Pharmacy Apprenticeship

DR FLATHER & PARTNERS

Ipswich (IP7 5DN)

Closes in 17 days (Monday 1 September 2025)

Posted on 13 August 2025

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Summary

Assist in the preparation (clerking) of prescriptions for dispensing and non-dispensing patients. Dispense medication and appliances in accordance with a prescription. Assist with stock control, ordering and re-stocking of the dispensary.

Wage

£14,722.50 a year

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Training course
Pharmacy services assistant (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, between 9am and 5:30pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 22 September 2025

Duration

1 year

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

Deal with patients, practice staff and other professionals in a helpful and welcoming manner. Address queries in a safe, professional, courteous and efficient way.

Duties and Responsibilities once qualified:

  • Issue (clerk) repeat prescriptions for dispensing and non-dispensing patients.
  • Dispense medication/appliances for dispensary patients and Mill pharmacy customers, ensuring all legal requirements are met.
  • Take orders for repeats (fax, telephone, online) and deal with queries from district nurses, practice nurses and other surgery staff.
  • Order drugs/appliances from the appropriate supplier
  • Ensure that patients receive the correct prescription.
  • Collect the appropriate prescription charge or patient exemption statement.
  • Maintenance of good stock control, with the objective of ensuring continuity of supply for patients but minimising wastage. -
  • To put away drug orders while maintaining stock rotation and to check invoices accurately, reporting any discrepancies.
  • Ensure that drugs are received and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the legal requirements for each item.
  • Ensure that refrigerated items are stored at the appropriate temperature and that the max and min temperatures of the fridges are recorded daily. Any problems i.e. fridge temperature out of range, should be reported to the dispensary manager.
  • To take responsibility for a section of the dispensary to ‘date check’ every month, as per SOP.
  • Ensure the cleanliness of the work surfaces, shelves, and all dispensary equipment.
  • Maintain full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions.
  • Make changes as requested by a doctor to a patient’s repeat template. Usually, advice from the hospital, a discharge letter or from a specialist practitioner. Ensuring this is double-checked.
  • Check with GPs (use task system) or in the patient records if concerned about the appropriateness of requests for medication.
  • Deal with queries from patients regarding their prescriptions.
  • Deal with queries from medical professionals about patients’ medication.
  • Handle money from prescription charges and balance the till.
  • Assist the practice by working to the ICB guidelines, to keep the drugs budget down.
  • Carry out relevant searches on medication, for safety or budgetary reasons.
  • Assist the Dispensary Manager to meet the DSQS requirements.
  • Provide cover for annual leave/sickness
  • Any other duties deemed appropriate by the Dispensary Manager

Where you'll work

Hadleigh Boxford Group Practice, Hadleigh Health Centre, Market Place
Ipswich
IP7 5DN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

WEST SUFFOLK 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

  • The learner will be studying the Pharmacy Services Assistant Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard qualification.
  • Functional skills will be studied if equivalent qualifications are not held.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English (grade 4-9)

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
  • IT skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Customer care skills

Other requirements

Opportunity to work in our expanding dispensary in the health centre. You will work in a friendly and supportive team of 10 dispensers. The busy is a busy environment and you will be dealing with patients and health care professionals on a daily basis, either face-to-face or on the telephone.

About this employer

A large NHS dispensing practice in Hadleigh, Suffolk.

After this apprenticeship

Opportunity to become a permanent dispenser in the team once qualified.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000336926.

Apply now

Closes in 17 days (Monday 1 September 2025)

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