Annex 21 Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

Do you have an interest in pharmacy and medicines? Do you want to work in a caring profession? Do you want to work while you study? If so, we want to hear from you! 

The NHS Fife Pharmacy & Medicines Directorate serves a population of approximately 380,000 people and is provided by an integrated team of around 300 Pharmacy staff, including Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Support Workers, Nurses, and Administrators. The team works across Acute and Community hospital sites, General Practices, Mental Health services, and a range of specialist teams. Partnership working is at the core of our values, and we work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including our Community Pharmacy colleagues, to deliver the highest quality care for everyone in Fife.

This is an exciting opportunity to train to be a Pharmacy Technician across our hospitals, primary care settings and community pharmacy. As this is a training post, previous pharmacy experience is not essential.

Pharmacy Technicians work as part of the pharmacy team and in partnership with the wider multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients have safe and appropriate access to medicines in a wide range of healthcare settings.  All our staff are focused on delivering patient centred care according to our NHS Fife values.

The Pharmacy Technician qualification is gained through a combination of knowledge-based learning (PDA in Pharmacy Services SCQF level 7) via a blended learning format with West College Scotland and vocational education (SVQ in Pharmacy Service at SCQF level 8) over 2 years. This is a newly developed qualification and is collectively called the Diploma in Pharmacy Services.  On successful completion of the training you will register with the General Pharmaceutical Council in order to practice as a Pharmacy Technician. Successful candidates will require to invest some of their own time for study to ensure completion of the diploma within the 2 year timeframe.

Once registered you will be eligible to apply for a range of roles in various sectors of pharmacy, with further opportunities of progression available. 

Applicants must have as a minimum

National 5 grades A or C (or equivalent) in Biology, Chemistry, English & Mathematics

Or 

National 5 grades  A or C (or equivalent) in English & Mathematics and a minimum of a NC in Applied Sciences (Must be Chemistry & Biology based)

Placements will be in pre-arranged block rotations across 2 of the 3 pharmacy sectors, Primary Care either working from a pharmacy base or GP practice, Community Pharmacy or our Hospitals and will be allocated upon successful recruitment.

Trainees are paid a percentage of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate which is dependent on the duration of the training period (see Terms and Conditions).  

Applications on a secondment basis will be considered providing you have prior agreement from your current line manager. 

For informal enquiries, please contact Michelle Jackson, Lead Pharmacy Technician, General Practice michelle.jackson@nhs.scot

A requirement of this post is to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme Prior to appointment.

NHS Fife is legally obliged to ensure all its employees are legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom. If you are not a United Kingdom (UK) or Irish National, you are required to confirm your right to work in your application.