Currently there is no funding or formal route of preceptorship for Pharmacy Technicians however the same principles apply.  In order to help with the recruitment and retention of the ARRS (Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme) in Primary Care, NHS England piloted in 2022 a preceptorship for three of the roles including Pharmacy Technicians with the North East North Cambria’s Primary Care Training Hub.

In this pilot scheme the preceptor will support the Pharmacy Technician who is new in their role, to get a great start in their primary care role. The aim of the preceptorship pilot is to welcome and integrate these newly appointed in their roles to the primary care environment which may be new to them.  It will help the Pharmacy Technician to translate the skills and knowledge that they currently have into general practice, it will help them to grow their confidence in their role and to apply any relevant experience into their new day to day work.

There are currently three preceptorship opportunities:

1. Invitation to tender preceptorships
2. Becoming a preceptor
3. Joining a preceptorship

For Pharmacy Technicians looking to become a preceptee within the programme.  The preceptee will have access to a preceptor for one hour a month for 12 months and a blended approach will be adapted when meeting.  These meetings with the preceptor may be done online, as part of a multi professional group or on a one to one basis. The preceptee will have the opportunity to attend four generic development days and four profession specific development days. There will also be access to a mentor and peer support sessions.

As mentioned above, the preceptor will support the preceptee by meeting with them for one hour a month for 12 months either online, one to one or as part of a multi professional group.  As part of the pilot, backfill is available to cover the cost of the salary for the preceptor.

This was a pilot that ran in 2022 – to find out more click on the following link: Preceptorships (hee.nhs.uk)

Please contact Charlotte Patterson, Pharmacy Technician Facilitator for BSol Training Hub.