technical services and rotational staff in the technical services unit receive appropriate induction, on-going training and validation which includes GMP and procedures relating to dispensing and compounding of products and maintenance of the unit. Undertakes day to day training, supervision and assessment of Pre-reg Technicians. Assists with training, supervision and assessment of Pharmacists rotating through technical services. Helps maintain records to demonstrate that staff operate to defined SOPS. Helps identify training needs for technicians, allocation of training (study days). Participates in and implements departmental CPD and personal development initiatives.
Other duties
Participates in recruitment and selection of pharmacy technicians and assistants. Participation in all PDRS and PDPS systems. Dispensary cover as required. Participation in weekend and bank holiday duties (dispensary based) and late duty. Maintenance of an up to date CPD portfolio. Undertake any other duties agreed with the Lead Pharmacist/Technician Cancer and Technical Services or Chief Pharmacist.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* BTEC or NVQ 3 Pharmaceutical Sciences equivalent recognised qualification
* GPHC registered
* Training undertaken within a hospital environment
* Completion of any HEE or LPET courses
Experience
* Recent relevant BAND 4 Technician with experience in NHS Technical services experience
* Training undertaken within a hospital environment
Skills and knowledge
* Good communication (written and oral)
* Knowledge of EU GMP and Principles of aseptic and cytotoxic dispensing with demonstrable accuracy
* Prioritisation and planning
* Dealing with interruptions to normal work pattern
* Time management
* Training and supervisory skills
* Organisational skills
* Experience of supervising staff
* Mathematical skills to perform complex dose calculations
* Interpret and dispense prescriptions accurately
* Managing people
* Effectively provide information to patients
* Procedure writing
* Use of Chemo care system
* Flexible working to reflect service development
* CPD self-development
* Self-motivation and motivation of others
* Calm under pressure
* Able to use initiative
* Reliable
* Ability to perform light/moderate physical duties (lifting inanimate loads, standing for periods) working in an isolator, light cleaning.
* Hardworking
* Occupational health clearance to dispense aseptic and cytotoxic drugs
* Methodical with attention to detail
* Able to work independently
* Able to problem solve
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.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
£37,259 to £45,356 a year per annum incl. HCAS
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