Technicians make progress on Agenda for Change
Five national job profiles have now been agreed for technicians
and a further two are being negotiated |
Five national profiles for pharmacy technicians have now been agreed under Agenda for Change.
The Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK announced on 23 April that
an agreement over the job profiles had been reached. “This has
allowed the publication of five
national profiles which reflect the qualified pharmacy technician career
structure,” the
association said.
The five profiles span an entry-level
pharmacy technician placed in band 3 (pay scale £13,226–£15,877)
through to a chief pharmacy technician in band 7 (pay scale £26,106—£34,417),
with intermediate
positions at bands 4, 5 and 6.
The association now hopes that early
implementer sites will be able to use the agreed profiles. “The
association is confident that a considerable number of pharmacy technicians
will match the agreed national profiles within the relevant band,” it
added. Two profiles that are still being negotiated are for primary care
pharmacy technicians and student pharmacy technicians.
Meanwhile, guidance is expected shortly over how Agenda for Change will
be implemented nationally. A review of the experience gained from the
early implementer sites should be completed by the end of June. Some
unions will be holding ballots based on this experience. A joint statement
published by the pay negotiators on the NHS Modernisation Agency website
states: “Without prejudice to further union ballots, it is essential
that preparations for roll-out continue to avoid delay in transferring
staff onto Agenda for Change.” |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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