Apprentice Pharmacy Services Assistant
Oaks Pharmacy
Birmingham (B29 6BE)
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 24 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 6 August 2025
Contents
Summary
This is an opportunity to begin your career in the pharmacy dispensing sector. This pharmacy is located in a busy locality and provides an excellent customer service experience for patients and visitors. If you are looking for a career in pharmacy, you will be mentored by medical professionals and have the opportunity to progress within your role.
- Wage
-
£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Pharmacy services assistant (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 11:30am - 6.00pm. You would be required to work every other Saturday.
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 3 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Handling customer queries in confidence
- Collection of prescription charges/checking patient exemption statements
- Operation of efficient stock control appropriate to the needs of the dispensary with the objective of ensuring continuity of supply for patients and minimising wastage
- Ensuring that drugs are received and stored in an appropriate manner in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions
- Ensuring that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and maintaining the temperature control record/logbook
- Ensuring that that all dispensary equipment is kept clean and kept in good working order
- Maintaining full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions
- Ordering and unpacking drugs and dressings
- Dispensing and checking repeat prescriptions and prescriptions from surgeries under the supervision of a dispenser
- Taking orders for repeats and dealing with queries from district nurses and support staff
- Using the computer to keep records up to date
- Dealing with queries from patients regarding their prescriptions
- Handling controlled drugs (and keeping register)
- Handling prescription money and operating/balancing the till
- Assisting when required to meet targets in relation to dispensing doctors' scheme
- Assisting in stock checks
Where you'll work
564-566 Bristol Road
Selly Oak
Birmingham
B29 6BE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BIRMINGHAM METROPOLITAN COLLEGE
Training course
Pharmacy services assistant (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- receive and log prescriptions
- assemble prescribed items, undertake an in-process accuracy check and issue prescribed items
- work according to legislative requirements, and organisational policies
- order, receive, maintain and issue pharmaceutical stock
- provide appropriate advice when authorised on supplied medicines and products, their storage and disposal
- work within the parameters of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the pharmacy
- act in accordance with systems and organisational governance
- recognise and act within the pharmacy regulatory, legal and ethical standards
- support the team in the development of others
- maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal
- communicate effectively with the public, carers and other health and social care professionals using a range of techniques to determine their needs, and keep information confidential
- handle information (record, report and store information) related to individuals and/or patients in line with local and national policies
- use pharmacy IT systems and other IT resources according to legislative requirements and organisational policies
- demonstrate person centred care and support within a pharmacy setting
- make pharmacy patients and patient safety your first concern
- use judgement and refer service user as appropriate to another member of the team, GP, healthcare worker, manufacturer etc
- maintain the interests of patients and the health of the public
- promote and advocate equality, diversity and inclusion
- promote healthy lifestyles to customers
- work safely within the parameters of your role using Standard Operating Procedures
- apply policies which relate to health and safety at work
- act appropriately in situations to prevent harm to yourself and others
Training schedule
Standards are occupation-focused; they are not qualification-led. The learning happens throughout the apprenticeship. And the apprentice is assessed at the end. There is a focus on key areas - knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB).
Highlights of the Standard:
- There is a major shift from assessing to learning. Instead of continually assessing learners, assessors will be more like tutors or mentors - planning activities, sending feedback and supporting apprentices until the EPA (End Point Assessment). The EPAO (End Point Assessment Organisation) will then be responsible for assessing the apprentice
- Instead of assessing apprentices, on-programme learning will meet all the KSBs in the standard and prepare apprentices for their EPA. Mentors will need to check which assessment methods are used in the EPA and do mock tests and practice runs as the apprentice approaches the EPA
- The standards include a 20% off-the-job training requirement. This means providers and employers need to work together to plan learning activities outside of the apprentice's normal working duties. Off-the-job training is mandatory and will be audited, so it needs to be properly organised and recorded
- Apprentices are now graded according to their performance in the EPA. This means mentors will need to work closely with their learners to get the most out of them - planning activities to coach borderline apprentices and stretch and challenge high achievers.
- Pharmacy Services Assistant Level 2 qualification is achieved on completion
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade C/4 or above)
- Science (grade C/4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
As part of this apprenticeship, you will be required to travel to both the employer location and also attend college (in most cases). Please ensure that you have researched your travel arrangements and are happy with the time it will take and distance required to travel, before you apply for this vacancy.
About this employer
Oaks Pharmacy is a friendly independent pharmacy based in an easy to reach shopping centre in Selly Oak. Our patients’ health and happiness is at the heart of our work. We take pride in having served our local community and continue to strive to meet their needs.
After this apprenticeship
- Following successful completion of the training, an apprentice could be qualified to work as a dispensing assistant in Community Pharmacies: Should they wish to continue training, accuracy checking roles present an interesting progression
- Further training can lead to a Level 3 Pharmacy Technician qualification, meaning registration with the GPhC and a qualification which is recognised in the wider NHS
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BIRMINGHAM METROPOLITAN COLLEGE
BMet Recruitment Team
apprenticeships@bmet.ac.uk
0121 362 1122
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000335914.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 24 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.