Pharmacy
Pharmacy
We offer excellent choice for training and career development in pharmacy at Swansea Bay University Health Board. We house over 92 community pharmacies, and 50 GP practices within eight clusters and four hospital sites. Our pharmacy team comprises pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants and we are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Pharmacy at Swansea Bay UHB
We are highly skilled experts in medicines, aiming to meet the medicines management needs of our local population and deliver the highest quality care. We provide a range of services to hospital wards, prescribing clinics, technical services (aseptic), GP practices, care homes, and more recently, virtual wards. We care about the experiences of our patients and are passionate that access to medicines and pharmacy expertise should feature at every stage of a patient’s healthcare journey.
Roles within Swansea Bay UHB pharmacy have and will continue to evolve in recognition of the emerging and complex pharmaceutical needs of modern medicine. We have specialist, advanced, and consultant roles within anticoagulation, mental health, renal medicine, HIV, frailty, cardiology and much, much more. We are also active contributors on national programmes of work including antimicrobial, decarbonisation, and chronic pain.
Career pathway opportunities
Pharmacists
Every year, Swansea Bay UHB pharmacy hosts up to 21 foundation pharmacist posts, supervised by our team of highly skilled pharmacists. All foundation pharmacists in Wales are employed at Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 5. For further information, please visit Foundation Pharmacist Training in Wales – HEIW Pharmacy.
Following GPhC registration, early career pharmacists may then decide to develop their clinical and critical appraisal skills further by undertaking a post-registration foundation programme (PRFP). These postgraduate programmes typically take two years to complete and offer opportunities to work across our sites and network of highly skilled pharmacy teams, progressing them to the next level of pharmaceutical care. Every year, Swansea Bay UHB pharmacy offers up to six training positions within these programmes, employed at AfC band 6.
Beyond their early career, pharmacists will progress further into AfC bands 7-9. They will continue on a pathway of advancing practice, securing specialist, consultant, and management roles. The career paths of pharmacists are many and varied, making the journey exciting and flexible. Swansea Bay UHB pharmacy is committed to supporting staff in gaining the leadership, management and research skills required to meet the eligibility criteria for these advanced roles and achieve their career goals.
Pharmacy Technicians
Pharmacy technicians undertake a two-year apprenticeship programme in the workplace to gain a Certificate of Higher Education in Pharmacy Technician Practice. Eligible candidates must have at least 4 GCSEs grades A-C (or equivalent) and must include Maths, English, and Science. Once complete, they will apply for registration with the GPhC to practice as a technician in the UK. Every year, Swansea Bay UHB pharmacy offers up to six trainee technician positions under an NHS Annex-21 arrangement. This means an initial starting salary at 70% AfC Band 4, progressing to 75% after 12 months. For further information, please visit Apprenticeship Programme – School of Pharmacy – About.
Following registration and experience in the workplace, there are a number of extended and advanced roles a pharmacy technician may be accredited to undertake (AfC bands 4 and above). These include competency for patient counselling, administration of medicines and prescription reviews across our hospital wards and GP practices. Again, career paths are many and varied and Swansea Bay UHB pharmacy will support the funding and study required to advance its workforce to undertake these exciting and forward-thinking roles.
Pharmacy Assistants
Pharmacy assistants (often titled assistant Technical Officers, ATOs) undertake level 2 apprenticeship training (or equivalent) in the workplace as directed by the GPhC. Unlike technicians and pharmacists, pharmacy assistants do not require registration with the GPhC to work within the UK but must evidence that they have developed the right knowledge and skill to work within our pharmacy services.
Eligible candidates must have GCSEs grades A-C (or equivalent) in Maths, English and Science. Assistant positions usually begin at AfC band 2, operating within our pharmacy stores, procurement and portering services. Extended and advanced roles (AfC bands 3 and 4) will involve ward-based and care home services, e.g. management of discharges and assessment of patient medicines.
Why choose Swansea Bay
UHB for Pharmacy?
Our Pharmacy and Medicines Management division has a strong patient safety and quality culture, and we are committed to the health and wellbeing of our staff and patients. We guarantee a range of enjoyable experiences to shape your initial training for registration and your onward development into extended and advanced roles.
With such an extensive portfolio of services, roles, and multiple sites, we offer opportunities to gain experience, competency and skills across many specialities and sectors. At Swansea Bay UHB pharmacy, we have a team ethos and consider ourselves a forward-thinking directorate. We have won multiple awards for our innovative work, including advances in cancer-associated thrombosis, digital systems in renal medicine, reducing carbon footprint due to inhaler-prescribing in primary care, and winning the ‘Welsh Hospital Team of the Year’ award.
We are committed to high quality training and education and have a team of highly experienced clinical tutors and peers across all our development programmes, working with you to reach your full potential. We truly consider the patient experience and their healthcare journey. We encourage colleagues to train and work collaboratively across the sectors (community, primary and hospital), so we may truly appreciate transitions in care and maximise access to medicines and pharmacy expertise.
It is an exciting time for pharmacy in Swansea Bay UHB. With the launch of the new Swansea University School of Pharmacy and pharmacy’s role in the Health Board’s centres of excellence plan, its workforce and services will transform. We encourage you to join our team and our journey, be part of something rewarding and special – apply for your role in pharmacy today!
Find out why you should work for us.
See a full list of employee benefits.
Roles
Senior ATO / Senior pharmacy assistant (AfC Band 4)
Assistants within our senior management structure will have undertaken extended...
Assistant technical officer (ATO) / Pharmacy assistant (AfC Band 2-3)
Pharmacy assistants are responsible for the assembly and dispensing of items against prescriptions...
Senior/Advanced pharmacy technician (AfC Bands 6 and above)
Technicians within our senior management structure have responsibility for managing teams within pharmacy...
Medicines management pharmacy technician (AfC Band 4-5)
Medicines Management (MM) technicians are responsible for the safe, efficient, and effective supply...
Clinical director (AfC Band 9)
The Clinical Director for Pharmacy and Medicines Management has overall responsibility for...
Senior, principal and consultant pharmacist (AfC Bands 8b and above)
Pharmacists within our senior management structure have responsibility for managing teams...
Specialist and advanced pharmacist (AfC Bands 7-8a)
Extended or advanced practice pharmacist roles usually involve specialism into a particular area...
Pharmacist (AfC Band 6)
Early career pharmacists are primarily responsible for delivering pharmacy services to nominated wards...
There is a real sense of belonging at the
health board and in my local community
