Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Senior Assistant Technical Officer - Aseptic Services

The closing date is 12 November 2025

Job summary

Due to the expanding needs of the service we are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated person with good manual dexterity and attention to detail to join our Technical Services Team as a Senior Assistant Technical Officer (SATO) in the Aseptic Unit within the Pharmacy Department at Sandwell Hospital. Working closely within a small team you will work primarily as a clean room operator preparing chemotherapy medication for our patients.

Previous experience working within a regulated environment, in Pharmacy cleanrooms or laboratories is desirable but, as all training will be given in-house, it is not essential.

If you are enthusiastic about pharmacy, able to work as part of a busy team and follow procedures, we look forward to hearing from you.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will undertake in house training to become a competent cleanroom operator who is also able to undertake a wide range of other day to day activities in the aseptic unit. In-house specialist training in GMP principles will be provided. Other duties include cleaning and maintaining the aseptic unit and its associated equipment to the required standards, setting up work trays and liaising with other departments /wards to co-ordinate timely supply and delivery of treatments. You will participate in weekend and bank holiday rotas as required.

Applicants must ideally hold a NVQ Level 2 Dispensary Assistant qualification , a Community Pharmacy Dispensing qualification or be willing to work toward acheiving this.

About us

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) serves Birmingham and the Black Country - one of the country's most culturally diverse areas. It's a friendly and welcoming place - a place where you can belong, and a place where you can grow.

We care for our patients, we care about our population, and we care about our people.

Our values - Ambition, Respect and Compassion - are at the heart of who we are. They guide us every step of the way; how we work with each other, and how we look after our patients and their families; how we respect and value the rich diversity of our team and our community.

Our Trust has always aspired to be more than a hospital, more than a healthcare provider. Our purpose is to "Improve the Life Chances and Health Outcomes of our Population." It is what inspires, drives, and unites us every day. It's what makes us unique.

We want working at SWB to feel like more than just a job. We want our Trust to be a place where you can feel you belong. A place where you feel happy, safe, and rewarded. A place where you can develop your career in whatever way you choose.When we say we're 'with you all the way' we want you to know that we mean it. Visit the SWB website to find out more about our ambitions and people plans.

Date posted

06 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

381-CO-7505593

Job locations

SWB NHS Trust

Hallam Street

Birmingham

B71 4HJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for details on the main duties and responsibilities.

Early/late rotas, weekends and bank holidays will be part of the working week, as will working across all sites of our Trust.

For more information please read the documents linked to this advert. Or to arrange an informal chat or visit, please contact

Denise Turner, dturner5@nhs.net (Lead Pharmacy Technician, Aseptics) or Leanne Betham, leanne.betham@nhs.net ( Senior Pharmacy Technician, ChemoCare/ Aseptics).

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for details on the main duties and responsibilities.

Early/late rotas, weekends and bank holidays will be part of the working week, as will working across all sites of our Trust.

For more information please read the documents linked to this advert. Or to arrange an informal chat or visit, please contact

Denise Turner, dturner5@nhs.net (Lead Pharmacy Technician, Aseptics) or Leanne Betham, leanne.betham@nhs.net ( Senior Pharmacy Technician, ChemoCare/ Aseptics).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE in Maths and Science
NVQ2 in Pharmaceutical Science or willing to work toward
Evidence of CPD.

Desirable

Lloyds dispensing certificate
Boots dispensing certificate

Experience

Essential

Working knowledge of a broad range of medicines and their safety issues
Experience of working within a pharmaceutical team
To be able to handle safely and competently pharmaceutical equipment and medicines used in the dispensing process
Experience of working as an ATO
Be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programme to meet set knowledge and competencies
Understanding of clinical governance and its implications for service including quality and audit
Experience of data input with regard to invoice/credit note information
Experience of efficient filing systems
Experience of stores/warehouse duties.

Desirable

Self motivated, Able to work within a team
Follows procedures
Experience of reception duties
Experience of working as an ATO in an Aseptic Unit
Experience of working in an Hospital setting

Aseptic experience

Desirable

Previous experience of working in an Aseptic Unit, laboratory based employment

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE in Maths and Science
NVQ2 in Pharmaceutical Science or willing to work toward
Evidence of CPD.

Desirable

Lloyds dispensing certificate
Boots dispensing certificate

Experience

Essential

Working knowledge of a broad range of medicines and their safety issues
Experience of working within a pharmaceutical team
To be able to handle safely and competently pharmaceutical equipment and medicines used in the dispensing process
Experience of working as an ATO
Be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programme to meet set knowledge and competencies
Understanding of clinical governance and its implications for service including quality and audit
Experience of data input with regard to invoice/credit note information
Experience of efficient filing systems
Experience of stores/warehouse duties.

Desirable

Self motivated, Able to work within a team
Follows procedures
Experience of reception duties
Experience of working as an ATO in an Aseptic Unit
Experience of working in an Hospital setting

Aseptic experience

Desirable

Previous experience of working in an Aseptic Unit, laboratory based employment

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

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Address

SWB NHS Trust

Hallam Street

Birmingham

B71 4HJ

Employer's website

https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Address

SWB NHS Trust

Hallam Street

Birmingham

B71 4HJ

Employer's website

https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)