Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate to join our Pre-registration Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship. This is a rare opportunity to train in a GP surgery & gain community pharmacy experience. At the end of the apprenticeship, as a qualified Pharmacy technician, you will have the opportunity to continue, with us, to develop further clinical skills in disease management.
During the 2-year apprenticeship you will study towards registration with The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to practice as a professionally registered Pharmacy Technician. https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/education/pharmacy-technician. This provides a solid career path with good future earning potential, across a wide range of health settings.
Whilst in training, the post holder will carry out a wide variety of duties, under the direct supervision of an appropriate clinician in general practice and community pharmacy. Some of the duties will be in the form of training exercises and competence-based assessments, in conjunction with the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in The Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians. You will be enrolled and supported by a national accredited educational provider and given work-based study time in addition to studying in your own time. You will gain knowledge of diseases, basic treatments and the actions and uses of drugs and be trained to answer basic pharmaceutical queries, under supervision, and will learn about and contribute to safe patient care in all workplaces.
Main duties of the job
- Dispensing,
checking, and issuing medicines.
- Counselling
patients on how to use their medicines.
- Stock management
- Reconciliation
of medicines
- Over the
Counter (OTC) sales for minor ailments
- Medicines
review
- Enhanced services,
stop smoking services.
- Dispensing,
checking, and issuing medicines.
- Counselling
patients on how to use their medicines.
- Stock management
- Reconciliation
of medicines
- Over the
Counter (OTC) sales for minor ailments
- Medicines
review
- Enhanced services,
stop smoking services.
About us
Wootton Vale and Shortstown
Practice is founded on a vision of delivering the highest standards of healthcare to our patient community. We strive to achieve this in an environment which is supportive of our staff and encourages them to be their best by encouraging training and development.
See
our website: www.woottonvale.com
We are a friendly, dedicated team. We aim to achieve a happy environment in a challenging, fast-changing environment, through the adoption of innovation.
The practice team is
passionate about training. We have recently become a training practice
for GPs, nurses, and pharmacists. We are forward thinking and aim to help
individuals with different skills and abilities to achieve their full potential.
We are an active member of
our PCN and continue to achieve high standards and targets in QOF and the many Enhanced services in which we participate. We work across two sites, Wootton and Shortstown, with a practice size of 15600 patients.
The practice demographics
vary at both sites, thus providing an interesting mix of clinical challenges.
Our team comprises of Clinical Director (Senior GP), Business director, Practice Manager, Clinical & Nurse Lead Manager, GPs, Pharmacists, Nurses,
Nurse Associate, General Practice Assistants, and Admin staff.
Our ethos is to embrace new
ways of working and workforce development. At present, our pharmacy team includes two
Clinical Pharmacists and one Pharmacy Technician. We would like
to expand this team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
General Practice duties, under the supervision of a pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician:
- Responding to prescription
requests
- reviewing
hospital letters and reconciling medication against current medications
highlighting any discrepancies
- Completing
audits
- Delivering
health checks
- To learn about and contribute to the objectives for safe patient care in
all workplaces.
- To support team values to ensure the maintenance of the highest
professional standards.
- Follow all workplace Standard Operating Procedures
- 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.
- To use the surgery computer system to record information &
consultations, run searches and send tasks to other healthcare professionals.
- To 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.
- To learn about and be involved with the use of practice templates to
record patient monitoring for high-risk drugs.
- To learn about and be involved in monitoring blood tests, recalls and
reviews using established protocols and involvement of the appropriate
clinician.
- Help support practice prescribing budgets by
on-going 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.
- To assist pharmacists / clinical staff help with
annual medication reviews e.g., Asthma assisting with information to ensure
prescribing of most cost-effective formulary product and observing patients
have good inhaler technique under supervision.
- To 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.
- Participate in practice clinical meetings, patient participation groups
and other meetings to improve engagement of the role of the Pharmacy Technician
within the GP model and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines
optimisation.
Role in Community Pharmacy, (Wootton Pharmacy) where you will learn about:
- Dispensing,
checking, and issuing medicines.
- Counselling
patients on how to use their medicines.
- Stock management
- Reconciliation
of medicines
- Over the
Counter (OTC) sales for minor ailments
- Medicines
review
- Enhanced services,
stop smoking services.
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 PTPT
apprenticeship and will complete the learning organised by the training
provider using agreed weekly study day/session(s) and study in personal time.
- To study for 7.5 hrs a week to achieve the Pre-Registration Pharmacy
Technician training programme over a two-year duration and complete the PTPT
apprenticeship.
Job description
Job responsibilities
General Practice duties, under the supervision of a pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician:
- Responding to prescription
requests
- reviewing
hospital letters and reconciling medication against current medications
highlighting any discrepancies
- Completing
audits
- Delivering
health checks
- To learn about and contribute to the objectives for safe patient care in
all workplaces.
- To support team values to ensure the maintenance of the highest
professional standards.
- Follow all workplace Standard Operating Procedures
- 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.
- To use the surgery computer system to record information &
consultations, run searches and send tasks to other healthcare professionals.
- To 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.
- To learn about and be involved with the use of practice templates to
record patient monitoring for high-risk drugs.
- To learn about and be involved in monitoring blood tests, recalls and
reviews using established protocols and involvement of the appropriate
clinician.
- Help support practice prescribing budgets by
on-going 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.
- To assist pharmacists / clinical staff help with
annual medication reviews e.g., Asthma assisting with information to ensure
prescribing of most cost-effective formulary product and observing patients
have good inhaler technique under supervision.
- To 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.
- Participate in practice clinical meetings, patient participation groups
and other meetings to improve engagement of the role of the Pharmacy Technician
within the GP model and to promote issues relevant to prescribing and medicines
optimisation.
Role in Community Pharmacy, (Wootton Pharmacy) where you will learn about:
- Dispensing,
checking, and issuing medicines.
- Counselling
patients on how to use their medicines.
- Stock management
- Reconciliation
of medicines
- Over the
Counter (OTC) sales for minor ailments
- Medicines
review
- Enhanced services,
stop smoking services.
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 PTPT
apprenticeship and will complete the learning organised by the training
provider using agreed weekly study day/session(s) and study in personal time.
- To study for 7.5 hrs a week to achieve the Pre-Registration Pharmacy
Technician training programme over a two-year duration and complete the PTPT
apprenticeship.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- You will require FOUR GCSE (or equivalent) passes (Grade A*-C / Level 9-4) in the following subjects:
- Maths
- English language
- Science
- + one other
Desirable
- NVQ In Pharmacy Service Skills Level 2
- OR
- Previous experience in a dispensary in community or hospital setting or experience of working in general practice.
Experience
Essential
- The successful candidate will be self-motivated with a commitment to the training, have a professional and conscientious attitude. The ability to work in a high-pressure environment with the ability to achieve set deadlines is a key requirement.
- The candidate will have the ability to work with attention to detail and accuracy, be competent in the use of Microsoft Office software, and have good numeracy, together with good communication and interpersonal skills (both written and verbal).
- The candidate will have the ability to complete the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)-accredited course/recognised qualification or apprenticeship pathway with the Training Provider.
- Personal skills
- Approachable
- Tactful and diplomatic
- Flexible and adaptable
- Good communicator
- Trustworthy and reliable
- Empathetic
- Customer service skills
- Good IT skills and attention to detail
- Experience of using recording or clinical system software
- Full UK driving licence if over 19
Apprenticeship Learner Organisation Requirements
Essential
- Must have a right to work and abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years. Additional eligibility rules apply to EEA nationals and non-UK nationals.
- Must be aged 16 years old or above
- Must hold a contract of employment for a minimum of 21 hours a week
- Must work under the supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician for the duration of the apprenticeship
- Must work alongside a pharmacy registrant for a minimum of 14 hours per week
- Must meet the pre-screening criteria in relation to: health and character, current ability and current level of maths, English and science knowledge
- Cannot be in full time education or enrolled onto another government funded programme.
- Cannot hold an equivalent qualification at the same level.
- Cannot hold a level 4 qualification or above unless the qualification is "materially different" from the apprenticeship. Queries in relation to prior qualifications will need to be individually assessed.
- English and Maths training
- All learners are required to undertake the following:
- Initial assessment in science, maths, and English during the enrolment process
- Functional Skills in maths and English at level 2 as a mandatory part of this programme, unless acceptable exemption evidence is provided during the enrolment process.
- Additional foundation learning in science / maths / English depending on the outcome of the initial assessment.
Benefits of Working for us
Essential
- As an NHS employee you will have access to the NHS pension, and Health Service discount schemes, and access to a range of development and support opportunities https://work-learn-live-blmk.co.uk/.
- Other benefits include:
- 22 days annual leave (excluding Bank Holidays)
- Child Care Vouchers
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Access to Wellbeing Support
- Access to Student discount schemes
- The number 53 bus stops outside the surgery. The C1 bus, which runs between Milton Keynes and Bedford stops in Wootton village - a 5 minute walk from the surgery.
- Working hours are 37.5 hrs per week Mon to Friday and are flexible to be able to fit with bus times.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- You will require FOUR GCSE (or equivalent) passes (Grade A*-C / Level 9-4) in the following subjects:
- Maths
- English language
- Science
- + one other
Desirable
- NVQ In Pharmacy Service Skills Level 2
- OR
- Previous experience in a dispensary in community or hospital setting or experience of working in general practice.
Experience
Essential
- The successful candidate will be self-motivated with a commitment to the training, have a professional and conscientious attitude. The ability to work in a high-pressure environment with the ability to achieve set deadlines is a key requirement.
- The candidate will have the ability to work with attention to detail and accuracy, be competent in the use of Microsoft Office software, and have good numeracy, together with good communication and interpersonal skills (both written and verbal).
- The candidate will have the ability to complete the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)-accredited course/recognised qualification or apprenticeship pathway with the Training Provider.
- Personal skills
- Approachable
- Tactful and diplomatic
- Flexible and adaptable
- Good communicator
- Trustworthy and reliable
- Empathetic
- Customer service skills
- Good IT skills and attention to detail
- Experience of using recording or clinical system software
- Full UK driving licence if over 19
Apprenticeship Learner Organisation Requirements
Essential
- Must have a right to work and abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years. Additional eligibility rules apply to EEA nationals and non-UK nationals.
- Must be aged 16 years old or above
- Must hold a contract of employment for a minimum of 21 hours a week
- Must work under the supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician for the duration of the apprenticeship
- Must work alongside a pharmacy registrant for a minimum of 14 hours per week
- Must meet the pre-screening criteria in relation to: health and character, current ability and current level of maths, English and science knowledge
- Cannot be in full time education or enrolled onto another government funded programme.
- Cannot hold an equivalent qualification at the same level.
- Cannot hold a level 4 qualification or above unless the qualification is "materially different" from the apprenticeship. Queries in relation to prior qualifications will need to be individually assessed.
- English and Maths training
- All learners are required to undertake the following:
- Initial assessment in science, maths, and English during the enrolment process
- Functional Skills in maths and English at level 2 as a mandatory part of this programme, unless acceptable exemption evidence is provided during the enrolment process.
- Additional foundation learning in science / maths / English depending on the outcome of the initial assessment.
Benefits of Working for us
Essential
- As an NHS employee you will have access to the NHS pension, and Health Service discount schemes, and access to a range of development and support opportunities https://work-learn-live-blmk.co.uk/.
- Other benefits include:
- 22 days annual leave (excluding Bank Holidays)
- Child Care Vouchers
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Access to Wellbeing Support
- Access to Student discount schemes
- The number 53 bus stops outside the surgery. The C1 bus, which runs between Milton Keynes and Bedford stops in Wootton village - a 5 minute walk from the surgery.
- Working hours are 37.5 hrs per week Mon to Friday and are flexible to be able to fit with bus times.
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.
