Role Characteristics
- Assist in the provision of a high quality aseptic pharmaceutical dispensing service to all users of the service
- Work unsupervised in a laboratory to mix and compound aseptic products such as cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs to create special chemotherapy products
- Work closely with the Quality Assurance Unit to ensure compliance with laboratory systems and maintain high standards
- Undertake day to day housekeeping tasks and other basic duties
- Responsible for checking and processing special aseptic pharmaceutical products
- Ensure that all stock transactions are appropriately recorded on the pharmacy computer system
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Following instructions
- Operating equipment
- Record keeping
- Team work
- Specialist skills
Day in the life
Watch the video to find out all about the Aseptic Unit in a hospital.
Routes into this role
Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.
- Apply directly
- GCSEs
- An apprenticeship
- BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels
How to become
There are several ways to start a career as a Pharmacy Production Assistant, whether you're leaving education, looking for your first job or changing careers.
Here are some ideas, and you can explore current opportunities in the section below.
- Study a course or qualification – useful qualifications include GCSEs in English, Maths and Science, Pharmacy, Health and Social Care, Applied Science or Manufacturing-related courses, T Levels and BTECs. These can all help you to develop knowledge, skills and prepare for work.
- Build workplace experience – this could be paid work, volunteering, or work experience online or in-person in pharmacies, hospitals, healthcare organisations, manufacturing companies or laboratory environments, helping you to develop skills in attention to detail, teamwork, communication, organisation and following procedures.
- Complete a pre-employment programme – a short course which supports you to gain confidence, skills and experience helping you prepare for work.
- Apprenticeships – you can gain experience in the workplace whilst also studying a Level 2/3 qualification in Pharmacy Services, Science Manufacturing, Healthcare Support or Pharmacy Production-related apprenticeships.
- Applying directly – employers will want you to have good English, maths and IT skills. This doesn’t always mean you need a qualification, but you may need to do an assessment or skills test.
- Moving from another role – think about how you’ll be able to transfer your skills in manufacturing, warehousing, laboratory work, healthcare support, retail pharmacy or quality control into a Pharmacy Production Assistant role.
Where can this role lead
From your role as a Pharmacy Production Assistant, you could continue supporting the preparation and manufacture of medicines by specialising as a Science Manufacturing Technician or Pharmacy Technician.
You could also develop your knowledge of medicines, quality standards and healthcare processes to progress towards becoming a Pharmacist.
Your attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and experience working in controlled environments would also translate well to sideways moves such as a Laboratory Technician, Decontamination Operative, or Medical Engineering Technician.
If you enjoy contributing to patient care but would like more direct patient contact, you could explore roles such as Phlebotomist or Healthcare Support Worker.
Location
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Hospitals
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Laboratories
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Pharmacies
Working hours
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Casual Hours
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Full Time
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Part Time
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Weekdays
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Weekends
Opportunities
Access to Higher Education (Health Science Professions)
- Organisation
- Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
Leeds City College Health and Social Care courses
- Organisation
- Leeds City College
Volunteering in Health and Care
- Organisation
- Volunteering Opportunities
Science Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship
- Organisation
- Leeds Health and Care Talent Hub
Pharmacy - Virtual Work Experience
- Organisation
- NHS