Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Transformation Unit; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is offering an Advanced Apprenticeship in Pharmacy (NHS AfC: Band 3) with a fixed term of 2 years. The role covers dispensing, patient counselling and provision of pharmaceutical care for in-patients and out-patients.

Training funding applies only if you do not already hold a level 4 qualification; those with higher qualifications may self-fund the course. You will train across wards and departments, gaining experience in dispensing, medicines management and patient

Qualifications

• 4 x GCSEs, grades 9-4 in Mathematics, English and 2 science subjects (to include chemistry)
• NVQ level 2 pharmacy Services
• Dual or Triple Science including Chemistry acceptable

Responsibilities

• Provide safe and effective dispensing service
• Provide patient-focused pharmacy services to named clinical areas and support medicines management and risk management strategies
• Complete Drug histories under supervision of a registered Pharmacy Technician
• Assess patients’ own medicines for fitness to use and contribute to schemes
• Develop skills for dispensing for discharge schemes on nominated wards
• Support practice research within the pharmacy department

Skills

Communication

Flexibility

Organisation

Self-motivation

Literacy & Numeracy

Ascribe system

Education

GCSEs (Maths, English, 2 sciences incl Chemistry)

NVQ level 2 pharmacy services

Tools

Ascribe pharmacy computer system

Job description

Main area Pharmacy Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Fixed term: 2 years (or secondment) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (working rotational lates, weekends and bank holidays as per rota) Job ref 241-625FD-26

Employer Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Bolton Royal Foundation Trust Town Bolton Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 16/10/2026 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 3

Job overview

This is an Advanced Apprenticeship scheme therefore funding for training can only be provided to those who do not hold a level 4 qualification or above i.e. a degree in any relevant Pharmacy related subject area. Any successful applicant with level 4 or above qualifications in a Pharmacy related subject would therefore need to self-fund the course.

You will receive training in a wide range of pharmaceutical skills including the provision of pharmaceutical care to both In-patients and Out-patients. You will dispense prescriptions, undertake over the counter sales, provide counselling to patients on the use of their prescribed medication, and participate in services provided to the wards

Main duties of the job

To be enabled to carry out pharmaceutical technical duties in specified areas of the Pharmacy Department and on wards under the direction of the Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacy General Services Manager (Chief Technician). The post holder will be enabled to provide services in a consistently high and professional manner which is complementary to a well-managed clinical pharmacy service, at all times ensuring
that standards are maintained, particularly with respect to statutory professional and legal requirements, i.e.:-

• 
  - provide a safe and effective dispensing service
  - provide patient focussed pharmacy services to named clinical areas and
  support medicines management and risk management strategies within those
  area(s) and/or services
  - Complete Drug histories whilst under the supervision of a designated
  registered Pharmacy Technician
  - assess patients’ own medicines for fitness to use and contribute to schemesinvolving the safe and effective use of patients’ own medicines under supervision of the Senior Pharmacy Technician, Medicines Management
  - develop skills which allow active contribution to dispensing for discharge schemes and be responsible for providing this service to nominated wards under the guidance of Senior Pharmacy Technician, Medicines Management
  - Support practice research within the pharmacy department.

Working for our organisation

We have a long and proud history of caring for generations of local people and can trace our roots all the way back to 1814 with the first hospital in Bolton - the Bolton Dispensary in the town centre.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust was formed in 2008 and, in 2011, we became an integrated provider with community health services joining the trust. Covering a catchment area that also incorporates parts of Bury, Wigan and Salford, we deliver hospital and community based services from the Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth and from 20 health centres across Bolton, to a catchment population of 310,000+ people.

The Royal Bolton Hospital is a major hub within Greater Manchester for women's and children's services and is the busiest single ambulance-receiving site in Greater Manchester. We're structured in four clinical divisions - Community Services, Families and Diagnostics, Medicine, and Surgery and are led by a Board of Directors. As an NHS Foundation Trust we're accountable to our members and have a Council of Governors to represent the views of patients, public, staff and partners.

Buildings, names and models of care have changed over the centuries, but one thing has remained constant and is prevalent among our 6,718 staff members: the enduring commitment to providing the best health and care for the people of Bolton.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description detailing the role and responsibilities of the successful candidate

Person specification

Qualifications

• 4 x GCSE, grades 9-4 in Mathematics, English and 2 science subjects (to include chemistry)
• N.B Dual or Triple Science including Chemistry is acceptable
• NVQ level 2 pharmacy Services

Experience

• Able to work alone
• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to take responsibility within the limits of the role
• Knowledge of pharmacy services & systems

Skills

• Good communication skills, written, oral & listening
• Flexible and able to work accurately under pressure
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Self motivated
• Literate and Numerate
• Familiarity with Ascribe pharmacy computer system

The vision of this Trust is to be recognised by the people of Bolton and beyond as an excellent provider of health and care services and a great place to work. We are striving to attract, recruit and retain high calibre skilled staff which reflect our communities. We are an inclusive employer who trains and develops our staff in a positive learning environment.

We thrive on cultivating cultural architecture, if you have the right skills, attitudes and behaviours, in line with our Trust values, we welcome and appreciate the diversity you bring to our organisation.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits please click on the link below to see what current benefits we have.

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.