Pharmacy Apprenticeship

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 5 May 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 was 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 temperature of the fridges is 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 GP’s (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 patient’s medication
Handle money from prescription charges and balance the till
Assist the practice by working to 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.

College or training organisation

WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE

Your training course

Pharmacy services assistant (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

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

Your training plan

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)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Science (grade 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship 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 company

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: