Trainee Pharmacy Technicians

NHS Jobs; Tees Valley, Aycliffe Village; Remote; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is offering two full-time trainee pharmacy technician positions with a structured training pathway. Training begins February 2027, delivered via on-the-job learning and Bradford College toward a Level 3 Diploma, with supervision by senior staff across multiple sites.

Successful candidates will complete the Pharmacy Technician (Integrated) Apprenticeship and the Level 3 Diploma, working toward General Pharmaceutical Council registration.

Qualifications

• Four GCSEs at Grade 4 and above including maths and English or equivalent.
• Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent GPhC approved qualification.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic clinical technical service under supervision in pharmacy.
• Dispense prescriptions and advise on prescription charges/exemptions.
• Assist in procurement, distribution and ward top-up responsibilities.
• Participate in medicines management, reconciliation and patient counselling to an appropriate level.
• Support stock control, recalls, and audits to improve service quality.
• Attend training and work towards the Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship and Diploma.

Skills

Effective communication

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Prioritisation

Self-development

Education

GCSEs including maths and English

Level 2 Pharmacy Service Skills (or equivalent)

Job description

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Trainee Pharmacy Technicians

The closing date is 08 October 2026

CDDFT Pharmacypride ourselves in working at the leading edge of clinical pharmacy practiceand medicines management with our teams achieving national recognition for innovative,high-quality patient care.

We have anopportunity for 2 pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians to undertaketraining to develop the skills and knowledge to become a registered PharmacyTechnician at the University Hospital of North Durham

Training willcommence February 2027 with on-the-job training across pharmaceuticalstandards, under the supervision/professional direction of a pharmacist orpharmacy technician. Teaching is delivered by Bradford College towardscompletion of the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice.

You will holdthe equivalent of four GCSEs at Grade 4 and above, including mathematics,English language, science and another, or qualifications at the equivalentgrade. We welcome applications from school leavers with the above provisionalgrades.

These are full timeposts with training within the training timeframe. On qualification andregistration with the General Pharmaceutical Council you will be eligible toapply for any vacant pharmacy technician posts.

Main duties of the job

The successful post holders will be based either at theUniversity Hospital of North Durham or Darlington memorial Hospitals but willbe expected to cover roles at the other sites as detailed in the trainingschedule. They will also participate in the provision of our 7 days service.

Contribute to theprovision of a range of pharmaceutical services including: Dispensary,Medicines Management, Purchasing, Distribution, Ward top up service, MedicinesSafety and Medicines Optimisation.

Ensure all pharmacyduties are carried out in accordance with legal, ethical and professionalguidelines and following departmental and Trust procedures to meet the needs ofour patients.

Undertake and completethe Pharmacy Technician (Integrated) Apprenticeship and Level 3 Diploma inPrinciples and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians.

Undertake and completethe integrated Accuracy Checking Technician element of the training toaccurately check dispensed medicines against a prescription.

Train and work in the designated areas as set out inthe Training & Development Schedule and complete the competencies requiredfor each standard towards successful completion of the qualification.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will provide a basic clinical technicalservice by a range of pharmacy services to patients following departmentalstandard operating procedures (SOPs) and local/national policies /procedures.

Work carried out willbe under the supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician in thefollowing areas:

Dispensary Services

Receive a range ofprescriptions including processing or providing advice on prescription chargesor exemptions and booking in work received.

Accurately dispenseprescriptions and orders including validation and interpretation of theorder/prescription, selection of the correct product, labelling of the product,ensuring that all documentation is completed according to Standard OperatingProcedures (SOPs)

Carrying out aself-check to ensure accuracy of own work before a final accuracy check isundertaken.

Ensuring work isprocessed according to department SOPs

Procurement andDistribution

Assist in theprocurement of pharmaceutical stock to gain an awareness of contracting,procurement and invoicing.

Participate in themanagement of drug recalls and medication alerts

Participate in a"ward top-up system" on allocated wards, ensuring stock levels andcorrect storage of pharmaceuticals is maintained by ordering, assembling andissuing stock for the ward from the pharmacy.

Participate in themaintenance of efficient stock control including carrying out storage andexpiry checks as required, both in the pharmacy department and ward level

Reduce wastage bysorting pharmaceuticals returned from wards according to pharmacy SOPs

Medicines Managementand Medicines Optimisation

Work with the pharmacyward based team to gain an insight into the role of the ward-based technician toensure a safe, effective and efficient service.

Under the supervisionof a senior member of the ward pharmacy team, competently order medicines forthe patient at ward level, assist in the completion of medicinesreconciliation/drug history taking, assess the suitability, quality andidentification of Patient Own Drugs to reduce unnecessary dispensing andcounsel specific patients on their medication to ensure that the patientunderstands how to take/use them effectively. The counselling of patients willbe undertaken within the post holders level of competency

General

Support the LeadershipTeam in the delivery of the strategic medicines management plans.

Attend department staffmeetings and participate in scheduled training events.

Support Policy and Service Development Implementationand contribute to the quality improvement of the service contributing toaudits, practice changes and reviews of the processes

Person Specification

Statutory Registration

• Eligible to work towards registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC

Qualifications

• Equivalent of four GCSEs at Grade 4 and above, including mathematics, English language, science and another, or qualifications at the equivalent grade. School leavers will be considered with provisional grades in the above
• Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent GPhC approved qualification

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of the role of hospital pharmacy and the role of the hospital pharmacy technician.
• Understand the values of the NHS.
• Effective communication.
• Methodical with attention to detail.
• Analytical and judgmental skills required, for example, to interpret prescriptions / orders or deciding on the suitability of a Knowledge of the role of hospital pharmacy and the role of the hospital pharmacy technician.
• Understand the values of the NHS.
• Effective communication.
• Methodical with attention to detail.
• Analytical and judgmental skills required, for example, to interpret prescriptions / orders or deciding on the suitability of a product for an individual.
• Ability to plan and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines.
• Evidence of self-development Evidence of change management Awareness of Pharmacy IT Systems Experience of working in the Trust previously.

Experience

• Experience in a customer service role.
• Work experience in a hospital or community pharmacy, GP surgery or other healthcare experience with transferrable 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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust