Job Description

Are you an enthusiastic motivated individual looking for a future career as a qualified Pharmacy Technician? This training post include an apprenticeship and starts February 2026 ending 22 February 2028 at Colchester Hospital.



Applicants must meet Apprenticeship criteria and have a minimum of 4 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade 9-4 or A*-C (Maths, English and Chemistry or Biology).



You must be self-directed to meet deadlines, committed to self-study and effectively use study time given by the department to complete the course and be eligible to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician. You must demonstrate an understanding and compliance with the values and behaviours expected of NHS staff and the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals.



Pharmacies are busy departments covering a diverse range of activities and functions including: dispensary, logistics, quality control, manufacture/preparation of medicines/products including chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition, clinical trials, ward based/clinical activities, medicines information and community services. We have an automated robotic dispensing and stock supply system. This course places emphasis on clinical ward based and dispensary work.



You will be required to participate in our 7 day service including lates, weekends and bank holidays

Salary will be Band 4 Annex 21:

Year 1 (21,113) 70% top Band 4 and Year 2 (22,621) 75% top Band 4. Internal applicants will be via Annex 30.



You will undertake a Certificate of Higher Education, in Pharmacy Technician Practice delivered by the School of Pharmacy at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. The course has a blended learning approach using e-learning, classroom tutorials, practical sessions and portfolio building. There will be on-going assessments, observations with mandatory study days and forums.



This course places emphasis on clinical ward based and dispensary work. You will communicate and work effectively with patients, ward based teams and multi-disciplinary staff to provide a safe, timely and efficient patient-centred service aiding supply, patient compliance and discharges. The course also includes Accredited Checking, Medicines Management and Medicines Reconciliation.



You must be able to attend mandatory study days, follow procedures, apply theory to practice and have an interest in a career as a hospital based Pharmacy Technician. Appropriate supervision and training will be provided throughout.



We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes



We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England , employing more than 12,000 staff



We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options



Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services



Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients



We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients



If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you



Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A



For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.