Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4 (Annex 21)
- Contract
- Fixed term: 24 months (Trainee)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (1 in 10 weekends and 1 bank holiday per year)
- Job ref
- 193-7535404NCG
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £21,113 - £22,621 Band 4 Annex 21; £21,113* (1st year) £22,621* (2nd year)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Pre-Reg Trainee Pharmacy Technician (Fixed Term 2 Years)
NHS AfC: Band 4 (Annex 21)
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Job overview
Band 4 Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician (Fixed Term 2 Years)
You must have a minimum of 4 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C or above (4-9) and must include:
1/ Mathematics (Level 2 functional skills will be considered as an alternative).
2/ English Language (Level 2 in functional skills will be considered as an alternative).
3/ Science (please specify if Biology, Chemistry or Physics on application).
(BTEC Level 2 certificate in Applied Science will be considered as 1 GCSE, Extended Certificate or Diploma will be considered as 4 GCSEs at grade A-C). Level 3 diploma is equivalent to A-level.
The Pharmacy Department at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust in Reading are looking for aspirational, enthusiastic, self-motivated and compassionate individuals to embark on a career as a Registered Pharmacy Technician.
As registration and the completion of Professional Revalidation is mandatory, this is an exciting time to train, qualify and practice as a Pharmacy Technician. At the Royal Berkshire we facilitate an excellent Training programme for the two years.
Previous experience of Pharmacy and completion of the NVQ/BTEC level 2 in Pharmacy Services/Pharmacy Services Assistant would be desirable but is not essential.
Potential candidates will be invited to attend an interview and will be subject to a literacy and numeracy assessment.
Main duties of the job
You will be provided with full support and training in these areas from work-based supervisors/mentors and on-line Assessors as well as study time to complete the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians alongside regular support from a designated Education Programme Director (Practice Educator Pharmacy Technician).
This training opportunity is a full-time, 2 year, fixed-term contract and you will need to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians course via an approved and GPhC accredited course provider and will follow the apprenticeship route.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest District General Hospitals in the country. The hospital achieved Foundation Trust status on 1st June 2006.
It was the first Foundation Trust in the South Central Strategic Health Authority.
The Trust has a successful track record of delivering high quality acute medical and surgical services for 500,000 patients across West Berkshire, an area extending from Newbury in the west to Henley-on-Thames in the east, and including Wokingham and parts of Hampshire to the south and parts of Oxfordshire to the north. The Trust is Reading's biggest employer.
The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.
Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Entry Requirements:
Minimum of 4 GCSE’s at grade A*- C/9-4, which must include Maths, English Language, and at least one Science subject plus 1 other GCSE (standard required by the GPhC and training course providers).
English: GCSE grade* 4 or above. An Alternative is that you have a certificate in Level 2 Literacy.
Maths: GCSE grade* 4 or above. An Alternative is that you have a certificate in Level 2 numeracy.
Science: GCSE grade* 4 or above in Double Science or Biology. An alternative is that you will have achieved at least merit in a Level 2 BTEC Applied Science.
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the role.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
- 4 GCSE’s grade C / 4 or above, (or equivalent) must include Maths, English Language, at least one Science subject (Biology or Chemistry) and 1 other to the standard required by the training course provider.
- Standard keyboard skills (RSA level 2 or equivalent).
- Clear written and spoken English (ILETS 7 for overseas candidates).
Desirable criteria
- Completion of NVQ/BTEC level 2 in Pharmacy Service skills.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working within a customer facing environment.
- Evidence of previous team or group work & self-initiative.
- Computer literate with experience of using Microsoft Office packages and databases.
Desirable criteria
- Has experience of using pharmacy related computer programs.
- Previous pharmacy experience, either hospital or retail dispensary or any work experience with customers in a healthcare setting.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Carra Allen
- Job title
- Practice Educator Pharmacy Technician
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322 7264
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