Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Implementation

This project will ensure an inclusive and participative approach to the implementation of pharmacy technician apprenticeships at a local system level and ensure stability and sustainability of pharmacy technician supply.  For all pharmacy sector stakeholders this will mean:

• a facilitated strengthening of engagement with local systems around maximising the opportunities presented by the apprenticeship levy
• increased equity of access and training experience for pre-registration pharmacy technician across all pharmacy sectors
• the development of a strong and well-adapted provider market which meets quality ambitions for pharmacy
• development of local educational infrastructures to accommodate the new qualification and apprenticeship delivery models

This project does not involve making any changes to existing supplementary funding arrangements for pre-registration pharmacy technician training i.e. salary contribution, where HEE may currently offer this over and above funding for education provision.  A review of supplementary funding arrangements is expected to commence in the next year, under a separate National programme workstream, in full consultation with stakeholders. 

Therefore, for areas where a supplementary funding arrangement is in place from HEE for pre-registration pharmacy technicians – this will co-exist with use of the apprenticeship levy (or government co-investment for non-levy payers) for training and assessment costs.

Employers in all sectors of pharmacy should expect to have to make some local changes over the coming months to accommodate the new apprenticeship delivery model and way of commissioning from September.  The project governance and delivery structures have been designed to ensure all stakeholders will be fully supported to identify, develop and implement local education infrastructure and delivery solutions.

HEE are leading on several national procurements for NHS (and other) employers, in support of the development of apprenticeship and other routes into study.  A key enabler for delivery of this project is use of a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Pharmacy Technicians, which has many benefits:

• ensures NHS procurement compliance
• significantly reduced procurement administration burden on individual organisations
• reduces bid fatigue by providers (higher quality bids)
• accessible to non-NHS organisations
• ensures the best value for money and best quality of provision whilst maintaining employer control and freedom of choice

To inform and shape the framework minimum criteria, dedicated workshops will be facilitated at all of our engagement events for stakeholders to input their specific requirements and priorities around what is important to them in terms of quality and delivery.

Health Education England are running a series of stakeholder engagement events in April, which aim to:

• ensure health and care providers in the region are familiar with current context and progress in relation to apprenticeships for the pharmacy technician workforce
• provide information on national procurement developments for pharmacy technician apprenticeships and implications for regional workforce priorities
• support partnership working across the region in designing and delivering pharmacy technician apprenticeship programmes, particularly on the job learning, and continue to identify regional challenges and solutions
• promote how apprenticeship can support an effective 'grow your own' approach to pharmacy workforce supply and development
• support the development of local AHP apprenticeship strategies in the region