Difference between Pharmacy Technician Band 4 and 5

[mayurbuddy]

Hello,

Today while surfing, I came across two bands the Band 4 and 5. Can anyone explain the difference between a Pharmacy Technician Band 4 and Pharmacy Technician Band 5 (Pharmacy Technician Higher level)?

Moreover are the bands assigned depending on your job profile and work reponsibilities??

Thanks
mayurbuddy.

[johnep]

Surf a bit more and look at hospital bands.
All part of Agenda for change.
johnep

[fraser]

I'm not sure I can offer an absolute certain answer to this but from my observation the Band 5 technicians I work with tend to not only perform the duties of a Band 4 but have specialist tasks they handle alone or lead a team. Things like being responsible for the dispensing of hepatitis, hiv scripts or chemo meds and acting as the primary liason between medical staff and pharmacy. There is also a Band 5 tech. that I can think of who is the joint team leader of our entire dispensary alongside a pharmacist.

It also seems to be the case that ACT's are Band 5 and above, perhaps this isn't a requirement of a Band 5 technician specifically but those technicians in Band 5 and above are senior enough to have been appointed the role of ACT.

Another example is a Band 5 tech who almost exclusively works on wards, their speciality is that of a clinical technician.

To cut it short, I think Band 5's tend to have some sort of established speciality role beyond the general roles of a Band 4 technician.

[mayurbuddy]

Hello johnep, fraser and members,

This is the information I got about the Pharmacy technician Band 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Below is a description of band 4-7 Pharmacy Technicians as defined by the
NHS job evaluation scheme (The National Profiles where produced to locate
where different NHS professions should fall with in the AfC pay bands). AfC
Pay band 5-7 meet the work permits skills criteria.
Job title AfC Pay


Pharmacy technician (Band 4)
• Dispenses and issues prescriptions; undertakes duties in relation to the
manufacture of pharmacy products
• Provides straightforward advice to patients/carers on pharmaceutical products and further supplies
• Supervises, trains, coaches pharmacy support workers, student technicians

Pharmacy Technician Higher Level Pharmac (Band 5)
• Dispenses and issues prescriptions
• Provides straight forward advice to patients/carers on pharmaceutical products and further supplies
• Undertakes day to day supervision of pharmacy technicians, support workers
• May hold accreditation for checking dispensed prescriptions of others

Pharmacy Technician Higher Level Primary Care (health care focused on the point at which a patient ideally first seeks assistance from the medical care system) (Band 5)
• Works as peripatetic technician to provide prescribing support to GP practices
• Provides advice and training in changes to prescribing to GP practice staff,
patients; may recommend changes to prescribing practices
• Trains less experienced PCT staff to deliver prescribing support

Pharmacy Technician Specialist (Band 6)
• Provides and co-ordinates technical pharmacy services to a specialist area or service
• Trains and assesses technical support staff; may manage team or service
• Checks dispensed prescriptions, pharmaceutical production

Pharmacy Technician Team Manager (Band 7)
• Manages the provision of a technical pharmacy service
• Manages staff, resources, activity and information
• May develop specialist technical services within the pharmacy
department


By reading this I feel that it the bands are taken into consideration depending on your Job profile or what kind of work you do.

I have also attached the file if you want!!!

Thanks, Please comment to share some more knowledge.