South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

The closing date is 29 September 2025

Job summary

Are you interested in becoming a Pharmacy Technician?

Hi, Im Sarah and have worked as part of the trust wide pharmacy team for the last 10 years. We are a close-knit, supportive team and thats what makes it a great place to work. We all care about our team and the people we support both in hospital and in community.

If you like the idea of working in this environment, we have an exciting apprenticeship opportunity for you to join us. The post is based at Fieldhead Hospital Pharmacy in Wakefield, with visits to our sites in Barnsley, Dewsbury, Halifax and Huddersfield.

The successful candidate will undertake a 2-year fixed term, level 3 apprenticeship contract giving them an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge to register as a Pharmacy Technician, on successful completion of the course.

Candidates need to possess a minimum of 4 GCSEs or equivalent at grade 4(grade C) or above, including Maths, English and Science.

The starting salary for this post is NHS Band 3 equivalent £24,937 dependant on previous NHS service.

If this sounds like an opportunity for you to pursue a career in Pharmacy, we look forward to receiving your application.

If you would like more details or to come for an informal visit, please contact:

Sarah Smith(sarah.smith2@swyt.nhs.uk).

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

Main duties of the job

Our Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician will be provided with training over a 2-year period covering inpatient and community mental health, learning disability and wellbeing services across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. As well as an opportunity for placements in an acute trust and community pharmacy.

You will help support the dispensary team at Fieldhead Hospital and Pharmacy teams across the Trust provide Pharmacy services to in-patients, out-patients and clinics.

On successful completion of their first year, the successful candidate will provide a pharmacy service to the ward environment. Full training and support will be given.

This is a full-time post and includes day release for college, via a blended learning approach, during term time. In addition, allocated study time is provided in the workplace.

The successful candidate will become part of a friendly and professional Pharmacy Team, supporting different specialities in acute mental health, forensic and rehabilitation settings.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role. We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Date posted

15 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-QA01392

Job locations

Pharmacy, Block 6, Fieldhead Hospital

Ouchthorpe Lane

Wakefield

WF1 3SP

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

Train to be a registered Pharmacy Technician over a 2-year period undertaking Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Standard level 3. This includes competency-based training, assessment in the workplace and studying the underpinning knowledge requirements through an accredited training provider, to gain the Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians allowing registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

KEY RESULT AREAS:

The postholder will:

Work as part of the Trust wide pharmacy team.

Participate in the full range of pharmaceutical services at the Trust.

Contribute to the smooth running of the department, including where necessary cover for other staff.

Dispense clinically validated prescriptions, accurately and perform a 3-way check on the items prior to placing on the bench for a final accuracy check.

Issue medication against a stock order/picking list.

Involvement in efficient stock control and stock management systems for the dispensary, wards, and departments, including stocktaking.

Assist in the ordering process for medicines and consumables.

Involvement in stock discrepancies and shortages, liaising with colleagues to help rectify.

Reception duties including answering the phone and hatch in a timely manner.

Maintain accurate records including the use of computer equipment.

Communicate effectively with service users, visitors, colleagues, other health professionals and external suppliers.

Work at other localities, for training purposes when necessary.

Demonstrate your role to other staff, as appropriate.

Maintain safe systems of work, including fire safety, department, and Trust safety policies.

Follow standard operating procedures.

Fully participate in the learning agreement including any learning and study experiences offered.

Promote the professional image of Pharmacy, both within the Trust and when studying with the learning provider.

Upon completion of the course and training scheme be eligible for registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

KEY RESULT AREAS

The Apprentice will progress to the second year on successful completion of the first year. This placement is subject to a learning agreement which sets out the terms and conditions of this placement.

The Apprentice will undertake the necessary training to complete the Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Standard Level 3 with the support of an accredited training provider via a blended learning approach. Following this, the apprentice will be able to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council.

TRUST VALUES

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g., service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectalways. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

We put the person first and in the centre.

We know that families and carers matter.

We are respectful, honest, open, and transparent.

We improve and aim to be outstanding.

We are relevant for today and ready for tomorrow.

SAFEGUARDING

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

TRUST POLICIES AND COMMITMENTS (to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy)

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

Ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns.

Maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct.

Understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Trust Data Protection Policy.

Comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually.

Receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed.

Understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy.

Recognise, respect, and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity.

Ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participatingin relevanttraining.

Comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e., CPD, Audit, Supervision);

Demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team, and service wide quality improvement.

Abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached.

Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

Adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds.

Being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact.

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly.

In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.