HEE today said that the funded scheme will offer 67 places in total, with 55 places on the NHS Leadership Academy Mary Seacole programme and 12 places on its Rosalind Franklin programme.

 

The programmes are due to start in February 2023 and applications are now open until 10 January.

 

The training will enable pharmacy technicians in leadership roles in England to develop leadership skills, regardless of seniority level, HEE said.

 

Pharmacy technicians applying to the programmes must meet the following criteria:

• GPhC-registered pharmacy technician working in any sector in England

• At least two years post qualification

For the Mary Seacole programme, they must also be a “first-time leader in health and care in a formal position of leadership with responsibility for people and services”.

 

This could include line managing staff, day-to-day management of the dispensary or pharmacy, managing projects, liaising with different healthcare professionals or supervising trainees, HEE said.

 

Those applying to the Rosalind Franklin programme must be a “mid-level leader aspiring to lead large and complex programmes, departments, services or systems”.

 

Applicants must also demonstrate “as a minimum”:

• The support of their line manager

• Availability to attend study days

• Evidence of meeting eligibility criteria

• Commitment to use the leadership skills within their areas of expertise for the delivery of emerging NHS services

Helen Porter, pharmacy dean at HEE, said: “These training offers are fantastic opportunities for pharmacy technicians to develop their leadership skills. It is so important for the pharmacy workforce that these opportunities are available. 

 

“It recognises the need for a cohort of senior pharmacy technician leaders and the vital contribution they make to patients and health care systems.”

 

The new scheme is “part of work to ensure that the current workforce of pharmacy technicians benefits from increased post-registration opportunities to develop their leadership skills”, HEE added.

 

Earlier this year, HEE announced that there would be 327 funded independent prescribing places for courses in England, with eligible pharmacists invited to apply in the first half of 2022.

 

And in October, HEE also said it would fund exam support for trainee pharmacists in the east of England from this month - the first time it has offered this kind of support to trainee pharmacists.