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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4 Annex 21 or Annex 30
Contract
2 years (Fixed term until 21st September 2027)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
432-HR302-25
Employer
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals
Town
Colchester and Ipswich
Salary
£21,113 - £22,621 Annex 21 Year 1 70% top Band 4, Year 2 75% top Band 4
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
11/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Apprentice Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

NHS AfC: Band 4 Annex 21 or Annex 30

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole.  The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

 

Job overview

Are you an enthusiastic motivated individual looking for a future career as a qualified Pharmacy Technician? These training posts include an apprenticeship and start on 15 September 2025 ending 21 September 2027 with posts at both Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals. You would be based at one site.

Applicants must meet Apprenticeship criteria and have a minimum of 4 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade 9–4 or A*-C (Maths, English and Chemistry or Biology).

You must be self-directed to meet deadlines, committed to self-study and effectively use study time given by the department to complete the course and be eligible to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician. You must demonstrate an understanding and compliance with the values and behaviours expected of NHS staff and the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals.

Pharmacies are busy departments covering a diverse range of activities and functions including: dispensary, logistics, quality control, manufacture/preparation of medicines/products including chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition, clinical trials, ward based/clinical activities, medicines information and community services. We have an automated robotic dispensing and stock supply system. This course places emphasis on clinical ward based and dispensary work.

You will be required to participate in our 7 day service including lates, weekends and bank holidays

Main duties of the job

Salary will be Band 4 Annex 21: Year 1 (£21,113) 70% top Band 4 and Year 2 (£22,621) 75% top Band 4. Internal applicants will be via Annex 30.

Ipswich contact Sally Rogers [email protected] 01473 704432

Colchester contact Amanda Callander [email protected] 01206 742823

You will undertake a Certificate of Higher Education, in Pharmacy Technician Practice delivered by the School of Pharmacy at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. The course has a blended learning approach using e-learning, classroom tutorials, practical sessions and portfolio building. There will be on-going assessments, observations with mandatory study days and forums.

This course places emphasis on clinical ward based and dispensary work. You will communicate and work effectively with patients, ward based teams and multi-disciplinary staff to provide a safe, timely and efficient patient-centred service aiding supply, patient compliance and discharges. The course also includes Accredited Checking, Medicines Management and Medicines Reconciliation.

You must be able to attend mandatory study days, follow procedures, apply theory to practice and have an interest in a career as a hospital based Pharmacy Technician. Appropriate supervision and training will be provided throughout.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. 

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Working effectively as part of a team under supervision
  • Applying theory to practice
  • Able to prioritise/organise own work/study to achieve deadlines
  • Good IT skills
  • Using own initiative
  • Interacting and communicating confidently and effectively with patients/people
  • Attention to detail
  • Accuracy
  • Work calmly under pressure and meet deadlines
Desirable criteria
  • Working in a pharmacy
  • Stock control
  • Accurate record keeping
  • Moving and handling loads

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • At least 4 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade A* - C or new GCSEs Grades 9 – 4 including Maths, English and at least one Science that includes chemistry or biology
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills/individual units or equivalent
  • Any other relevant qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of research into the undertaking required for an Apprentice Pre-registration (trainee) Pharmacy Technician
  • Evidence of research into the role of the Pharmacy Technician
  • Standards for Pharmacy Professionals (May 2017)
  • Awareness of Trust’s values and expected behaviours
  • Stock control & stock rotation
Desirable criteria
  • Aspects of hospital pharmacy
  • Role related interests

Personal Skills

Essential criteria
  • Motivated and enthusiastic for a career as a pharmacy technician and dedicated to the undertaking required for the course
  • Ability to attend the required study days
  • Commitment to self-study (home and off the job learning) to enable sufficient learning to complete course
  • Demonstrate Trust values and behaviours

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.NHS Pastoral CareDisability confident committedStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sally Rogers
Job title
Technician Services Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01473 704432

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Colchester General Hospital
Telephone
07789651269
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