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The Pharmacy Services Assistant (PSA) works under the supervision of a Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, or other accountable healthcare professional, providing a range of pharmacy and medicines services to patients, the public and other professional healthcare teams. The PSA supports the delivery of pharmacy services in a variety of pharmacy environments.
A PSA will be involved in supporting the supply, preparation and assembly of medicines and products, issuing them to patients and other healthcare professionals and assisting in providing advice to patients to help them to make effective use of their medicines. They will be responsible for the ordering and receiving of medicines, as well as the storage, disposal and return. They will have an understanding of healthy lifestyle choices and relevant screening services.
They will understand and work to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by their organisation to help staff carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output and uniformity of performance while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with pharmacy regulations.
To support the preparation for End-Point Assessment (EPA), we provide:
Handbooks for training providers, employers and apprentices that cover assessment methods, preparation and requirements checklists, advice and what to expect on assessment day.
Sample assessments
A mandatory EPA planning meeting with the Independent End-Point Assessor (IEPA)
Find out more about this End-Point Assessment by viewing the ST0299 specification.
View our fees here.
Read more about the apprentice journey and why VetSkill is the right End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) for you in our Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant fact sheet.
Assessment methods:
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The Knowledge Test is a multiple-choice test of 40 questions with a further five (5) scenario-based multiple choice questions for each domain of the occupational standard:
Dispensing and supply of medicines and medicinal products
Team work
Communication, pharmacy law and ethics
Person centred care
Health and safety in the workplace
It is taken online and remotely invigilated (learn about remote invigilation in FAQs).
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: Any suitable location as per the VetSkill Remote Invigilation Policy
Graded: Fail / Pass / Distinction
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Apprentices must be observed by an IEPA completing two (2) simulated observations in which they will demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) assigned to this assessment method. The simulated observations must be carried out over a maximum total assessment time of one (1) hour, including questions and answers.
This method allows every apprentice to undergo a consistent and reliable assessment of practice that will cover all of the mapped KSBs. With the broad range of pharmacy settings, this cannot always be guaranteed in a live work-based observation.
Duration: 60 minutes (+10%)
Location: Remote via video conferencing or face to face
Graded: Fail / Pass / Distinction
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This is a structured discussion between the apprentice and the IEPA, taking place under controlled conditions. A professional discussion is not simply a question and answer session but a two-way dialogue between the apprentice and IEPA. It allows the apprentice to evidence how they have met the KSBs, underpinned by evidence drawn from their portfolio. A professional discussion is a well-recognised method of checking KSBs and is widely used within the health sector.
Duration: 30 minutes (+10%)
Location: Remote via video conferencing or face to face
Graded: Fail / Pass / Distinction
Interested in our End-Point Assessment service?
Fill in our contact form or email us and a member of our End-Point Assessment Team will get in touch.