Mental Health (Psychiatric) Pharmacy Technician

Mental health pharmacy technicians are an important part of the healthcare system. They work with pharmacists and mental health professionals to ensure that individuals suffering...

Table of Contents

My Responsibilities
Required Skills
Qualifications
Training
Employment
Working Hours
Salary
Career Progression
Contacts
Videos from a Mental Health Pharmacy Technician

Mental health pharmacy technicians are an important part of the healthcare system. They work with pharmacists and mental health professionals to ensure that individuals suffering from mental illness receive the medications they need, as well as help them get the best outcome from their medicines ensuring the effective and safe use of medicines.

Mental health pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies and dispensaries alongside pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They help prepare and dispense medications prescribed by psychiatrists, psychologists, or other mental health practitioners. They also may be responsible for performing administrative tasks such as updating patient records and stocking shelves. Additionally, they may assist with patient education regarding their medications or their condition.

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a pharmacist and are registered healthcare professionals that are responsible and accountable for their own accurate and safe practice.

Becoming a mental health pharmacy technician is an excellent career choice for those interested in helping people get access to the medicines they need in order to manage their illness. The training required to become certified is rigorous but can open up exciting opportunities within the healthcare industry. If you have an aptitude for science and medicine and want to make a difference in others’ lives then consider becoming a mental health pharmacy technician.

My Responsibilities#

providing safe and effective pharmacy services
supplying medicines and medical devices to patients, whether on prescription or over the counter and providing information on symptoms and products
achieving the best outcomes through a patient’s medicines
assembling and accuracy checking medicines for prescriptions
providing information to patients, carers and other members of the healthcare team
managing areas of medicines supply such as dispensaries
supervising other pharmacy staff
responding to patients’ and customers’ questions both face-to-face and over the phone
pre-packing, assembling and labelling medicines
referring problems or queries to the pharmacist

Required Skills#

Pharmacy technicians must be able to communicate effectively with the wider healthcare team, patients and the public, whilst ensuring and maintaining confidentiality and privacy.

In addition, as a pharmacy technician you need to be:

Responsible, accurate and methodical
Able to pay close attention to detail
Ready to refer to the pharmacist when necessary
Able to understand law and guidelines on medicines
Able to read and follow instructions
Interested in people’s health
Able to explain clearly to members of the public
Able to demonstrate excellent customer service skills
Able to demonstrate excellent organisational, science and manual dexterity skills

Qualifications#

To practise as a pharmacy technician in England, Scotland and Wales, you’ll need to complete an accredited course and register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

GPhC-approved courses/qualifications are also available through a level 3 pharmacy technician apprenticeship. To apply, you’ll need to be employed and working in a pharmacy to meet the required minimum number of experience hours working within the pharmacy environment, under the direct supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

Training#

In order to become a mental health pharmacy technician, one must complete a level 3 pharmacy technician course, or a level 3 course in pharmaceutical sciences. The curriculum typically includes classes in medical terminology, pharmacology, drug regulation laws, and customer service. After graduating from the program students must register with the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council). Once qualified, mental health pharmacy technicians can apply for employment at hospitals that deal with patients suffering from mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Employment#

Mental Health pharmacy technicians work within a wide of employment locations including hospitals and secure units where you could be involved in the aseptic preparation of medicines, taking medication histories from patients, reviewing medicines, providing advice to patients about how to make the most of their medicines and giving advice on different treatment options. Your role will support the relationships between the wards and clinical areas, patients and pharmacy services.

In community pharmacy, as well as managing the supply of medicines, you may offer advice to patients and carers on public health initiatives such as stopping smoking, and provide expertise on different treatment options for patients in a specialist area, such as mental health or general practice.

Many pharmacy technicians work in primary care roles in general practice and care homes. These roles involve reviewing and recording the medication the patients should be taking, ensuring sufficient supplies, administering medicines, and counselling patients to support their understanding of how to use their medicines safely.

Working Hours#

Pharmacy technicians typically work a 9-5pm shift.

Salary#

In NHS hospitals, band 3 pharmacy technicians can earn from £18,000 to just over £19,000. Band 4 can earn just under £24,000 to just under £26,000 a year. This can rise to Band 5 earning around £26,000 to just under £33,000.

Career Progression#

With experience and undertaking the relevant qualifications, it is possible to progress to a senior pharmacy technician role and then onto a lead pharmacy technician role.

Contacts#

The following organisations may be able to help provide you with further information:

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)#

Telephone: 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)#

Telephone: 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

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland#

Telephone: 0845 257 2570
E-mail: scotinfo@rpharms.com
Website: http://www.rpharms.com
Twitter: @rpharms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalpharmsoc/