Pharmacy Technician Apprentice

LSCft; Tarleton; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is offering an apprenticeship in pharmacy technician with rotations across Wesham and other sites in Central Lancashire. The program leads to a Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

You will be supported by educational supervisors and practice teams while working towards the required knowledge, skills and behaviours for the role.

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs including English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above.
• Additional GCSE requirements may apply.

Responsibilities

• Assist in accurate dispensing of medicines for in-patients under supervision.
• Support rotation across Mental Health, Primary Care Networks and Acute Trusts as learning plan dictates.
• Contribute to medicines reconciliation and stock management on wards.

Skills

Time management

Communication skills

Travel to sites

Teamwork

Education

GCSEs including English & Maths

Tools

Basic IT skills

Job description

Site Wesham Rehabilitation Centre, Town Wesham Salary £25,272 Per Annum (subject to confirmation) pro-rata for part time Salary period Yearly Closing 21/10/2026 23:59

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care.
• Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
• Extensive community physical health and well-being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term condition management.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health, general nurses, children’s nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers, as well as those specialising in learning disabilities and community physical health services.

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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main 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 patient’s 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

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 visa’s 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 candidate’s 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 read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be measured against this document.

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

Natalie Auld, Senior Pharmacy Technician

[e-mail]

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

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

Knowledge

• Basic IT skills

Skills and Abilities

• 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

• 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

You are advised to consider applying for LSCFT vacancies as soon as possible as in some instances vacancies are closed as soon as a sufficient number of applications have been received. If you are not invited to interview within four weeks of the closing date then please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful, as it is not possible to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

Please note that further communication from LSCFT will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCFT to contact them.

Please ensure that read the person specification as your application will be measured against this document.

If you use AI to assist with your application, you must declare this. Undeclared use may result in withdrawal. Please ensure your application reflects your own skills and experiences. While AI tools can assist, they may produce generic or inaccurate content. We encourage you to provide personal examples that demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria.

For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.