The role of Pharmacy Technicians plays a valuable role particularly supporting Clinical Pharmacists in GP surgeries.

There are many benefits to appointing a Pharmacy Technician to your team as they can support with a range of tasks including patient satisfaction, improved repeat medication work flow, medicines optimisation, prescribing savings and medication safety. A Pharmacy Technician can support practices in the following areas:

• Ensuring accurate records of medication following discharge from hospital and liaising with patients to help their understanding of any changes

• Releasing pharmacist and GP time by resolving medication queries with patients

• Acting as a point of contact with community pharmacies where usual medications are out of stock

• Looking for equivalent medication alternatives for patients with difficulty swallowing tablets

• Advising on cost- effective prescribing choices and avoiding medication waste

Pharmacy technicians may also give advice to patients on stopping smoking, and provide expertise on different treatment options for patients in a specialist area, such as mental health or general practice.

 Vacancy for Pharmacy Technician Ambassador

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced General Practice Pharmacy Technician to support the Black Country and West Birmingham Training Hub as a Pharmacy Technician Ambassador. This role will support the Pharmacy Ambassador and help to develop and retain the General Practice Pharmacy Technician workforce by providing clinical expertise and contributing to workforce transformation.

We recognise and value and contribution that Clinical Pharmacy Technicians make to general practice, and with the numbers of Pharmacy Technicians increasing we want to make sure that they are getting the best support possible.

The post will be offered and funded on a sessional basis and will be equivalent to a Band 5 for half a day per week on a Training Hub hourly rate of £19.13 per hour until 31st March 2022. The role is likely to be extended beyond this date subject to confirmation of funding.

The Pharmacy Technician Ambassador will not be employed by the Black Country and West Birmingham Training Hub, therefore if you are interested in this role and work full time in a GP Practice you would need to seek approval from your Practice to undertake this commitment. The Training Hub would then reimburse the Practice for your time to allow you undertake one day a week with the Training Hub. If however you work part time in a GP Practice and you would be undertaking this role within your own time then you would be reimbursed directly.

The position is ideal for General Practice Pharmacy Technicians who can demonstrate experience of working across the Black Country and West Birmingham, who have strong leadership, influencing and networking skills, and have evidence of maintaining and building relationships with Clinical Pharmacists and with the wider multi-professional team.

If you would like to be considered for this role please complete and return the attached expression of interest form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  by Friday 28th January

For a discussion about this role please contact Nancy Szilvasi, Training Hub Project Manager or Siobhan Hemans, Pharmacy Ambassador at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

To practise in Great Britain, pharmacy technicians must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and have satisfied the Council that it meets its detailed requirements.

Registered pharmacy technicians have to keep their skills and knowledge up to date with annual continuing professional development (CPD).

To practice as a pharmacy technician you need to study for an accredited qualification such as:

• BTEC National Diploma in pharmaceutical science

• NVQ/SVQ level 3 in pharmacy services

• National Certificate in pharmaceutical science

To apply for a course, you need to be working in a pharmacy setting.  All employers will ask for at least 4 GCSEs (9-4/A*-C), including English, math’s and two science or equivalent qualifications.

Training to become a pharmacy technician usually takes two years. It combines practical work experience with study, either at college or by distance learning. Courses cover:

• human physiology

• disease management

• actions and uses of medicine pharmacy manufacturing

• pharmacy law

Once qualified, many pharmacy technicians join the Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK). The APTUK runs courses, conferences and seminars where pharmacy technicians can exchange ideas and update their skills.

Qualified and experienced pharmacy technicians can go on to study to become a pharmacist.

Please see below useful job descriptions and person specifications if you are considering employing  a Pharmacist within your Practice;

1.  JD and PS for GP Practice Pharmacy Technician 

      2.   JD and PS for PCN Pharmacy Technician

To view the Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship offers from Walsall College, please click the link below:

Pharamcy Technician Apprentice Offers at Walsall College

To view the minimum requirements for the Pharmacy Technician role, please click the link below:

Pharmacy Technician Minimum Role Requirements

The following links are to other useful websites:  

• General Pharmaceutical Council
• https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/

• Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education
• https://www.cppe.ac.uk/

• Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK)
• https://www.aptuk.org/