Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technician Apprentice
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Tyne and Wear (NE9 6SX)
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 24 September 2025)
Posted on 10 September 2025
Contents
Summary
To develop the skills and knowledge in all areas of hospital pharmacy practice required to become a qualified Pharmacy Technician to deliver a 7-day patient-focused pharmaceutical service. This will involve completion of the Pharmacy Technician (integrated) Apprenticeship and level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians.
- Wage
-
£24,465 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Agenda for Change Band 2/Band 3 depending on NHS experience.
- Training course
- Pharmacy technician (integrated) (level 3)
- Hours
-
Core hours are Mon - Fri 08:30am - 5pm. There will be a requirement to work one in seven weekends 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday followed by two rest days the following week, and also work two late nights per month till 7pm. Plus one Bank holiday.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 3 November 2025
- Duration
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2 years
- Positions available
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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
To complete a 2-year training and development apprenticeship under the supervision of a registered Pharmacy Technician and or Pharmacist, in line with the requirements of the external training provider. In order to complete this training package you will need the following:
- To undertake and compete the Pharmacy Technician (integrated) Apprenticeship
- To undertake and complete the Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians in line with the external training provider requirements.
- To train and work in the designated areas within the in-patient department and to complete the competencies required for each standard.
- To contribute to the provision of a range of pharmaceutical services, including the following core duties: dispensing, medicine management, procurement, distribution, including ward top-up services and medicine safety.
- To ensure all pharmacy duties are carried out in accordance with legal, ethical and professional guidelines e.g. Code of Ethics for Pharmacy Technicians, COSHH regulations, EC Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice, Health and Safety regulations and following the pharmacy departments and Trust procedures to meet the needs of our patients and other health care professionals.
Where you'll work
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Sheriff Hill
Gateshead
Tyne and Wear
NE9 6SX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BUTTERCUPS TRAINING LIMITED
Training course
Pharmacy technician (integrated) (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Recognise and work within their scope of practice and skills,
- Use relevant data and information to make effective decisions
- Accurately retrieve and reconcile information about a person’s medicines
- Accurately assemble prescribed items
- Issue prescribed items safely and effectively and take action to deal with discrepancies carry out an accuracy check of dispensed medicines and products
- Accurately perform pharmaceutical calculations to ensure the safety of people
- Apply the principles of clinical governance and ensure person’s confidentiality
- Assess a person’s present supply of medicines and order appropriate medicines and products.
- Receive requests for medicines, including prescriptions, and check for their validity, safety and clarity, taking action to deal with any problems with the person directly
- Demonstrate operational skills within their scope of practice
- Provide a safe, effective and responsive pharmacy service
- Take personal responsibility for the legal, safe and efficient supply of medicines
- Apply the principles of governance to pharmacy operational processes
- Ensure the confidentiality of patient data.
- Communicate and work effectively with members of the multidisciplinary team
- Explain the impact of audit and evaluation on the quality of pharmacy operations and services
- Engage others in the improvement of processes and systems
- Effectively use systems to support the safe and effective management and supply of medicines
- Listen to a person, understand their needs and interpret what matters to them.
- Give the person all relevant information and advice in a way they can understand, so they can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing
- Optimise a person’s medicines to achieve the best possible outcomes.
- Obtain relevant information from people – including patients, carers and other healthcare professionals – and use it to optimise care appropriately
- Adapt information and communication to meet the needs of particular audiences
- Check and review their own and others work effectively
- Suggest and implement personal goals and methods of improvement
- Maintain CPD outcomes that meet with regulatory requirements
- Identify and respond effectively to errors and near misses
- Ensure effective safeguards are in place particularly for children and vulnerable adults
- Prioritise time and resources effectively to achieve local and national objectives
- Respond to medical emergencies
- Ensure that health and safety controls are embedded and working
- Effectively supervise other members of the team
- Recognise and work within their scope of practice and skills,
- Use relevant data and information to make effective decisions
- Accurately retrieve and reconcile information about a person’s medicines
- Accurately assemble prescribed items
- Issue prescribed items safely and effectively and take action to deal with discrepancies carry out an accuracy check of dispensed medicines and products
- Accurately perform pharmaceutical calculations to ensure the safety of people
- Apply the principles of clinical governance and ensure person’s confidentiality
- Assess a person’s present supply of medicines and order appropriate medicines and products.
- Receive requests for medicines, including prescriptions, and check for their validity, safety and clarity, taking action to deal with any problems with the person directly
- Demonstrate operational skills within their scope of practice
- Provide a safe, effective and responsive pharmacy service
- Take personal responsibility for the legal, safe and efficient supply of medicines
- Apply the principles of governance to pharmacy operational processes
- Ensure the confidentiality of patient data.
- Communicate and work effectively with members of the multidisciplinary team
- Explain the impact of audit and evaluation on the quality of pharmacy operations and services
- Engage others in the improvement of processes and systems
- Effectively use systems to support the safe and effective management and supply of medicines
- Listen to a person, understand their needs and interpret what matters to them.
- Give the person all relevant information and advice in a way they can understand, so they can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing
- Optimise a person’s medicines to achieve the best possible outcomes.
- Obtain relevant information from people – including patients, carers and other healthcare professionals – and use it to optimise care appropriately
- Adapt information and communication to meet the needs of particular audiences
- Check and review their own and others work effectively
- Suggest and implement personal goals and methods of improvement
- Maintain CPD outcomes that meet with regulatory requirements
- Identify and respond effectively to errors and near misses
- Ensure effective safeguards are in place particularly for children and vulnerable adults
- Prioritise time and resources effectively to achieve local and national objectives
- Respond to medical emergencies
- Ensure that health and safety controls are embedded and working
- Effectively supervise other members of the team
Training schedule
You will undertake the Level 3 Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship standard which also includes the Level 3 Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians. This will be delivered remotely by the training provider one day per week.
On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will also be eligible to register with the GPhC as a registered Pharmacy Technician.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- Biology (grade Grade C/4 or above)
- Chemistry (grade C/4 orr above)
- English (grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade C/4 or above)
Desirable qualifications
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Working to deadlines
- Maintain confidentiality
About this employer
Based in the North East of England #GatesheadHealth provides a range of hospital and community services from our leading facilities. Our primary focus is on providing excellent health services to our local community.
https://www.gatesheadhealth.nhs.uk/hospitals/qe-gateshead/ (opens in new tab)
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
On successful completion of this apprenticeship, you will be supported to apply for a permanent Band 3 Pharmacy Technician position within the Trust or neighbouring NHS organisations, though a position is not guaranteed.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Alison Bullock
alison.bullock3@nhs.net
01914456345
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000341511.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Wednesday 24 September 2025)
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