Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 3 equivalent
Pay scales for 2026/27 | NHS Employers

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Cleanroom and Production

• Support day-to-day activities within cleanrooms and preparative technical services, including sanitisation and the aseptic preparation of medicinal products (including intrathecal preparations)
• Operate complex and high-cost production software and equipment under supervision (e.g. Medcura® or other compounding management systems, rapid gassing VHP chambers, pharmaceutical isolators, compounding robots, and automation devices) in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
• Assist in the preparation of clinical trial products in line with relevant protocols
• Undertake tray assembly and associated verification checks
• Perform routine cleanroom cleaning activities in accordance with standard operating procedures
• Carry out picking and packing activities to support production and distribution workflows
• Manage waste appropriately, including segregation and disposal in line with designated waste streams
• Complete required administrative tasks to support operational processes and record-keeping
• Work under the supervision of a designated supervisor

Training and Staff Management

• Contribute to the training of junior staff

Compliance and Quality Management

• Generate worksheets and labels using electronic systems
• Undertake batch reconciliation, including production documentation and label verification
• Maintain required validations and demonstrate ongoing competence.
• Support stock management and distribution activities for high-cost and high-risk medicines, including raising orders, conducting stock checks, stock control, receipt of goods and falsified medicines checks
• Assist with the quarantine and release of unlicensed medicines, particularly ready-to-administer products procured externally
• Contribute to the maintenance of the Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS or ePQS), including completion of documentation and error reporting logs
• Operate electronic systems for automated worksheets and label generation
• Carry out accurate labelling of products

Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving

• No specific tasks identified within this category at present

Project Management and Improvement Initiatives

• No specific tasks identified within this category at present

Essential Requirements:

• Ability to understand basic English (written and spoken) and Mathematics

Desirable:

• RQF Level 2 qualifications (e.g. GCSE grade 4/C or above, or equivalent) in English and Mathematics

• Level 2 qualification in pharmacy or a related pharmaceutical subject

Considerations:

• Organisations should support employees in achieving the required qualifications where not already held (for example, GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent in Mathematics, English and Science or functional skills qualifications).
• Pre-process checking has been removed from the core duties of this role, as it aligns with Level 2 competencies. Therefore, staff are expected to complete an appropriate Level 2 qualification before undertaking such activities.

*The typical entry level into the production pathway is aligned to AfC Band 3. However, Band 2 roles may remain appropriate within some organisations where duties are limited in scope and involve lower risk, routine activities (for example, storekeeping or licensed over-labelling).