Aspiring entry level pharmacists are being urged to come to Norfolk and Waveney to develop their career with a new pharmacy training programme. 

The Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System STAR initiative (which is an acronym for Start, Training, Advantage and Rotation) aims to address the growing demand for clinical, patient-facing pharmacy practitioners across all healthcare sectors in Norfolk and Waveney.

The team is particularly keen to hear from entry-level pharmacists who want to progress their careers, improve outcomes for patients and develop a positive and inclusive culture within pharmacy.

The rotational role, which lasts for 24-30 months, will be in both general practice and community pharmacy settings with Primary Care Pharmacy Education Programme (PCPEP) and Independent Prescribing (IP) learning and supervision. Patients will be able to access a wider range of care directly with pharmacists completing these education programmes.

Ceinwen Mannall, Head of Pharmacy Workforce Transformation at NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said:“We created STAR to launch an interesting portfolio role for early career pharmacists to work in primary care. A key part of STAR is providing access to education opportunities helping to improve skills and develop future career options.

“You can experience our excellent out of work environment, whether you enjoy shopping, beaches or aspire to sail the Broads. We invite pharmacists to join us as we make Norfolk and Waveney the best place to work in pharmacy.”

Lauren Seamons, Deputy Chief officer, Norfolk Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: “Collaboration and communication between Community Pharmacy and General Practice is key to the future integrated models of working in the NHS.

“Norfolk LPC are pleased to support this opportunity to attract pharmacists, at the beginning of their career, to work and develop their skills in Norfolk and Waveney.

“We also encourage our network of community pharmacy teams to welcome the chance at employing these pharmacists, not only to secure wider variety of skills for future, but also to help influence solutions which will enable Community Pharmacy workforce stability for the future.

“We hope these new roles, along with the package of support will be mutually beneficial to local healthcare systems and the patients they support.”

The STAR initiative forms part of the wider Norfolk and Waveney pharmacy workforce plan to implement the objectives to create new opportunities, promote good health and wellbeing, maximise skills and integrate across the healthcare sector to improve patient outcomes.

Pharmacists who have been registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council(GPhC) and working as a pharmacist for three years or less are invited to apply here.

The recruitment campaign will run until Monday 13 March, 2023.