Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy TechnicianNHS

Job summary

Start Date: February 2027

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our Primary Care Network (PCN) pharmacy team as a Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician. This is a fixed-term 24 month apprenticeship.

Throughout the programme, you will gain hands-on experience across both primary care (GP practices) and community pharmacy, working under the supervision of experienced pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The role involves weekly rotations between settings, giving you broad exposure to different aspects of pharmacy practice

Working towards a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians, delivered through day release study at Bradford College. The course includes virtual classroom teaching led by college tutors and experienced healthcare professionals from the field.

Applicants must meet the minimum entry requirement of four GCSEs (grade 4/C or above) or equivalent, including Maths, English, and Science. You will also be expected to complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate competency in line with the apprenticeship and registration standards.

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be eligible to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a qualified Pharmacy Technician.

The role commences in February 2027, subject to college placement confirmation and satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks in order to comply with the NHS Employment Check Standards.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

Role Overview

Under the guidance of registered Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians and as part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams, Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician Apprentices will support the safe preparation and supply of medicines to meet the needs of patients in both Community Pharmacy and Primary Care settings.

Throughout the placement, you will be expected to demonstrate a high standard of professionalism showing respect, discretion, and confidentiality in all aspects of your work. You will contribute positively to team dynamics, maintain a safe working environment, and play an active role in supporting patient safety, particularly through the accurate preparation and dispensing of medicines.

You should be hardworking, reliable, and a strong team player with good interpersonal skills. Effective communication is vital, as is the ability to recognise and work within the boundaries of your current competence and training.

This role is offered on a fixed-term contract for 24 months to support completion of the apprenticeship training programme. The fixed-term status will be reviewed in line with organisational policy and relevant employment legislation.

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, applicants must have been a resident of the UK, EU, or EEA for at least the last three years.

The training post is salaried at 70% of the top of Band 4 in Year 1, rising to 75% in Year 2, in line with Annex 21 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service.

Job description

Community Pharmacy responsibilities:

Work under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacy professional and liaise effectively with other members of the pharmacy team.

Consistently adhere to all Standard Operating Procedures in the pharmacy setting.

Gain a thorough understanding of Medicines Optimisation and the valuable role Pharmacy Technicians play in delivering Community Pharmacy services through direct patient interaction.

Assist the Pharmacist in the retrieval and handling of electronic prescriptions, following SOP guidelines.

Receive prescriptions, verify their legality and validity, and guide patients in completing relevant declarations.

Use the pharmacys dispensing system to maintain accurate Patient Medication Records and generate labels.

Dispense a range of prescriptions, including NHS, private prescriptions, and monitored dosage systems, ensuring accuracy in line with community pharmacy SOPs.

Hand out medications and provide clear patient counselling on appropriate medicine usage.

Safely manage the disposal of returned or unwanted medicines in compliance with disposal protocols.

Record controlled drugs in the CD register and perform regular balance checks according to legal and procedural requirements.

Manage stock processes including ordering, receiving, storing, and maintaining inventory in line with SOPs.

Support the Pharmacist in conducting medicines reconciliation, ensuring accurate and up-to-date patient medication records, particularly during care transitionsliaising with GP practices where necessary.

Conduct over-the-counter sales and offer advice for common minor ailments under supervision.

Assist the Pharmacist in delivering key pharmacy services such as the Medicines Use Review, New Medicines Service , and Community Pharmacist Consultation Service.

Contribute to the provision of commissioned enhanced services e.g., smoking cessation support, under the supervision of the Pharmacist or trained pharmacy staff.

Communicate effectively with General Practice teams to resolve prescription-related queries and support seamless patient care.

General Practice Responsibilities

Work under the direct supervision of a registered pharmacy professional and liaise effectively with other members of the practice team.

Always Adhere to all relevant Standard Operating Procedures within the workplace.

Gain an understanding of Medicines Optimisation and the role of Pharmacy Technicians in General Practice, including working in both face-to-face and telephone-based patient interactions.

Use the clinical IT system to accurately document consultations, conduct searches, and communicate via tasks with other healthcare professionals.

Process prescription requests from patients, care home staff, community pharmacists, and GPs within 48 hours for routine prescriptions and on the same day for urgent requests. This may include directing prescriptions to out-of-hours pharmacies where necessary.

Develop knowledge and support the use of practice templates for monitoring high-risk medication.

Learn to manage blood test monitoring, recalls, and reviews in line with established protocols, involving appropriate clinicians as needed.

Review hospital discharge summaries and clinical letters to reconcile medications, identify discrepancies, and escalate concerns to the pharmacist or designated GP under supervision.

Contribute to the effective management of prescribing budgets through regular audits, data analysis, and by supporting the implementation of cost-effective prescribing strategies remaining aware of current incentive targets.

Assist pharmacists and clinical staff with annual medication reviews e.g. for asthma, ensuring patients are prescribed the most cost-effective formulary items and demonstrate correct usage e.g. inhaler technique, under supervision.

Perform regular audits of medicine storage to ensure compliance with local and national guidelines, reporting any issues to the appropriate manager.

Ensure regular checking of in-practice medicines, identifying and appropriately disposing of expired stock in accordance with SOPs.

Promote medicines waste reduction through the use of appropriate resources and patient education.

Carry out patient interventions both face-to-face and via telephone as directed by the pharmacist, and ensure all consultations are properly documented and reported to the relevant clinician.

Undertake prescribing audits to assess practice or Primary Care Network prescribing patterns, benchmark against national and local targets, and identify areas for improvement.

Support prescription clerks by assisting with queries related to medication requests.

Contribute to the ongoing development and safety of the prescription process by resolving queries and ensuring prescriptions are issued within agreed timelines, in collaboration with the practice pharmacist.

Assist the pharmacist in managing drug recalls, safety alerts e.g., MHRA, and medicines supply issues.

Promote seasonal health promotion initiatives e.g., Stoptober, Antibiotic Awareness Week, Flu Campaigns, including the creation of informative patient-facing displays.

Encourage the use of digital health tools such as Patient Access, the NHS App, and Electronic Repeat Dispensing , promoting these to patients and staff as directed by the Practice Manager.

INFORMATION SUPPORT AND RECORD KEEPING

To keep an accurate record of all activity undertaken within practices and community pharmacy.

To ensure all patient interventions are recorded on the practice/community pharmacy computer in accordance with the working procedures developed with the practice/community pharmacy.

To be responsible for keeping accurate retrievable records of all formal queries, data collection exercises, and audits.

To be confident and competent with using the pharmacy and practice computer systems, always complying with confidentiality and the data protection act.

To understand and be able to use Word, Msteams, Excel, internet explorer and email.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Successfully complete a General Pharmaceutical Council -accredited course, GPhC-recognised qualification, or GPhC-approved apprenticeship pathway to meet the eligibility criteria for registration as a Pharmacy Technician.

Dedicate one day per week or equivalent time to structured study using online learning platforms and resources.

Commit to independent study outside of working hours as required to support learning and progression.

Complete all mandatory and statutory training relevant to each workplace setting.

Undertake and complete local competency-based assessments as required.

Ensure the minimum required hours of work-based experience are achieved, in line with GPhC standards, to support successful registration as a qualified Pharmacy Technician.

PLANNING AND ORGANISATION: FREEDOM TO ACT

Work under the direct supervision of a registered Pharmacist or qualified Pharmacy Technician at all times, whether based in a community pharmacy or primary care setting.

All duties must be performed in line with Standard Operating Procedures, local policies, and the scope of practice as defined by the training programme and relevant regulatory standards.

The PTPT is not authorised to act independently in any clinical or dispensing role until deemed competent in specific tasks through assessment and sign-off, in accordance with the training programme.

As competencies develop, certain responsibilities may be carried out with reduced direct supervision, provided this is formally agreed with the supervising pharmacist or technician.

The PTPT is expected to maintain professional behaviour and adhere to GPhC guidance, reporting concerns, errors, or uncertainties to their supervisor immediately.

The level of autonomy will gradually increase only as competence is demonstrated and documented through the accredited training and assessment process.

COLLABORATIVE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Participate in the PCN MDT

Foster and maintains strong links with all services across the PCN

Explore the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships

Attend ICB Medicine Optimisation Team meetings and peer groups

Attend ICB Medicine Optimisation Team training and development sessions

Liaise with colleagues including ICB Medicine Optimisation Team on prescribing matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit

Participate in the ICB Medicine Optimisation Team medicines related projects and workstreams

Liaise and integrate with colleagues in the ICB Medicine Optimisation Team to benefit from peer support

Work with primary care to ensure practices are compliant with CQC standards where medicines are involved

To support public health campaigns and to provide specialist knowledge on all public health programmes available to the general public

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Liaise with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients, key relationships include (but are not limited to):

Patients and their representatives

GPs, nurses and other practice staff

Social prescribers, first contact physiotherapists, physician associates and paramedics

Community pharmacists and support staff

ICB Medicine Optimisation Team including pharmacists and technicians

Locality/GP prescribing lead

Locality Managers

Community nurses and other allied health professionals

Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicines optimisation

About us

About us

Barnsley has established one super Primary Care Network of over 250,000 patients which includes all of GP practices across Barnsley. This is supported by six Neighbourhood Networks building on our successful and existing model of neighbourhood working; this enables us to maintain and focus on the specific needs of each local area whilst allowing integration at a borough wide level.

Working within the Primary Care Network you will benefit from having a large team of peers to collaborate and learn from, as well as experiencing the benefits of having ownership of the role within your small practice setting.