About this role
Job summary
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 environmental 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 areCompassionate in our thoughts, words and actions.
We areAspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate.
We areResourceful and responsible in the way we work and live.
We areExcellent 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 description Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the job role.
Person Specification
Education Essential
GCSE (or equivalent) English and Mathematics
Desirable
GCSE (or equivalent) grade 9-4/A*-C in English, Mathematics and 2 Science subjects
Experience Essential
Experience of following detailed protocols or procedures Experience of working towards and meeting deadlines
Desirable
Previous experience of handling medicines Stock control experience Experience of working with hypodermic needles
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Essential
Basic computer and IT skills: email, word, accurate data entry
Desirable
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.
Employer details Employer name Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Berkshire Hospital
London Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
Employer's website https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)