Pharmacy Services Assistant is an apprenticeship course which provides you with the opportunity to have the best of both worlds.

The opportunity to gain experience within the work place while studying towards a qualification hence earning money and developing your career at the same time.

The course is approx. 15 months with an allocated time of one day equivalent per week for studying from your employer, hence working four days a week at your placement and studying one day per week in the working hours in order to achieve your qualifications.

Entry requirements for the course are Level 1 English and Maths, or you will need to achieve these while taking the course with the need to have passed them before taking the endpoint assessment.

You will have valuable opportunity in working alongside healthcare professionals and practicing the pharmacy skills you develop within the work environment.

The course focuses on the acquisition of Pharmaceutical skills through applying knowledge and experience to work within the Pharmacy workplace. You will learn to identify problems and resolve them with the knowledge and skills gained whilst on the program of study. You will acquire key skills such as problem-solving and communication skills, dispensing and supply of medicines, Pharmacy law and ethics, Health and safety in the workplace and developing a person centered approach to care.

Your studying and carreer Development  will be supported by an electronic portfolio with a variety of lectures, workshops and tutorials  for easy access within the workplace or at home using a computer or laptop. Halesowen College will also provide valuable essential support with regular face to face guidance from highly qualified healthcare professionals who will encourage you to undertake self-directed learning and reflection.

You will develop and use excellent interpersonal skills to communicate with patients and prescribers so that the patient receives appropriate, effective and efficient care.  You will  develop the confidence of face to face patient interaction and the practical use of establishing a learning e-portfolio to prepare you for life long self development.

After the successful completion of the course you will have the opportunity to study further in order to gain further qualifications to become a qualified Pharmacy Technician. However, there are a number of further steps to go through before you will be able to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and practise as a qualified Pharmacy Technician in the UK.