Planit : Job Profiles : Dispensing or Pharmacy Assistant Pharmacy

Dispensing or pharmacy assistants work in one of 3 main areas: community or retail pharmacy, hospital or clinical pharmacy or industrial pharmacy.

The Work

Community or Retail

You could be:

dealing with enquiries from customers, face to face and on the phone
giving basic health advice to customers and selling over the counter medicines
taking in and handing out prescriptions
packaging and labelling prescribed items
checking stocks and ordering supplies
referring customers to the pharmacist if need be
keeping records of customers and stock
handling cash.

Hospital or Clinical

You could be:

delivering medicines to other departments or wards
checking stock, ordering and storing supplies
keeping records as required.

Industrial

You could be:

setting up equipment to allow the pharmacist to do tests
carrying out preparation for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products
assisting with the manufacture and assembly of medicinal products.

Pay

Within the NHS Agenda for Change scales, dispensing or pharmacy assistants' salaries are usually on Band 2, £16,532 to £18,903 a year. The current pay scales are from April 2017.

Starting salaries for dispensing or pharmacy assistants who work outside the NHS are often based on the National Minimum Wage. The starting salary is often based on the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

As of 1 April 2018 the National Minimum Wage is £4.20 an hour for workers aged 16 to 17, £5.90 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20 and £7.38 an hour for workers aged 21 to 24. The National Living Wage is £7.83 for workers aged 25 and over. With experience hourly rates can reach up to £9.40 an hour.

Conditions

In community and retail pharmacy you work in shops, where hours are regular and may include weekends or evenings.
In hospitals and clinics you work in laboratories or dispensaries or in health centres and may have to work shifts.
In the industrial sector you work in laboratories, and regular hours are usual.
Dispensing or pharmacy assistants usually wear a white lab coat or uniform.

Workforce Employment Status

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Getting In

You do not need formal qualifications but some employers may prefer you to have subjects at National 4 or 5, usually including English and Maths.
In line with the General Pharmaceutical Council’s rules, you must work towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Pharmacy Services at SCQF Level 5, which has to commence within 3 months of starting a job.
Many employers will put you through the training and qualification.
Contact with some chemicals may affect those with allergies.

Jobs are available with the NHS, private healthcare providers, retail pharmacy chains and pharmaceutical companies.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

Unemployment

Percentage of workforce registered as unemployed (Scotland)

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

Scotland

2018

6535

3.6 %

RISE

2023

6772

United Kingdom

2018

76582

3 %

RISE

2023

78862

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You should be:

interested in science
numerate and good at calculations
accurate when keeping records
able to explain information clearly
a good organiser
discreet in dealing with confidential information
patient and empathetic when dealing with members of the public.

You should have:

excellent attention to detail
good communication skills for dealing with a wide range of people
good customer care skills
the ability to follow instructions and procedures.

Training

Training is on the job with part time study leading to the SVQ in Pharmacy Services at SCQF Level 5.
Buttercups Training Ltd offers a full range of training courses for dispensing assistants.
You will be required to keep your skills and knowledge up to date by undertaking continuous professional development (CPD) courses throughout your career.

Getting On

You could complete the SVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services and become a pharmacy technician.
As a pharmacy technician you could work in quality control in a hospital or get involved in research in industry.
In larger retail pharmacies, you could specialise in marketing or sales.
You might move on to work as a manager.
There is a graded promotion scheme in the National Health Service (NHS).

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

Buttercups Training Ltd
Tel: 0115 937 4936
E-mail: training@buttercups.co.uk
Website: http://www.buttercupstraining.co.uk
Twitter: @FromButtercups
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buttercups.Training

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
Tel: 0203 713 8000
E-mail: info@pharmacyregulation.org
Website: http://www.pharmacyregulation.org
Twitter: @TheGPhC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGPhC

National Pharmacy Association (NPA)
Tel: 01727 858687
E-mail: npa@npa.co.uk
Website: http://www.npa.co.uk/
Twitter: @NPA1921
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Supportyourlocalpharmacy/

NHS Scotland Careers
Website: http://www.careers.nhs.scot
Website (2): https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
Twitter: @NHSScotCareers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NHSScotlandCareers/

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland
Tel: 0131 556 4386
E-mail: scotinfo@rpharms.com
Website: http://www.rpharms.com
Twitter: @rpharms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalpharmsoc/

Skills for Health
Tel: 0117 922 1155
E-mail: contactus@skillsforhealth.org.uk
Website: http://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/
Twitter: @Skillsforhealth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillsforhealth1

Skills for Health is the Sector Skills Council for the health sector.

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Planit

Dispensing or Pharmacy Assistant

The Work

Pay

Conditions

Getting In

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

What Does it Take?

Training

Getting On

Contacts

Career Area

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