Jignesh Mistry (middle) with his pharmacy team at Superdrug
Choosing the right preregistration placement can be a daunting task, but if you enjoy delivering excellent customer service and being at the frontline of pharmacy services, then Superdrug is the right place to be, writes Jignesh Mistry
I was initially drawn towards working for Superdrug because it only wanted to take on about 20 to 30 trainees. I wanted to have all the benefits of working for a large multiple while still being able to express myself as an individual. Also, one of the main advantages of working for Superdrug is that it has a dedicated course structure, which has one of the highest pass rates in the UK.
Superdrug and me
I can still remember my first day as I walked up into the pharmacy clutching my folder. Like many, I had to work my way up starting with the pharmacy medicines counter. I spent some time working with the counter assistants to help familiarise myself with the products as well as the customers. Superdrug believes in excellent customer service therefore it was essential to know each customer’s name to give that personal touch.
Working at one of the biggest community pharmacy chains in Britain, it is important to understand how the shop floor works alongside the pharmacy. One of my first tasks was to liaise with the shop-floor manager so I could understand how the business works as a whole. I learnt how the store manager could help to support the decisions I would make in the future and how, working as a team, I could help to support the business as a whole.
The pharmacy team was an essential part of my year. I worked alongside two dispensers and two counter assistants. As I worked my way up to the dispensary, I found out how important it is to learn from all members of staff. I quickly learnt the ropes and worked my way through dispensing to checking. My pharmacy dealt with a number of nursing homes, so it was important to learn about the different methods that are used to prepare each home’s medicines trays.
Within Superdrug, there is a great mix of different specialties and the chance to visit different stores to ensure all your competencies are met. I visited a number of stores and spent some time working on some new areas, such as supervised consumption. I found it refreshing to work alongside different pharmacists and compare the techniques that I had already learnt.
My tutor was keen to ensure we provided a variety of enhanced services so we regularly attended primary care trust training events. Getting involved with the local PCT is an important part of operating a successful pharmacy business as well as an important component of continuing professional development. The meetings are an excellent opportunity to build contacts with other pharmacists and preregistration trainees.
As part of my course, I had to present a business case to my area managers to show how I would generate new business in this ever-competitive environment. Attending these training events helped me to learn the “ins and outs” of new enhanced services taking place and how I would be able to incorporate them in the future.
Luckily, Superdrug still incorporates a two-week placement at a local hospital to ensure you get a fuller experience. The placement is also an excellent opportunity to complete those hard-to-get competencies. I enjoyed the change in environment, but I missed the close patient contact that you get with working in a community pharmacy.
As part of your training year you will have regular reviews with your tutor. Make sure you prepare for these meetings by ensuring you complete all your competencies to date. The meetings are a chance for you to discuss what is going well and an excellent opportunity for you to identify areas you are struggling with. Remember, this is a training year and you are not expected to know everything but rather learn as you go along.
Residential placements
During the course of my training year, I attended four residential placements. Each placement was a week long and gave me the opportunity to meet fellow preregistration trainees. As well as the opportunity to relax from the busy pharmacy environment, there was ample opportunity to catch up on some studying.
The placements aimed to cover portions of the British National Formulary, the Drug Tariff and calculations. The training was overseen by Buttercups, which provided support material for each area and a preregistration co-ordinator who oversaw all parts of our training. A number of external speakers also gave talks and helped us to familiarise ourselves with more hands-on work, such as measuring stockings and diabetes testing.
During the evenings, I had the opportunity to meet members of the head office and area managers. This was a great opportunity to familiarise myself with the company structure and also to ask questions. These encounters formed an essential part of my support network that I still use today.
During the final residential placement, a full-scale mock examination took place. I thought this was a valuable part of my training year because it helped me to identify areas that I needed to cover, as well as the chance to test out my examination timing and techniques before the big day.
Management skills
A crucial part of my training year was learning how to manage a team. Operating a successful pharmacy requires unity and leadership from the pharmacist. By delegating tasks and planning in advance, I learnt how I could prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed with tasks, especially during the early parts of my new career. Another crucial part of my training was learning about all the relevant paperwork that needs to be completed to ensure the pharmacy stays up to date.
The future
Superdrug wants to retain all its preregistration trainees and there are a variety of locations for you to choose from. I am currently a pharmacy manager at Superdrug. I found it easy to transit from one store to the next since each Superdrug store uses the same protocols. I have managed to successfully set up a number of services, including smoking cessation, chlamydia screening and minor ailments, and I hope to include many more.
Superdrug has offered me the chance to pursue my own interests while providing me with a great support network. I hope my experiences and insights have provided you with an idea of what a large multiple can offer and I wish you the best of luck.
Tips on getting through your preregistration year
• Keep a diary with you so you can make a note of your daily activities and always try to refer them back to your competencies. |
Jignesh Mistry is a community pharmacist manager at Superdrug in Newark-On-Trent, Nottinghamshire.
