Pre Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

The Methodist Church in Britain; Knowsley; Remote; GBP 12,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-the-job training

Job summary

Whiston and St Helens Hospitals, part of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, offer a two-year Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship. Trainees rotate through dispensing, ward services, stores and medicines information, gaining hands-on experience with automated dispensing, controlled drugs and medicines reconciliation.

College assignments and on-the-job training are included, with a commitment of 10 hours weekly for college work.

Qualifications

• GCSEs English and maths at C/4 or above (or equivalent)
• 4 GCSEs including English, maths and two sciences at C/4 or above
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent; science assessment required before offer
• Pharmacy Technician (Integrated) Level 3 Apprenticeship to be completed during the post

Responsibilities

• Rotate through dispensing, ward services, pharmacy stores, medicines information and the aseptic unit
• Prepare and dispense a broad range of medicines, including controlled drugs and extemporaneous medicines
• Carry out medicines reconciliation at ward level and final accuracy checks of prescriptions
• Advise patients about their medicines and answer calls and queries from patients and healthcare professionals
• Prepare aseptically prepared products and cytotoxic drugs to agreed good practice and safety procedures
• Manage stock control, including requesting stock and special line items
• Take payment for prescriptions per departmental procedure
• Prepare individual dose dispensing and blister packs for patients who struggle with standard packaging
• Assemble resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes to Trust policy
• Complete the approved pre-registration training course, including college assignments and work-based projects, working to the GPhC code of ethics
• Use the CMM system and input data accurately
• Assist with departmental audit and research projects

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Teamwork

Planning & prioritising

Initiative & resilience

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

GCSE English & Maths (C/4+)

4 GCSEs including English, Maths and two sciences (C/4+)

NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent

Pharmacy Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

This fixed-term two-year apprenticeship sits in the Pharmacy team at Whiston and St Helens Hospitals, run by Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The trainee rotates through inpatient and outpatient dispensing, ward services and stores, handling controlled drugs and learning medicines reconciliation on the wards. Trainees use newly installed automated dispensing systems and give at least 10 hours a week of their own time to college assignments. Applicants must stay for the full two years and show right to work in the UK for that whole period.

What the job involves

• Rotate through dispensing, ward services, pharmacy stores, medicines information and the aseptic unit
• Prepare and dispense a broad range of medicines, including controlled drugs and extemporaneous medicines
• Carry out medicines reconciliation at ward level and final accuracy checks of prescriptions
• Advise patients about their medicines and answer calls and queries from patients and healthcare professionals
• Prepare aseptically prepared products and cytotoxic drugs to agreed good practice and safety procedures
• Manage stock control, including requesting stock and special line items
• Take payment for prescriptions per departmental procedure
• Prepare individual dose dispensing and blister packs for patients who struggle with standard packaging
• Assemble resuscitation and anaphylaxis boxes to Trust policy
• Complete the approved pre-registration training course, including college assignments and work-based projects, working to the GPhC code of ethics
• Use the CMM system and input data accurately
• Assist with departmental audit and research projects

What’s required

Qualifications

• GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and maths, or equivalent
• Either 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including maths, English and two sciences
• Or 2 years current pharmacy experience with an NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills or other GPhC-recognised qualification, and a science assessment before any offer
• Pharmacy Technician (Integrated) Level 3 Apprenticeship, to be completed during the post

Registration & licences

• GPhC registration on completion of training (not required to apply)

Experience

• Previous experience working in a pharmacy setting
• Understanding of the NHS
• IT skills including Microsoft Office, to be gained during the apprenticeship

Skills & knowledge

• Clear verbal and written communication with a range of people
• Teamwork and supporting colleagues of all grades
• Planning, organising and prioritising tasks to meet deadlines
• Own initiative and resilience
• Accuracy, attention to detail and following instructions, including under pressure
• Reliable, trustworthy and able to keep information confidential

Checks & eligibility

• Right to work in the UK for the full duration of the appointment
• Original certificates or certified copies of qualifications at interview (statements of results not accepted)

What’s offered

• Apprenticeship with on and off-the-job training and a skills development programme