Pharmacy Technician Apprentice

Lancashire & South Cumbria Nhs Foundation Trust; Rishton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is offering a Pre-registration trainee Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship to join the Fylde pharmacy team. Train while developing skills in mental health and work toward a professional qualification with strong development and career progression.

During the apprenticeship you will rotate across Wesham and The Harbour, Blackpool with additional placements as needed.

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs including English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
• Possess or be prepared to undertake Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship requirements.
• Desirable: NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services.

Responsibilities

• Act as a key member of the ward and pharmacy teams.
• Assist in dispensing medicines under supervision.
• Communicate effectively with patients, carers and staff.
• Support medicines management and stock control across wards.
• Participate in audits and ensure compliance with medicines legislation.

Skills

Time management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Education

GCSEs

NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services

Tools

Basic IT skills

Job description

Job summary

Do you want to take the first step on the ladder to become a Pharmacy Technician? Have you thought how exciting it would be to develop skills in mental health whilst you train and achieve a professional qualification?

If so, we have a great opportunity that supports work-life balance while still offering excellent development and career progression. Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust are offering the chance for a Pre‑registration trainee Pharmacy Technician to join our fantastic Fylde pharmacy team.

While undertaking the apprenticeship you will have the opportunity to rotate across different sites following an agreed learning plan. Access to transport is essential. You will spend your time between Wesham Rehabilitation Centre in Wesham and The Harbour, Blackpool with optional placements at other sites. You would be part of a fantastic and supportive pharmacy team who would guide you through the skills and knowledge you need to achieve whilst on your course.

This is such an exciting development for the right person who is committed and passionate about a career in pharmacy.

You would be expected to complete an apprenticeship in pharmacy - BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians. This would be undertaken remotely with one of our training partners.

Main duties of the job

You will require 4 GCSEs including English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or an equivalent qualification). Applicants may be required to complete an initial assessment or diagnostic prior to enrolment to confirm their current ability is at GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above.

Candidates must be 18 years or over to apply.

Throughout the duration of your training, you will be fully supported by an educational supervisor and practice supervisors as well as the wider pharmacy teams.

The apprentice will be required to undertake a Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship and the required knowledge skills and behaviours to enable the applicant to register as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

To undertake rotations as planned across Central Lancashire within Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. These rotations across mental health teams, will maximise the understanding of, and contribution to the patient journey through the different secondary care mental health services.

To help provide a comprehensive pharmaceutical service with emphasis on the accurate preparation and dispensing of medicines to patients and for the supply of medicines to wards, departments and partnership organisations under supervision.

Participate in local and national audits and monitor compliance with medicines legislation and national and local standards for the safe and secure handling of medicines.

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under‑represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Job responsibilities

Act as a key member of the multidisciplinary ward team and the wider pharmacy team.

• Recognise own limitations and refer to pharmacist/technician where necessary.


• Communicate sensitive information concerning patients medicines, requiring the post holder to have persuasive skills.


• To carry out accurate and efficiently the dispensing of medications for in-patients in line with Trust procedure.


• Working directly with patients, under supervision of other healthcare professionals, to improve concordance and adherence and to ensure individuals get the best possible outcome from the medicines they use. Deliver medication education to patients through counselling on admission and discharge. This may involve communicating tactfully and with empathy with difficult, hostile or emotional service users. Recognise potential risks, adhere to safety and security advice and seek guidance from the wider team regarding any interactions.


• Communicate sensitive information concerning patients medicines to patients with special needs, overcoming barriers to understanding and communication with patients who have physical, mental, social, learning, language, hearing or sight problems.


• Work with other health and social care professionals to ensure effective liaison across all interfaces (secondary care, intermediate care, primary care, social care settings) with the aim of ensuring continuity of patient care on transfer. Communicate details of patient medicines using medicines reconciliation templates.


• Responsible for topping up designated wards to agreed stock levels. This includes expiry date checks and stock rotation.


• To participate in the dispensing and stock supply of Controlled Drugs in accordance with Trust procedure.


• To participate in the management of returned pharmaceuticals and to complete stock checks in accordance with Trust procedures.


• To rotate across sectors i.e. Mental Health, Primary Care Networks and Acute Trusts as outlined in your learning plan.


• To communicate any issues or concerns regarding college assignments or skills units in a timely manner.


• To attend regular progress meetings with the assigned educational supervisor

Additional information for Non-UK National applicants

Please be advised if you are a Non-UK National applicant you must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfil the settlement requirements of the apprenticeship course funding. Your settlement status will need to be verified as eligible for funding by the relevant apprenticeship provider for you to formally enrol on the course.

The training provider will require evidence of: Being a full time ordinary resident in the UK for 3 consecutive years or more prior to the course start date (unless otherwise exempt from this rule for example you hold refugee status use the link below to see full list of exemptions) Residency to live and work in the UK for at least 1 year from the apprenticeship start date and must cover the entire course duration including the EPA period.

We advise that you check the https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeship-funding-rules-for-employer-providers/annex-a-eligibility-criteria-who-we-fund for more details on your visas eligibility to undertake an apprenticeship course prior to applying. Please be advised that Sponsorship cannot be offered for any apprenticeship roles.

*We will use Visa and work history information provided on the application to determine a candidates eligibility for the funding. Failure to provide the correct information is the responsibility of the candidate. **Residency for the purposes of education does not qualify.

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be measured against this document.

Contact information

For further information or for an informal chat/visit please contact:

Natalie Auld, Senior Pharmacy Technician
[e-mail]

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• 4 GCSE qualifications or equivalent at A-C grade in relevant subjects Maths, English Language and Science Dual Award (or Chemistry and Biology)

Desirable

• NVQ Level 2 Pharmacy Services

Knowledge

Essential

• Basic IT skills

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent time management skills, ability to prioritise own workload


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written


• Communicate calmly and effectively with service users and carers


• Able to work alone or as part of a team

Work related

Essential

• Ability and willingness to travel to Trust wide locations


• Approachable and supportive both to subordinates and superiors


• Ability to communicate at all levels and with external customers

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.