Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Technical Services

Job content

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Withybush General Hospital for a Senior Pharmacy Assistant to work within the Pharmacy Aseptic Unit.

You will work with a highly skilled team which provides aseptically prepared medicines including chemotherapy to a number of clinical areas across all 4 hospital sites within Hywel Dda.

In order to provide a high quality service to our patients, the successful candidate must demonstrate excellent communication skills, good computer skills, attention to detail, ability to work efficiently, be proactive in their work and work well as part of a team.

The post holder will be responsible for participating in the aseptic manufacture of chemotherapy doses according to the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice, generating worksheets and labels using the pharmacy computer system, cleaning and monitoring the aseptic Cleanroom and performing the pre and in-process checks during aseptic preparation.

We are committed to developing the role of Senior Assistant Technical Officers within the aseptic unit and are increasing their involvement within the service.

Applicants must have achieved the Pre and In Process Checking Competency within Aseptic Services (PIPC). However, applicants who do not currently hold the qualification for the Band 4 role, are encouraged to apply, and if successful, will need to attain the qualifications within a maximum of two years and will be appointed under Annex 21 rules. This means they will be supported by a development plan. (During the first year, payment will be 70% of the top of band 4 pay, and the second year 75%). Following successful passing of the PIPC qualification, the post holder will then be paid at Band 4 (minimum point on the scale). Support and supervision will be provided in order to develop the successful applicant to the Band 4 role. Failure to achieve the qualification in the designated timeframe could result in re-deployment.

Applicants are also expected to partake in a weekend working and Bank Holiday rota.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;

48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;

Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

This post may be included in the Transforming Access to Medicines Service project, this will create a shared Centralised Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Service, to be delivered through 3 regional medicines hubs across Wales. We hope to be in a position to begin formal consultation on the proposed organisational change during 2023, in line with the All-Wales Organisational Change Policy. We would like to emphasise there will be no job losses due to this, further information can be provided by the recruiting manager for this post.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 02/12/2022