The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) yesterday (January 7) announced that “for the first time [it] will be co-hosting a national pharmacy technician fellowship” with NHS England (NHSE).
The fellowship offers a “one-year fixed term opportunity” to work across the office of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPhO) at NHSE and the GPhC, the regulator said.
Read more: NHSE reveals new pharmacy technician CPhO fellowship role
Applications will open on January 22 and a webinar with both organisations will provide more details on the fellowship the previous day (January 21).
GPhC chief pharmacy officer Roz Gittens said that the regulator is looking for “applications from experienced pharmacy technicians from any healthcare sector” who are “ready to work in a new way”.
Read more: NHSE to fund 530 community pharmacy technician apprenticeships
The role will require “professional leadership and advice relating to where pharmacy technicians can add value to national healthcare priorities”, she added.
And NHSE senior professional advisor for pharmacy technician practice Liz Fidler said that the CPhO’s office is “delighted” to co-host the fellowship.
“[It] provides a unique opportunity for an experienced pharmacy technician to work across organisations and support key projects,” she added.
“Unique fellowship”
The position will enable “pharmacy technician professional practice to develop further and boost patients’ access to clinical services”, Fidler said.
Speaking about the application, she added that “your attitude to embracing what a unique fellowship like this can offer will be integral to the recruitment process”.
Read more: Funded community pharmacy technician apprenticeship ‘oversubscribed’
A similar programme was announced by NHSE CPhO David Webb in October 2023.
The “national CPhO pharmacy technician fellowship” position allowed an individual to work with the CPhO’s office and the specialist pharmacy service (SPS).
Read more: NHSE reveals details of community pharmacy tech apprenticeship
Meanwhile, NHSE announced in September that it would fund 530 apprenticeships in community pharmacy for pre-registration trainee pharmacy students.
And the following month, Fidler revealed that the programme was attracting high demand and was “oversubscribed”.
