Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- 75% of Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 2 years (Payment in line with other PTPTs as per AFC)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 9am-5:30pm. Occasional Saturdays and Bank Holidays)
- Job ref
- 364-A-9081
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Chelford Court, Unit E and F
- Town
- Chelmsford
- Salary
- £19,897 - £21,835 (role is approx 75% of Band 4 in line with AfC)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician
75% of Band 4
About Us
EPUT provides community health, mental health and learning disability services to support more than 3.2 million people living across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Also:
- We are among the largest employers in the in the East of England region, with more than 10,000 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- We run the COVID-19 vaccination programme across mid and south Essex and Suffolk and north east Essex.
EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). A new leadership team was established at the Trust in 2020.
Our vision and values
Our Vision
“To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care”.
Our Purpose
“We care for people every day. What we do together, matters”.
Our Values
- We Care
- We Learn
- We Empower
Our strategic objectives
- We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.
- We will enable each other to be the best that we can.
- We will work together with our partners to make our services better.
- We will help our communities to thrive.
Our services
- Mental Health Services
- Community Health Services
- Learning Disabilities Services
- Social Care
Find out more about the services we offer in our service directory.
Job overview
We have two opportunities for a dynamic, enthusiastic and dedicated individual to train to become a registered pharmacy technician.
If you have an interest in medicines, show attention to detail and want to fulfil a key role in supporting patient healthcare then this is the perfect opportunity for you.
This is a rewarding and challenging role that enables you to be in gainful, full time employment whilst completing a formal training programme that leads to a nationally recognised professional registration as a Pharmacy Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
The apprenticeship will involve:
- Enrolment onto a 2 year education programme through the University of East Anglia (UEA), that provides the underpinning knowledge to become a registered pharmacy technician
- Practical training in the workplace to develop skills across multiple pharmacy departments
- Collecting evidence, completing assignments and creating a portfolio, to demonstrate your application of knowledge and skill
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post and other Pharmacy Qualifications including overseas Pharmacy Qualifications would result in ineligibility for the apprenticeship funding and as such we are not able to consider applicants who have these qualifications.
Main duties of the job
Pharmacy technicians manage the supply of medicines in a pharmacy, assist with advisory services, and are responsible for carrying out routine and specialist services, including highly complex activities requiring them to use their professional judgement. They are expected to work both individually and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and have a positive attitude, self-discipline and show initiative.
They are able to work with minimum supervision, with a high degree of autonomy, taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work that they have undertaken, and that of others. They also develop leadership skills that reflect the regulatory requirements of the profession.
You will be trained with the knowledge and skills to optimise patients’ use of medicines:
- In the dispensary to dispense medication, receive and validate prescriptions, communicate with patients and healthcare professionals, manage pharmacy stock of medicines, including controlled drugs.
- In the ward setting: Work as part of a multi-professional team to check patient’s own drugs and supply medications for individuals, take drug histories, undertake medicines reconciliation, counsel patients on the use of their medicines as required under supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
Working for our organisation
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
- Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will work within the pharmacy environment while studying for the Certificate of Higher Education in Pharmacy Technician Practice through the University of East Anglia. The next cohort begins in September 2025 and we are looking for the successful candidates to be in post for that time.
The programme will combine some or all of the following elements: work-based learning, distance learning, classroom learning (face-to-face or video), residential study days, network study days, private study and completion of assignments. It will require a very strong commitment to private study in your own time.
You will require a minimum of 4 GCSEs grade A* - C (new grades 9 - 4) or equivalent including:
- GCSE English at Grade C/Level 4 or above, Scottish National 5 or above, or equivalent English language evidence which can include Functional Skills Level 2*
- GCSE Maths at Grade C/Level 4, Scottish National 5 or above, or equivalent evidence of numeracy which can include Functional Skills Level 2
- GCSE Science x 1 at Grade C/Level 4 or above, or Scottish National 5 or equivalent
*PLEASE NOTE that English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is not an equivalent to GCSE English Grade C/Level 4 or above and does not meet the entry requirements.
Please read the Job Description and Person Specification for the full list of entry requirements for this post.
The training post is based initially at our pharmacy in Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3AG, working 37.5 hours per week (may include weekend, bank holiday, early and late working rotas, as required) but will require working in our clinical locations across the EPUT Region which spans the whole county. As such a full driving licence and access to your own vehicle is essential as many of the locations are not accessible by public transport.
You must have a valid driving license for the UK, with access to a vehicle for work purposes, as the post involves visiting a range of hospital and other locations across the EPUT region which spans the county.
We are looking for candidates who can start on the 15/09/2025 at the latest.
If you feel you have the personal qualities required for this apprenticeship post we would like to receive your application.
For further details / informal visits please contact: Adam Jones - Pharmacy Operational Business Manager on 07581050355.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
- 4 GCSEs (A*-C or 9-4) or equivalent including English, Maths and Science
Desirable criteria
- NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy
Skills / Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to work under pressure
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- IT Skills (Microsoft Packages)
- Accurate with Attention to Detail
- Experience of working to Deadlines
Desirable criteria
- Pharmacy / Hospital Experience
- Awareness of Information Governance and Patient Confidentiality
- Dispensing Experience
- Knowledge and Understanding of Standard Operating Procedures
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to work within a Team or Independently
- Car Driver and Ability to Travel Throughout the EPUT Region & to attend Study Days
- Methodical and logical in approach to tasks
- Understands and works within their own professional limitations
- Commitment to study in their own time
Desirable criteria
- Ability to understand and empathise with people suffering from mental illness
- Identifies and Understands the Trust Values
- Keen to learn and develop as a registered Pharmacy Technician
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Adam Jones
- Job title
- Pharmacy Operational Business Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07581050355
- Additional information
Shaheen Allymohamed - Dispensary Manager on 07773046969
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