Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician in Carlisle

We are seeking a motivated, enthusiastic, and dedicated Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician to join our pharmacy team on a full-time basis. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about pharmacy and committed to delivering safe, high-quality patient care. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge, practical skills, and professional experience within a supportive and welcoming pharmacy environment. Full training, guidance, and ongoing support will be provided throughout the role, helping you to build your confidence and progress successfully towards your pharmacy technician qualification.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required to achieve a Level 3 Pharmacy Technician qualification and, upon successful completion, register as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The post holder will undertake a structured two-year training programme hosted within the Practice. This will include workplace-based learning and competency development, alongside tutor-led education. The post holder will be allocated protected weekly study time and will be expected to commit to the training programme to successfully complete the Level 3 qualification.

Throughout the training programme, the post holder will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required to meet the GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals. They will work under the supervision and guidance of appropriately qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and will complete the required competencies and assessments to obtain declarations of competence.

The role is offered on a full-time basis to support the training, study and workplace learning requirements of the Trainee Pharmacy Technician programme, ensuring sufficient time is available to meet both practical and academic commitments.

About us

Carlisle Healthcare is a large and established GP practice serving patients across Carlisle and the surrounding areas of Cumbria. The practice was formed in 2016 following the merger of three local GP practices and currently operates across three sites: St Pauls, North Carlisle and South Carlisle. The practice has a strong focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. Carlisle Healthcare provides a wide range of primary care services and works as part of the wider Carlisle and Rural Primary Care Network, supporting a population of over 70,000 across the network. We are committed to developing our staff and supporting a positive learning environment, with a multidisciplinary team that includes GPs, nurses, pharmacists, healthcare assistants and other healthcare professionals.

Job responsibilities

The postholder will undertake a 24-month Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship and must be able to commit fully to the requirements of the apprenticeship, including protected study time, supervised workplace learning and allocated placement activity. The training programme is designed to provide structured experience across different pharmacy settings, enabling the trainee to develop the knowledge, skills and professional competencies required of a Pharmacy Technician and to understand how pharmacy services operate across primary care and community pharmacy.

Protected Study and Off-the-Job Training

The trainee will undertake one full day per week of protected study/off-the-job training, on site and during paid working hours. This study time will be formally planned, protected and recorded throughout the apprenticeship in accordance with the requirements of the training programme. The trainee will be expected to attend all required training, teaching, assessment and development activities associated with the apprenticeship. The trainee will be responsible for engaging fully with the academic and workplace elements of the programme and completing required coursework, assessments and portfolio evidence within agreed timescales.

Supervised Workplace Training

The trainee will undertake a minimum of 14 hours per week of supervised workplace learning within the Primary Care Pharmacy Team (PST). Supervised workplace learning will be supported by a GPhC-registered pharmacist or pharmacy technician, in accordance with the requirements of the apprenticeship and agreed training plan. The trainee will progressively develop their knowledge, skills and competence through supervised practice and structured workplace learning. The trainee will gain experience across prescribing, medicines optimisation and pharmacy-related processes within the PST. The level of responsibility undertaken by the trainee will increase progressively as competence is demonstrated and will remain appropriate to their stage of training and level of competence.

Multisector Pharmacy Experience

The trainee will undertake allocated placement time within a community pharmacy, as required by the apprenticeship and agreed individual training plan. Community pharmacy placements will provide opportunities to develop the wider knowledge, skills and competencies required of a Pharmacy Technician. The training model will provide experience across primary care and community pharmacy, enabling the trainee to understand how pharmacy services operate within different settings and how these services work together to support patients. The timing and duration of community pharmacy placements will be agreed as part of the individual's training plan and may vary according to apprenticeship requirements and the arrangements agreed with the placement provider. Learning outcomes will be progressively developed across the different training settings, with responsibility for supporting the trainee's learning shared between the participating organisations.

Structured Support and Development

A structured workplace training plan will be developed for the trainee, identifying: learning objectives and expected outcomes; planned workplace activities and learning opportunities; supervision and support arrangements; opportunities for experience across different pharmacy settings; and arrangements for reviewing progress and developing competence. The postholder will receive structured support throughout the apprenticeship, including regular supervision, feedback and opportunities to review progress against the training plan. The trainee will be expected to actively participate in their own learning and development, maintain appropriate records and provide evidence of achievement against the requirements of the apprenticeship. The trainee must work within their level of competence and follow all relevant professional, organisational and patient-safety requirements throughout the programme.

Expected Training Commitment

• Protected study/off-the-job training: 1 full day per week, on site and during paid working hours
• Supervised PST workplace learning: Minimum 14 hours per week
• PST Working: Remaining contracted hours, excluding protected study and allocated placement time
• Community pharmacy placement: Allocated hours as required by the apprenticeship and individual training plan

This is a full-time position, and applicants must be able to commit to the full requirements of the 24-month apprenticeship, including attendance at protected study, supervised workplace learning, community pharmacy placements and other training or assessment activities required as part of the programme.

Prescribing and Medicines Management

Support the safe, effective and appropriate delivery of prescribing and medicines optimisation services within the Practice, working within own competence, established procedures, SOPs and agreed pathways. Develop and apply knowledge of medicines, prescribing processes, medicines safety, medicines management and prescribing governance within primary care. Process repeat prescriptions, medication requests and prescribing-related tasks, identifying and escalating requests requiring clinical review or falling outside agreed competence and responsibilities. Process medication-related information from hospital correspondence, including admissions and discharges, and undertake medicines reconciliation as knowledge and competence develop, ensuring discrepancies and potential risks are appropriately escalated. Support established medicines monitoring, recall and follow-up processes, including coordinating blood tests and other investigations where these form part of an agreed pathway. Support pharmacist-led medication reviews, medicines optimisation, medication reduction and titration pathways, processing agreed medication changes following clinical review. Support prescribing safety searches, audits, quality improvement initiatives, medicines optimisation projects and service development activities. Support shared care and specialist medicines processes in accordance with Practice and local arrangements, maintaining relevant documentation and identifying missing information, monitoring or agreements for escalation. Liaise appropriately with patients, carers, community pharmacies, secondary care and other healthcare professionals to resolve routine prescribing and medicines-related queries. Follow Practice processes for secondary care interfaces and repatriation, including identifying requests that fall outside agreed primary care responsibilities. Maintain accurate, timely and confidential patient records in accordance with Practice procedures, information governance requirements and relevant legislation. Work collaboratively with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, GPs, clinicians, Practice staff and the wider multidisciplinary team. Recognise and appropriately escalate medicines-related concerns, patient safety issues, prescribing discrepancies and queries that fall outside the post holders competence. Work within the scope of the trainee role, seeking appropriate supervision, advice and support as required.

Training and Professional Development

Participate fully in the agreed Level 3 Pharmacy Technician training programme. Complete workplace-based learning, competency assessments and tutor-led learning as required. Use protected study time effectively to meet the requirements of the qualification. Maintain an appropriate portfolio of evidence demonstrating progression and achievement of required competencies. Attend training sessions, tutorials, reviews and assessments as required. Actively seek feedback and use it to develop knowledge, skills and professional practice. Demonstrate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours expected of pharmacy professionals and work towards meeting the GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals. Take responsibility for identifying learning needs and discussing progress with the designated supervisor and training provider. Work within the trainee's current level of competence and seek appropriate supervision when required. Undertake community pharmacy placement(s) as required by your training.

Clinical Governance

Respond to Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alerts, set up searches to identify affected patients on the practice clinical systems and action them according to practice protocol. Under the guidance of a pharmacist, monitor practice prescribing against the local formulary and report back results to the clinical pharmacist team and action as required. Support in the reporting of medicines related incidents, and when required, contribute to investigations and root cause analysis.

Person Specification

Skills

• Strong communication and consultation skills
• Well-developed word processing/data collection/IT skills
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Effective organisational and time management skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to interpret clinical information to support clinical decision making
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
• Flexible approach to work, adapting to changing priorities
• Ability to use own initiative

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education 5 GCSE including English and Maths or equivalent
• A demonstrable commitment to professional development
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Knowledge

• An understanding of the role of a Pharmacy Technician and the contribution of pharmacy professionals to safe and effective patient care.
• Basic knowledge of medicines and their safe and appropriate use.
• Understanding of the importance of medicines safety, accuracy and confidentiality.
• Awareness of the principles of medicines management and medicines optimisation.
• Understanding of the importance of accurate record keeping and information governance.
• Awareness of the role of primary care and the wider multidisciplinary team in supporting patients with their medicines.
• Understanding of the importance of following standard operating procedures, policies and agreed processes.
• Awareness of professional boundaries and the importance of working within own level of competence.
• Understanding of when to seek advice and escalation concerns relating to medicines, prescribing or patient safety.
• Awareness of the importance of effective communication with patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
• Commitment to undertaking the knowledge, skills and competency development required to achieve the Level 3 Pharmacy Technician qualification and progress towards GPhC registration.

Experience

• Experience working in a primary care, pharmacy or healthcare setting
• Experience of providing a professional, patient or customer-focused service

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.