NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service 

TECHNICAL APPRENTICESHIP - PRE-REGISTRATION PHARMACY TECHNICIAN 

 Various Positions in - West Lothian, Mid Lothian & Edinburgh Health And Social Care Partnership

Primary Care (GP Practice) Teams

Band 4 (Year 1 70%, Year 2 75%) 1.0 WTE (Full Time) (6 posts) - Permanent 

Salary Scale (when qualified): £27,598- £30,019 

As this is an Annex 21 training post, successful candidates will receive National Living Wage for the duration of their education.  On completion they will move to the full salary scale at the first point.  

 NHS Lothian covers Edinburgh city, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. We are the second largest health system in NHS Scotland and one of only four teaching Boards. We have strategic partnerships with local Universities, Local Authorities and our four Integration Joint Boards. We serve a population of 900,000, providing a range of primary, community based and acute hospital services. We also provide regional and national services across a range of clinical specialties.

The vision for the Pharmacy & Medicines service is to deliver clinically led, person-centred services to ensure patients across Lothian get the best from their medicines and pharmacy services.  We are focussed on creating an environment where each person in the team has the opportunity to flourish, develop and make best use of their skills.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join our Pharmacy Services Teams within NHS Lothian on a 2-year Technical Apprenticeship (TA) programme, which will result in you being eligible to apply to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to become a registered Pharmacy Technician.

As a Pharmacy Technician, you’ll prepare and dispense medicines safely and carry out accuracy checking to guarantee they are safe to take. You’ll also speak with patients and manage their supply of medicines, while keeping a record of their medicine history. Your role may vary depending on where you work.

Primary care (GP Practice)

If you are in primary care, you might be working in a GP practice. You will support medication reviews and you will liaise with other healthcare professionals to provide effective patient care.  Primary care is a new and evolving area within the Pharmacy profession. As such it offers many opportunities to learn and develop whilst providing a major contribution to patient care. This varied job will see you develop relationships in GP practices with many members of the multidisciplinary team, including GPs, practice nurses, administrators and practice managers, along with your colleagues in the Pharmacy team. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to develop professional links with other areas of the profession. The post is well supported by a developed network of experienced and skilled Pharmacy Technicians.

Community pharmacy

In community pharmacy, Pharmacy Technicians are trained to give advice to members of the community on the aspects of over-the-counter medicines, living a healthy lifestyle, and managing minor ailments. You will also carry out other pharmacy duties such as labeling and distributing prescribed medicine and giving information and counsel to patients with regards to how to make use of their medicines.

Snapshot of what you’ll do

Your main tasks include:

• reviewing and recording medicines
• providing advice on how to take and store medicines safely
• monitoring, ordering and taking stock of medicines received from pharmacy suppliers
• interpreting prescriptions, creating labels and supplying the appropriate medication recording, analysing and interpreting data

What might a day in this job look like?

As part of the Pharmacy Services team, depending on where you are working, you will:

• Undertake assembly of medicines and supplies and perform in-process accuracy checks to ensure the correct item is supplied e.g. assembly of aseptic product trays, selection and preparation of prescribed medicines.
• Participate in the issue of medicines and supplies including accurate completion of documentation as required ensuring special storage and transport requirements are adhered to e.g. appropriate packaging is used, transport schedules are adhered to.
• Input and process orders and prescriptions using the relevant pharmacy computer systems.
• Assist in the safe and appropriate disposal of waste materials according to legal requirements.
• Provide information and advice to patients on how to use their medication.
• Advise members of the public about over-the-counter medicines and management of minor ailments.
• Sell over-the-counter medicines and other items stocked by the chemist.
• Stock procurement and control.
• Maintain individual records of patient’s prescriptions, usually using the pharmacy computer system

What will I learn?

• You will study to gain the Diploma - Pharmacy Services SCQF Level 7
• Establish a rapport with the multidisciplinary team and gain the confidence of the patients and their families.
• Managing self within a complex dynamic clinical environment.
• Maintaining skills and knowledge level in clinical competencies and core skills.
• How to address the equality and diversity needs of patients and staff.
• Key employability skills

What Qualifications / Qualities are required?

• National 5 (Grade A-C) or above in English, Maths, Chemistry and Biology SCQF Level 5 or Completion of Access to Pharmacy Services (SCQF Level 5), NC Pharmacy Services or and NC Applied Science (Biology or Chemistry).
• If English is not first language - International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7 across all 4 areas at one sitting* or equivalent– essential for registration with GPhC
• Age 16 and above, no higher age limit
• Effective team player
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Passion for working in a healthcare environment ·
• Understand and possess the NHS Lothian Values: NHS Lothian Values
• Good interpersonal skills
• Commitment to completing the Technical Apprenticeship Programme
• Ability to carry out delegated responsibilities within a dynamic clinical environment.

*General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) guidance document

To be successful in progressing to interview for this role, completing a great application is vital. For more guidance on how to complete an NHS Scotland application form please do watch the guidance video below:

NHS Scotland Online Applications

Successful candidates will have an enthusiasm for learning and development, a professional attitude, and a passion for working in healthcare with the potential to contribute to the delivery of our high-quality pharmaceutical care. As well as a drive for personal development candidates should demonstrate personal values aligned with those of our organisation: NHS Lothian Values.

For further information please contact:

West Lothian Contacts:

Julie McCutcheon, Lead Technician, Primary Care, West Lothian – 07816257374 Julie.mccutcheon@nhs.scot

or

James Sweeney, Lead Technician, Primary Care West Lothian - 07766 998796 james.sweeney2@nhs.scot

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership Contacts:

North: John Hogan, john.hogan@nhs.scot

South: Kinga Mostowik, Kinga.Mostowik@nhs.scot or Barbara Irvine, barbara.irvine@nhs.scot

The recruitment process will consist of various stages, all of which are mandatory:                                          

Candidates who are successful in interview will be expected to start in NHS Lothian on Monday 5^th August and we are not able to alter this date.