Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Job overview

We are currently looking for an apprentice pharmacy technician to begin the training programme in September 2026.

First year apprentices are based in the dispensary, learning how to dispense a wide variety of medicines and communicating with patients and other healthcare professionals. They will also spend some time in our stores, helping to ensure the wards have adequate supplies of medicines.

Second year apprentices expand their work in the dispensary, including counselling patients about their medicines and checking dispensed medicines. They will also spend time on the wards, speaking with patients and gathering information about their medicines on admission to hospital. Some time is spent in the Aseptic Unit , where a  variety of  medicines such as chemotherapy agents are produced.

One day each week is spent attending lessons and an extra half-day will be allocated as study time.

Completion of the apprenticeship will allow the successful candidate to apply to the General Pharmaceutical Council for professional registration as a pharmacy technician.

Our ideal candidate would be keen to learn, a good team player, be patient focused with a keen eye for detail and able to communicate clearly with a wide range of people and be eligible for inclusion in the apprenticeship programme.

We are committed to an inclusive pharmacy workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve, creating a compassionate and respectful environment where all staff feel valued and supported.

Main duties of the job

• Undertaking vocation-based training and completion of Pharmacy Technician qualification
• Receiving prescriptions from patients
• Answering the telephone
• Rotating in stores completing medicines stock requests
• Dispensing inpatient, discharge and outpatient prescriptions

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To carry out routine dispensing and labelling of prescriptions using selected computerised systems for inpatients, discharge patients and outpatients. This includes dispensing unlicensed medicines, controlled drugs and extemporaneous preparations under supervision and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• To carry out technical duties, on a rotational basis, such as the maintenance of emergency drug boxes, emergency drugs cupboard, filing of prescriptions, vaccine supply, clinical trials, dispensing compliance packs and pre-labelled discharge packs to wards and departments in accordance with pharmacy procedures
• To participate in the ward based ‘one stop’ dispensing service which involves checking patients' own medicines and assessing their suitability for use, arranging re-supply of patients' medicines, liaising with G.P.s, nursing homes, community pharmacists, medical and ward staff, under supervision
• To attend to outpatients coming to the pharmacy for prescriptions, collect prescription payments, deal with patients who are exempt from paying and those who have no money with them, helping to complete relevant forms and provide and receive information in a sensitive and professional manner, ensuring confidentiality at all times, referring to a pharmacist or pharmacy technician as necessary
• To counsel patients on their medication, and issue patient information leaflets as part of Pharmacy Standard Level 3 training under the supervision of a pharmacist or qualified assessor
• To participate in the packing, distribution, turnover and storage of stock pharmaceutical supplies to allocated wards and departments by means of the ‘topping up system’ or in response to requisitions from wards, under supervision
• To participate in the preparation of total parenteral nutrition products, and any other aseptic work, including preparation of documentation and calculations using computerised systems, under supervision
• To participate in procedures to control stock in the dispensary, including the monitoring of expiry dates, checking of stock and advising the Dispensary Manager of low stock levels
• To process telephone, face to face, fax and e-mail enquiries in a professional manner, referring to senior staff as appropriate
• To ensure care, attention to detail and accuracy is maintained at all times when dispensing prescriptions, using calculations for drug doses and undertaking other tasks
• To participate in the weekend, evening  and bank holiday rotas
• To assist in the training of Assistant Technical Officers, Apprentice Technicians and other pharmacy staff as directed by senior staff and pharmacy procedures
• To act as a role model for new staff and other members of the technical support team.

Governance

• To operate selected computerised systems, observing and enforcing systems of work designed to ensure accuracy, integrity and security of data, with particular respect to resource management and data protection.
• To communicate effectively with a wide range of people both within and outside the organisation, whilst maintaining confidentiality. These will include patients, nursing staff, medical staff, pharmacy staff, community pharmacy staff, nursing home staff, G.P.s and other healthcare professionals.
• To maintain a high standard of service to patients, wards, departments, visitors and other healthcare professionals and to follow at all times the professional code of conduct.  To ensure compliance with  Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action / alerting senior management team if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerns about any aspect of patient care.

Education / Learning

• To attend a BTEC Level 3 Pharmacy Standard, to achieve the BTEC certificate and to undertake any associated necessary study in order to comply with the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council for pharmacy technician registration.

This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all specific tasks.

Apprentice Pharmacy Technicians at MCHFT have a  responsibility to :

• Always act in accordance with Medicines, Ethics and Conduct code of the GPhC and guiding documents
• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge
• Maintain a professional / personal portfolio
• Adhere to Trust policy, procedures and guidelines
• Act in accordance with the Trust's values and behaviours
• Comply with Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) policies and procedures as appropriate to their role and responsibilities in their individual work setting. Staff are required to be personally accountable for their actions and be responsible for their own compliance in relation to IP&C policies, protocols or advice
• Ensure they work in accordance with local procedures and report any issues which they consider to be a risk to the health and safety of themselves and / or others.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is looking to ensure that we provide equity of service across seven days of the week. Evening, weekend and bank holiday work will be required.

Managerial / Leadership

To maintain a healthy, safe and secure working environment, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate documentation and reporting any concerns.

Communications

Attendance at departmental team meetings.

Digital

To operate selected computerised systems, ensuring accuracy and security of data to comply with the data protection act.

All staff at MCHFT have a responsibility to:

• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge
• Maintain an awareness of patient led service issues
• Maintain a professional / personal portfolio
• Adhere to all Trust policy, procedures and guidelines
• Adhere to Trust standards of behaviour and expected performance
• Maintain professional registration where it is mandated for the role
• Comply with Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) policies and procedures as appropriate to their role and responsibilities in their individual work setting. Staff are required to be personally accountable for their actions and be responsible for their own compliance in relation to IP&C policies, protocols or advice
• Work in accordance with local procedures and report any issues which they consider to be a risk to the health and safety of themselves and / or others
• Where applicable to participate in and provide data on the efficacy of treatment

Person Specification