Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Bidvane; Carlisle; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days' holiday

Flexible working

NHS discounts

Salary sacrifice schemes

Development opportunities

NHS pension

Counselling service

Relocation assistance may be available

Job summary

The Methodist Church in Britain is offering a two-year pre-registration trainee post in its Pharmacy team. The apprenticeship leads to a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Technician principles, with one day weekly on distance learning and ward experience to gain patient histories and medicines education.

Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council follows completion of training, with opportunities to support stock control and hospital ward services across the Trust.

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs at grade C (4) or above, including Maths, English Language and one other
• Science (preferably Biology or Chemistry), or 2 years' experience as a pharmacy assistant, or a level 2 pharmacy qualification, subject to passing the training provider's screening test

Responsibilities

• Dispense prescriptions and issue prescribed items
• Support the running of the dispensary, prioritising work and solving problems
• Contribute to all aspects of pharmaceutical stock control
• Deliver pharmacy ward-based services on hospital inpatient wards
• Take patient medication histories
• Assess patients' own drugs
• Educate patients on how to optimise their medicines
• Learn to final accuracy check dispensed medicines and products
• Carry out routine and specialist pharmacy services, including complex activities requiring professional judgement
• Take responsibility for the quality and accuracy of own work and that of others
• Work individually and within a multidisciplinary team, with minimal supervision
• Complete regular workplace assessments alongside one day a week of study

Skills

Effective communication

Methodical

Plan and prioritise

Team working

Keyboard skills

Education

GCSEs (Maths, English, science)

Level 2 pharmacy qualification or 2 years as a pharmacy assistant

Job description

A two-year pre-registration trainee post in the Trust's Pharmacy team, run as an apprenticeship that leads to a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Technician principles. The work centres on dispensing prescriptions, supporting stock control and helping to supply and optimise medicines across the Trust. Trainees spend one day a week on distance learning and gain ward experience, taking patient medication histories and educating patients on their medicines. Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council follows completion of training.

What the job involves

• Dispense prescriptions and issue prescribed items
• Support the running of the dispensary, prioritising work and solving problems
• Contribute to all aspects of pharmaceutical stock control
• Deliver pharmacy ward-based services on hospital inpatient wards
• Take patient medication histories
• Assess patients' own drugs
• Educate patients on how to optimise their medicines
• Learn to final accuracy check dispensed medicines and products
• Carry out routine and specialist pharmacy services, including complex activities requiring professional judgement
• Take responsibility for the quality and accuracy of own work and that of others
• Work individually and within a multidisciplinary team, with minimal supervision
• Complete regular workplace assessments alongside one day a week of study

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs at grade C (4) or above, including Maths, English Language and one other
• Science (preferably Biology or Chemistry), or 2 years' experience as a pharmacy assistant, or a level 2 pharmacy qualification, subject to passing the training provider's screening test

Registration & licences

• GPhC registration on completion of training

Skills & knowledge

• Effective communication
• Methodical, with attention to detail
• Ability to plan and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines
• Effective team member
• Keyboard and computer skills

Checks & eligibility

• DBS disclosure, with the check cost deducted from salary
• Eligibility to work in the UK; visa sponsorship may not be available

Other

• Patient-focused and self-motivated
• Flexible approach to work and study
• Commitment to learning and professional development
• Ability to learn and work alone
• Alignment to Trust values and core behaviours
• Acts in ways that support equality and values diversity

Nice to have

• Experience in a customer service role
• Work experience in hospital or community pharmacy
• Knowledge of the role of hospital pharmacy and hospital pharmacy technicians
• Understanding of NHS values

What's offered

• 27 days' holiday, rising to 33 after 10 years
• Flexible working scheme
• NHS discounts (subject to eligibility)
• Salary sacrifice schemes, including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Development opportunities
• Competitive NHS pension scheme
• Free, confidential counselling and information service (Vivup)
• Relocation assistance may be available for certain posts