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Analysing the roles of pharmacy technicians in their early careers

A new project to analyse the roles of pharmacy technicians in the early years of their careers has been launched by the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and Health Education England.

The project will be undertaken by the Work Psychology Group in partnership with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and will reflect roles across GB health systems. It will include desk research, comparison with foundation training programmes in other professions, as well as focus groups.  In early 2020 the RPS and APTUK will invite you to participate in a survey to ensure all views are captured.  

Why has this work been commissioned?

With the new qualifications based on the GPhC Initial Education and Training Standards (October 2017) due to launch in Feb 2020 there is a need to understand the roles Pharmacy Technicians currently undertake in their foundation years to gain an insight into how Pharmacy Technicians skills and knowledge can enable pharmacy services to evolve.

What will happen with the research data?

APTUK expects to use the analysis to underpin and guide the design and review of a UK wide Foundation Pharmacy Technician Framework that will inform professional capabilities to be tested at the point of entry, during development and upon completion of post qualification training programmes. 

HEE will use the analysis to identify the development needs of pharmacy technicians in all care settings in line with the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP).

How can I be involved?

In early 2020 APTUK will invite you to participate in a survey to ensure all views are captured. Focus groups will be organised to stimulate conversations to provide information to enhance the survey data.  We welcome views and involvement from all Pharmacy Technicians in all sectors to ensure a good cross section of evidence is gathered to inform our research. 

Engagement with key partners will be through the APTUK Partners Engagement Group which has UK wide strategic organisations representation.

Commenting RPS director of education Gail Fleming said

“For pharmacy to optimise its role in a multidisciplinary environment, the contribution of each member of the pharmacy team needs to be defined and recognised. This work is an important step in understanding the current and future roles of pharmacy technicians across different sectors of practice. We are delighted to be involved and to proactively support the development of the whole pharmacy team.”

Commenting Liz Fidler, President of APTUK said

“This work is critical to enable the full range of skills and knowledge of the pharmacy technician profession to be fully utilised. Understanding the skillset of pharmacy technicians is a key enabler to ensuring pharmacy services can evolve through effective skill mix within the pharmacy team. The results of this analysis will lead to supporting an evidence based career pathway underpinned by standardised education, which will benefit the patients and the pharmacy profession.”

Commenting, Dalgeet Puaar, National Lead for Pharmacy Technicians said

“Health Education England is delighted to be working with partners on this research. The role analysis will contribute towards our understanding of the current demands and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians working at foundation level. This is a timely and welcome collaboration which will inform future education and training provision and support the development of a flexible workforce which is both competent and confident to work across care settings, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan.”

Commenting, Prof Fiona Patterson, Director of Work Psychology Group said

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with HEE, APTUK, and the RPS on this project. As specialists working within the healthcare sector and high-stakes roles, we recognise the importance of this project in shaping the pharmacy technician role. We look forward to contributing to this analysis in combination with our partners to support the goals of this profession.”