Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician (Apprenticeship)
Job overview
Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship
Please note Salary will be as follows:
Year 1: 70% of the top of Band 4 + Inner London HCASYear 2: 75% of the top of Band 4 + Inner London HCAS
We are looking for two enthusiastic and self-motivated individuals to join our progressive pharmacy team at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.
This is an excellent opportunity to train for a career as a Registered Pharmacy Technician. You will study for a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians whilst you work on an Apprenticeship program, gaining experience in various areas of pharmacy within the Hospital.
This is a two year fixed term appointment to commence in September 2025.
Eligibility note:
Candidates who hold equivalent qualification at the same level or a higher-level qualification in the pharmacy field will not be considered, as these individuals are not eligible for apprenticeship funding.
Candidates must be UK residents for a minimum of three years in order satisfy apprenticeship eligibility requirements. For further details, please contact the recruiting manager.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicants will be expected to work in our Inpatients Dispensary, Outpatients Dispensary, Distribution, Goods Receipt & Purchasing, Technical Services, Clinical Trials, Medicines Management, Medicines Information and Clinical Governance sections on a rotational basis.
The rota will run across both Chelsea Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital sites.
Full practical training will be provided in-house, with a competency-based programme and you will be expected to undertake underpinning knowledge courses working towards becoming a registered Pharmacy Technician.
The successful candidates will work in an environment that will support patients with their medications, managing the supply of medicines and assisting Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, as well as manufacturing sterile products.
The appointed candidates will need to demonstrate that they are Patient Focused, have good interpersonal and communication skills, be a quick learner, keen to get involved and be committed to the training programme. Good ability to cope with the discipline of studying whilst working as part of a team throughout this busy department is essential; therefore, a professional approach is key.
Candidates must be willing and able to follow an academic and practical training course and commit up to 10 hours per week of your own time for private study.
For further details / informal visits contact:
Karen Benjamin, [email protected]
Elsa Ghebremariam, [email protected]
Working for our organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful.Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job description and person specifications located under the supporting documents heading.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria- 4 GCSEs Grade 4/C or above including Maths, Science and English or BTEC Certificate in Science or equivalent
- Prior knowledge/achievement of NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills
Experience
Essential criteria- Pharmacy experience
- Proven work or study record
- Able to demonstrate completion of assigned tasks e.g. Studies undertaken resulted in qualification
- Able to work to standard operating procedure and policies
- Patient counselling and customer care
- Dispensing experience
- Pharmacy labelling and stock control systems
- Hospital pharmacy experience
- Ability to use JAC stock control system
- Non-sterile manufacturing
- Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice
- Sterile manufacturing
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria- Good oral & written communication skills
- Perform basic mathematical calculations in relation to work
- Interpret & dispense prescriptions accurately
- Ability to organise & prioritise workload
- Word processing, e-mail, accurate date entry skills
- Effectively provide advice to patients regarding medicines
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to work under supervision
- Ability to supervise and participate in the training of others
- Ability to motivate self and others
- Good problem solving skills
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria- Enthusiasm for the position
- Methodical with attention to detail
- Friendly, empathetic and reliable team worker able to relate to all grades of staff
- Ability to cope well within a busy environment
- Good initiative
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Good ability to work independently
- Good ability to organise own work
- Good time management
- Satisfactory manual dexterity required for all activities
- Capable of moderate physical activity - sometimes for heavy loads
- Hard working and conscientious
- Good team player and demonstrates reliability
- Punctual
- Demonstrates awareness of self-development
- Demonstrates evidence of being able and willing to understand our Trust PROUD values
- The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
- Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
- If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
- In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
- During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
- Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.