Planit : Job Profiles : Pharmacy Assistant Pharmacy

Pharmacy assistants work either in a community or retail pharmacy or in a hospital or clinical 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.

Pay

Within the NHS Agenda for Change scales, pharmacy assistants' salaries are usually on Band 2, £17,110 to £19,470 a year. The current pay scales are from April 2018.

Many dispensing or pharmacy assistants work outside the NHS. 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.
Pharmacy assistants usually wear a white lab coat or uniform.

Workforce Employment Status

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Getting In

A good general education is necessary including National 4 English and Maths.
Many employers will put you through the training and qualification.
Previous experience in a hospital or community pharmacy would be an advantage.

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

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

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

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.
If working in a hospital setting, you would also complete the Mandatory Induction Standards for healthcare support workers.
Buttercups Training Ltd offers a full range of training courses for pharmacy assistants.

Getting On

You will be required to keep your skills and knowledge up to date by undertaking continuous professional development (CPD) courses throughout your career.
You may be able to apply for a pre-registration trainee pharmacy technician post.
As a pharmacy technician you could work in quality control in a hospital.
In larger retail pharmacies, you could specialise in marketing or sales.
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: 0207 388 8800
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

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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