Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician
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Job Summary
Under the support and guidance of Pharmacy and Practice staff, and through a structured rotational training program with Community Pharmacy and General Practice, the post holder will: develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to achieve a General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) accredited course or approved qualification within the Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship pathway, to support registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council; complete the required competencies in the workplace to achieve the accredited course or recognised qualification or apprenticeship; complete the learning organised by the training provider using agreed weekly study day(s) and study in personal time; and ensure knowledge, attitudes and behaviour follow the GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals during the two‑year training programme so that they can seek a declaration of competence from a supervising pharmacy professional in all sectors, as required for registration.
Main duties of the job include: study for one day a week or equivalent to achieve the Pre‑Registration Pharmacy Technician training programme in the two‑year duration and complete the required accredited course or recognised qualification; complete rotations in Community Pharmacy for a period of training delivered weekly or in a block (minimum of three months per year) dispensing, checking, and issuing medicines, counselling patients on how to use their medicines, stock management, reconciliation of medicines and over‑the‑counter sales; complete rotations in General Practice for a period of training as defined in the training plan, responding to prescription requests, reviewing hospital discharge clinical letters and reconciling medication against current medications; gain knowledge of diseases, basic treatments and the actions and uses of drugs; answer basic pharmaceutical queries under supervision; learn about and contribute to the objectives for safe patient care; support team values to ensure the maintenance of the highest professional standards; and always maintain confidentiality.
About Us
You will gain extensive understanding of pharmacy whilst rotating between the GP practice and Community Pharmacy. You will be part of the multidisciplinary team, working at The Thorpe Practice. The Practice has a registered list size of 10,650. You will be required to work across two sites (Owlthorpe and Hackenthorpe). The Practice’s sites are within Townships 1 Primary Care Network (PCN) alongside Mosborough, Birley, Sothall and Crystal Peaks. We need someone who is interested in developing a career in pharmacy, to become professionally registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You will need to be enthusiastic, motivated, hard‑working, and have good communication and interpersonal skills. You will be required to complete the qualification for the Apprentice Pharmacy Technician – BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice of Pharmacy Technicians. You will be registered with a training provider who will provide online training.
Details
Pay scheme: Salary depends on experience. Contract: Fixed term. Duration: 2 years. Working pattern: Full‑time. Job locations: Owlthorpe Surgery, Moorthorpe Bank, Owlthorpe, Sheffield, S20 6PD. Reference number: A1445‑25‑0001.
Job Responsibilities
Community Pharmacy Responsibilities:
* Work under the supervision of the supervising pharmacist or pharmacy technician at all times.
* Follow all workplace standard operating procedures at all times.
* Learn about medicines optimisation and how pharmacy technicians contribute to community pharmacy services; this will involve a patient‑facing role.
* Assist the pharmacist in retrieving electronic prescriptions (EPS) as per SOPs.
* Receive prescriptions, ensure they are legal and valid and advise patients on completing the declaration.
* Use the pharmacy computer system to record patient medication records and create labels.
* Dispense prescriptions including FP10s and private prescriptions, monitored dosage systems (MDS) and confirm accuracy as per community/dispensing pharmacy SOPs.
* Issue prescriptions and counsel patients on how to use their medicines.
* Dispose of returned and unwanted medication as per SOPs.
* Record controlled drugs in the CD register and conduct controlled drug balance checks as per SOPs.
* Order, receive, store, and maintain stock as per SOPs.
* Support the community pharmacist with medicines reconciliation, highlighting discrepancies to ensure patients’ medication records are up to date and liaising with general practice to ensure the correct medicines are continued following transfer of care.
* Complete OTC sales and recommendations for common minor ailments under the supervision of a pharmacist or trained pharmacy staff.
* Support the pharmacist to complete medication use reviews (MURs), new medicines service (NMS) and community pharmacist consultation service (CPCS), pharmacy first.
* Support the pharmacist to complete commissioned enhanced services such as stop‑smoking services and blood pressures under the supervision of pharmacy staff.
* Liaise with general practice regarding prescription issues.
General Practice Responsibilities:
* Work under the supervision of the pharmacy professional at all times and liaise with other practice staff.
* Follow all workplace standard operating procedures at all times.
* Learn about medicines optimisation and how pharmacy technicians contribute to general practice; this will involve working in general practice in a patient‑facing role and with telephone contact.
* Use the surgery computer system to record information & consultations, run searches and send tasks to other healthcare professionals.
* Respond to prescription requests from community patients, nursing/care home staff, pharmacy staff and GPs, processing them with 48 hours for routine prescriptions and same day for urgent prescriptions; this can include re‑routing prescriptions to out‑of‑hours pharmacies for same‑day delivery.
* Learn about and be involved with the use of practice templates to record patient monitoring for high‑risk drugs.
* Learn about and be involved in monitoring blood tests, blood pressures, weight loss management, recalls and reviews using established protocols and involvement of appropriate clinician.
* Review hospital discharge notifications/clinical letters and reconcile medication against current medications, highlighting discrepancies to the pharmacist or designated GP under supervision.
* Help support practice prescribing budgets by ongoing monitoring, audit and analysis of drug use and support practices in reviewing, developing and enhancing cost‑effective prescribing; this includes staying aware of latest prescribing improvement targets.
* Assist pharmacists/clinical staff with annual medication reviews e.g., asthma, ensuring patients’ inhaler technique under supervision.
* Conduct regular audits on medicines storage ensuring local and national guidelines are adhered to and issues are reported to the appropriate manager.
* Ensure medicines in the surgery are checked and out‑of‑date stock is identified and disposed of in an appropriate and timely manner; disposed of according to SOPs.
* Utilise resources to promote the reduction of medicines waste.
* Conduct face‑to‑face & telephone interventions (as outlined by the pharmacist) with patients and ensure consultations are recorded and reported to the pharmacist or designated GP.
* Complete prescribing audits to monitor and analyse individual practice/primary care network prescribing performance and trends against local and national targets; presenting information and data and identifying priority areas for action.
* Support prescribing clerks by helping with queries relating to prescription requests.
* Look for ways to improve efficiency and safety of the prescription ordering process, ensuring queries are resolved and scripts issued in line with the timeframe in the practice procedure working with the practice pharmacist.
* Support the pharmacist in implementing drug withdrawals and alerts – e.g., MHRA alerts and medicine shortages.
* Inspire the patient population with seasonal health information campaigns, creating displays throughout the year e.g., stop smoking, antibiotic awareness, annual flu campaign.
* Promote digital solutions including patient access, NHS App, electronic repeat dispensing to patients and practice staff as required by Practice Manager.
Research & Audit:
* Assist pharmacy technicians and general practice pharmacists in the completion of audits as required.
Training & Development:
* Complete a GPhC‑accredited course, GPhC‑recognised qualification or a GPhC‑approved apprenticeship pathway to support eligibility to register with the GPhC as a pharmacy technician.
* Study using online resources one day each week (or equivalent).
* Commit to study at home where necessary.
* Complete mandatory training and other statutory training at all workplaces.
* Complete local competency‑based assessments where necessary.
* Ensure that you meet the minimum number of hours of work‑based experience, as stated by the GPhC, to enable you to register as a qualified pharmacy technician.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Essential: Four GCSE (or equivalent) passes (Grade A*-C / Level 9-4) in Mathematics, English Language, Science and one other subject.
* Desirable: NVQ in Pharmacy Service Skill Level 2.
Experience
* Essential: Ability to work with attention to detail and accuracy; basic IT skills; ability to work to deadlines in a high‑pressure environment; ability to complete college/training provider deadlines; good written and oral skills; good team working skills; good numeracy skills; professional attitude, conscientious and empathetic; self‑motivated with commitment to training; ability to complete the GPhC accredited course/recognised qualification or apprenticeship pathway with training provider.
* Desirable: Previous experience in a dispensary in community or hospital, or experience of working in general practice; customer service skills.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer Details
The Thorpe Practice
Owlthorpe Surgery, Moorthorpe Bank, Owlthorpe, Sheffield, S20 6PD.
Website: https://www.owlthorpesurgery.nhs.uk/
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