Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Bidvane; Newcastle upon Tyne; Remote; GBP 10,000 - 15,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Apprenticeship leading to BTEC Level 3

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is offering a two-year apprenticeship to become a Pharmacy Technician. The role covers dispensing, accuracy checking, medicines reconciliation, and stock control, with supervision from qualified staff.

Apprentices rotate through clinical trials, procurement, and dispensary areas at Freeman and RVI sites. The program combines job training with study, with online college on day release and assessments to progress toward GPhC registration.

Qualifications

• Four GCSEs at grade 4 or above (or equivalent level).
• GCSE Maths at grade 4 or above.
• GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above.
• GCSE Biology or Human Biology at grade 4 or above.
• GCSE Chemistry at grade 4 or above, or dual award Science covering biology and chemistry.
• Dual Award Applied Science at level 2 not accepted.

Responsibilities

• Dispense and accuracy check medicines safely and effectively.
• Ward-based medicines reconciliation and patient counselling.
• Attend online college on day release and build a skills-based evidence portfolio.
• Carry out stock control of medications.
• Rotate through clinical trials, procurement, inpatient and outpatient dispensary and clinical areas.
• Work at both the Freeman and RVI sites.
• Rotational Saturdays and late nights.

Skills

Effective communication

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Prioritise workload

Learner

Keyboard skills

Education

GCSEs incl Maths English Biology Chemistry

GCSE Maths 4+

GCSE English 4+

GCSE Biology/ Human Biology 4+

GCSE Chemistry 4+

Dual Award Applied Science level 2 not accepted

Job description

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a trainee pharmacy technician into its pharmacy department, on a two-year apprenticeship that pairs job training with study. The work centres on dispensing and accuracy checking, ward-based medicines reconciliation and counselling, and stock control, under the supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician. Trainees rotate through clinical trials, procurement and dispensary areas, working across the Freeman and RVI sites with rotational Saturday and late shifts. Four GCSEs at grade 4 including maths, English language, biology and chemistry (or dual award science) are needed to start, and completing the course opens a route to GPhC registration.

What the job involves

• Dispense and accuracy check medicines safely and effectively
• Undertake ward-based clinical duties including medicines reconciliation, patient medication counselling and assembling ward-level prescriptions
• Attend online college on day release, complete set assignments to deadlines and build a skills-based evidence portfolio
• Carry out stock control of medications
• Rotate through clinical trials, procurement, inpatient and outpatient dispensary and clinical areas
• Work at both the Freeman and RVI sites
• Work Saturdays and late nights on a rotational basis, approximately one of each a month
• Work under the supervision of a pharmacy technician or pharmacist across a range of pharmaceutical duties
• Meet programme deadlines, engage with learning opportunities and demonstrate the professional behaviours and competencies required
• Work closely with patients and multidisciplinary teams so individuals get the greatest benefit from their medicines
• Complete ongoing and end-point assessments of the apprenticeship

What’s required

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (or equivalent level)
• GCSE Maths at grade 4 or above
• GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above, not English Literature or Speaking and Listening
• GCSE Biology or Human Biology at grade 4 or above
• GCSE Chemistry at grade 4 or above, or dual award Science covering biology and chemistry
• Dual Award Applied Science at level 2 not accepted

Skills & knowledge

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

Other

• Ability to work alone
• Professional attitude
• High level of commitment, motivation and organisation

Nice to have

• GCSEs at grade 5 or above in Maths, English Language, Biology or Human Biology, and Chemistry or dual award Science
• Work experience in hospital, primary care or community pharmacy
• Experience in a customer service role

What’s offered

• Apprenticeship leading to a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians
• Staff benefits set out in the attached document
• Consideration of flexible working arrangements
• Career pathways after registration, including medicines management, clinical trials, homecare, procurement, informatics and leadership roles