Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Newcastle Hospitals; Newcastle upon Tyne; Remote; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician in Newcastle. The role blends hospital-based practice with formal study to achieve a BTEC Level 3 Diploma and eligibility for General Pharmaceutical Council registration.

You will rotate through the dispensary, wards, clinical trials, procurement, and informatics, while attending online college and balancing work with study commitments. Closing date: 12 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Four GCSEs (Grade 4+) including Maths and English and Biology or Chemistry.
• Evidence of qualifications should be recorded in the application.
• If you have Dual Award Science, state Dual Award Science in your application.

Responsibilities

• Attend online college and complete assignments within deadlines; build a skills-based evidence portfolio.
• Dispense and accuracy check medicines safely and effectively.
• Undertake ward-based clinical duties including medicines reconciliation and patient counselling; assemble prescriptions.
• Stock control of medications.
• Rotations across Clinical Trials, Procurement, Inpatient/Outpatient dispensary and clinical areas; work at Freeman and RVI sites.
• Saturdays and late nights on a rotational basis.

Skills

Effective communication

Attention to detail

Team player

Time management

Ability to learn

Independent worker

Keyboard skills

Education

GCSEs Maths/English

GCSEs English

GCSEs Biology or Human Biology

GCSEs Chemistry or Dual Award Science

Job description

Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

The closing date is 12 November 2026

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking enthusiastic, motivated and patient focused individuals who are passionate about developing a career as a pharmacy technician.

Our pharmacy department is one of the largest and most diverse in the region, providing a wide range of specialist services across the trust, including: Dispensary, outpatient pharmacy, ward based clinical service, informatics, pharmacy stores, procurement, homecare, clinical trials, outpatient clinics, medicines information, aseptic services and integrated care service. We are committed to embracing innovation and technology to support excellent patient care. The department operates advanced automatic robotic dispensing and stock management system, alongside Omnicell electronic cabinets, with further Trust-wide expansion planned from October 2026.

Main duties of the job

The trainee Pharmacy Technician role is both rewarding and challenging. It requires a high level of commitment, motivation and organisation to successfully balance work responsibilities, study requirements and personal commitments.

Successful trainees will be expected to meet programme deadlines, actively engage in learning opportunities, demonstrate the professional behaviours and competencies required to practice as a registered Pharmacy technician.

The trainee pharmacy technician undertakes a wide range of pharmaceutical duties under the supervision and of a pharmacy technician or pharmacist.

• Attending online college, completing set assignments within the deadlines, building a skills-based evidence portfolio.
• Dispense and accuracy check medicines safely and effectively
• Undertake ward based clinical duties which include medicines reconciliation, patient medication counselling and assembling prescriptions at ward level.
• Stock control of medications
• Rotations throughout the department including: Clinical Trials, Procurement, Inpatient/Outpatient dispensary and clinical areas. Trainees will also be expected to work at both Freeman and RVI sites.
• Saturday working and late night working on a rotational basis (approximately one each per month)

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on Careers at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit our website: Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

Successful candidates will undertake a comprehensive apprenticeship programme leading to a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians. This apprenticeship will provide all the skills, knowledge and practical experience required to become a pharmacy technician. Students who successfully complete the apprenticeship will be eligible to apply for registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

The apprenticeship involves job training and a requirement to attend on-line college on day release. The course has a blended approach offering a combination of work based and distance learning with on going and end point assessments and a requirement to build a body of skills based evidence. As person-centered care is at the heart of everything we do, excellent communication skills and a professional attitude are essential. You will work closely with patients and multidisciplinary teams to ensure individuals receive the greatest possible benefit from their medicines.

Career opportunities following the completion of the apprenticeship and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council include medicines management roles, dispensary, clinical trials, homecare, procurement, education and training, informatics, primary cae, leadership and specialist pharmacy roles. This apprenticeship provides an excellent foundation for a rewarding career within pharmacy and the NHS.

Entry Criteria:

As a minimum you must have passed 4 GCSEs (or equivalent level) at Grade 4 or above in the following subjects: -

• Mathematics
• English Language (English Literature or English Speaking and Listening are not acceptable)
• Biology* or Human Biology
• Chemistry(* or Dual Award Science covering the above two science subject areas)

Please ensure that all qualifications and grades are clearly recorded in the Qualifications section of your application. Applications may be rejected if evidence of the required qualifications is not provided. If you have achieved a Dual Award Science please state Dual Award Science and not just Science as your application may be rejected.

Qualifications & Education

• 4 GCSEs (or the equivalent level) at Grade 4 or above in the following subjects Maths; English or English Language (English Literature, or English Speaking and Listening are not acceptable); Biology* or Human Biology; or Chemistry* (*or dual award Science) NB Dual Award Applied Science at level 2 will not be acceptable)
• 4 GCSEs (or the equivalent level) at grade 5 or above in the following subjects Maths; English or English Language (English Literature, or English Speaking and Listening are not acceptable); Biology* or Human Biology; or Chemistry* (*or dual award Science) NB (Dual award Applied Science at level 2 will not be acceptable)

Knowledge & Experience

• Work experience in hospital, primary care or community pharmacy
• Experience in a customer service role

Skills & Abilities

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

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust