Job Description

The successful candidate must meet Gov.uk apprenticeship funding criteria Apprenticeship funding rules, 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK



The pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician position is a two year fixed term training post (subject to satisfactory completion of year 1).



The post holder will carry out pharmaceutical duties in accordance with the guidelines, direction and order of The General Pharmaceutical Council of Great Britain. The post holder will study to achieve a Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians

The Post holder will:

Train in all areas of the Pharmacy Department, assisting with the provision of the broad range of services provided across the Trust working under the supervision of Assistants, registered Pharmacy technicians and Pharmacists.



Study to achieve a Diploma in the "Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians" in the work place



Produce a portfolio of work.



Some duties will be undertaken in the form of training exercises and competence based assessments.



Support the work of the main dispensary in the provision of an extended service including late nights, weekends and bank holiday as per the rota.



Complete a Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians



Participate in quarterly appraisals and personal reviews with their line manager/educational supervisor.



Meet all deadlines for college work and undertake study in own time when necessary.



Be aware and work within departmental procedures and policies,



To participate in the provision of medicinal products to all wards and departments, according to the needs of the service and with appropriate support for the trainee's level of training and experience, including :



Inpatient and Discharge dispensing (including controlled drugs)



Accuracy checking (upon successful completion of required college units, 500 item dispensing diary and 500 item accuracy checking diary, exam, interview and probation).



Reception and Delivery service



Cardiac arrest boxes and Pre-packed preparations



Distribution through Pharmacy Stores



Ward based medicines management



The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.



Contribute to the provision of a dispensary service to Inpatients by receiving, interpreting, validating, dispensing, labelling and issuing routine prescriptions for in patients and Discharge patients using the pharmacy computer systems whilst training under the direct supervision of Pharmacy technicians and Pharmacists, seeking advice from other Senior staff where appropriate.



This includes use of the automated dispensing system.



To maintain satisfactory stock levels, storage and turnover of medicines to ensure a high quality of medicines is upheld.



To identify actual and potential problems with reference to other staff as necessary



To complete and maintain accurate records where appropriate



To prepare labels and dispense medicines for patients



To take all appropriate action to ensure that patients receive the correct medication, with advice and counselling and that all directions associated with medicines are fully understood after reaching the appropriate level of training and successful completion of the appropriate unit of competence



To dispense and record appropriate details according to written protocols for clinical trials, unlicensed and named patient medicines within pharmacy after reaching the appropriate level of training and successful completion of the appropriate unit of competence



To dispense controlled drugs after reaching the appropriate level of training and successful completion of the appropriate unit of competence



To use communication skills to receive enquiries and other appropriate information from healthcare professionals, patients and members of the public



To use communication skills to provide a suitable response to the enquirer in a variety of formats (verbal or written)



To refer enquirers to a more appropriate source of information when necessary and provide documentation of enquiries



To use databases (electronic and manual) to search enquiries using a variety of information sources.



To contribute to the work of the stock control, stock ordering, receiving and stock distribution of all pharmaceuticals within the pharmacy department under the supervision of registered pharmacy technicians.



To participate in ward / department stock "top-up service" as necessary working with the appropriate ward Pharmacist, Technician and Nursing staff to prevent stockpiling and to promote economic use of ward stocks.



To assist in the purchasing of pharmaceuticals



To participate in maintaining an adequate stock control programme



To participate with checking and validating receipt of orders



To replenish stock throughout the department



To participate in the distribution and return of medicines to and from wards and departments.

To work on wards completing the following tasks:

Drug histories



Patients Own Drugs (PODs) assessment



Medication supply



Locker checks



Completing in-house Medicines Management Training pack



To dispose of medicines if unsuitable for use according to SOP's working under the supervision of a registered technician or pharmacist.



To identify any discrepancies between individuals own medicines and prescribed items, reporting them to the registered technician or ward pharmacist.



To transcribe information of drugs to ward profiles or electronically to the dispensary to be later checked clinically for appropriateness by the ward pharmacist, highlighting problems to the registered technician or pharmacist.



To arrange for medicines to be re labelled where necessary working to local SOPs under the supervision of a qualified technician or pharmacist