Apprentice Pharmacy Technician

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days paid holiday (pro rata)

Generous pension scheme

NHS discounts

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for an Apprentice Pharmacy Technician. This 25-month apprenticeship combines study with hands-on experience in the hospital dispensary and wards, training you to become a qualified technician while supporting safe medicine use.

No prior pharmacy or healthcare experience is required; you will learn from experienced professionals, develop patient-facing skills, and study towards a recognised pharmacy technician qualification

Qualifications

• GCSEs including English, Maths and Science at grade 4/C or above.
• Right to work in England and residency requirements for apprenticeship funding.
• Willingness to undertake Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship.
• Experience dealing with the public or customer service.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Receive prescriptions, support validation, and help prepare, dispense and hand out medicines to patients.
• Order medicines and manage stock so supplies are available when needed.
• Participate in medicines reconciliation on the wards.
• Develop patient counselling skills and, as training progresses, take part in more advanced conversations about medicine use.
• Keep accurate records, protect patient confidentiality and follow NHS health and safety procedures.

Skills

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

GCSE Science

Willingness to undertake Level 3

Customer service

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

GCSEs English/Maths/Science (4/C or above)

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Job Title: Apprentice Pharmacy Technician

Contract: 25 Month Apprenticeship

Main duties of the job

Are you interested in a career in pharmacy and passionate about helping people? University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) is offering an exciting opportunity to join the pharmacy team as a Apprentice Pharmacy Technician.

As an Apprentice Pharmacy Technician, you will gain valuable practical experience while working towards a recognised pharmacy technician qualification. You will learn from experienced pharmacy professionals and develop the skills and knowledge needed to support the safe and effective use of medicines.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service.

• UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts
• are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata)
• we offer a generous pension scheme

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Apprentice Pharmacy Technician

Join the pharmacy team at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and train to become a pharmacy technician. You’ll combine study with hands‑on experience in the dispensary and on hospital wards, learning how medicines are ordered, prepared and supplied, and how to support patients to take them safely.

You don’t need previous pharmacy or healthcare experience to apply. We’re looking for someone who enjoys working with people, pays close attention to detail and is ready to put what they learn into practice.

What You’ll Do

• Receive prescriptions, support the team with prescription validation, and help prepare, dispense and hand out medicines to patients.
• Order medicines and manage stock so that supplies are available when patients need them.
• Take part in medicines reconciliation on the wards, helping the team check what medicines a patient was taking before they came into hospital.
• Develop your patient counselling skills and, as your training progresses, take part in more advanced conversations about how to use medicines safely.
• Keep accurate records, protect patient confidentiality and follow NHS health and safety procedures.

You’ll also have opportunities to complete an audit and a project, and to explore work beyond your core training. This could include Technician Services, Clinical Trials, Electronic Prescribing, Medicines Safety and the work of South Central Ambulance Service.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll need to communicate clearly, both in writing and when speaking with patients and colleagues. We’re looking for someone reliable who can follow instructions, organise their work when priorities compete and ask for help when they’re unsure. You’ll treat people from all backgrounds with care and respect and be willing to balance coursework with learning on the job.

Entry Requirements

You must meet the apprenticeship programme’s entry requirements, including GCSEs in English, maths and science at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent qualifications. If you gained your qualifications overseas, you’ll need to provide evidence from UK ENIC that they are comparable to the required GCSEs.

You must also have the right to work in England and meet the residency requirements for apprenticeship funding that apply to your circumstances.

The role may involve working across different pharmacy areas and covering shifts. You’ll need to be available for the working pattern advertised. Appointment is subject to satisfactory references, occupational health clearance and the appropriate DBS check.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• 5 GCSE’s grade C or above (4-9), or equivalent and must include English language, Maths and Science
• Willingness and ability to undertake Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of Health and Safety and Risk Management
• Experience of working/dealing with the public including part time or voluntary work
• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team

Desirable criteria

• Level 2 NVQ certificate in Pharmacy service skills or other GPhC approved qualification
• Experience of stock management
• Work experience, either in hospital pharmacy and/or community pharmacy
• Experience of working in a customer orientated service or healthcare setting
• Experience of recent study including portfolio construction