We’re delighted to share that Sharon Howarth has recently become a qualified Pharmacy Technician, with support from Leamington PCN. We caught up with her to find out more about her journey to becoming qualified and how developing skills in this way can strengthen the support we provide to patients and care homes…
I have been working in community pharmacy for over 20 years, having started my career as a counter assistant selling over-the-counter medicines. After completing my Sale of Medicines course, I progressed into a Pharmacy Assistant role, gaining my qualification with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).
Over time, I moved into a leadership role within a busy walk-in pharmacy, where I led a department supplying medicines to care homes. This role gave me the opportunity to work closely with care home teams, supporting them with medication processes… an area I quickly became passionate about. My knowledge and experience in this space have since become invaluable in my current role within the PCN, where I continue to support care homes and contribute to safe and effective medicines management.
Although becoming a Pharmacy Technician had always been an ambition, the timing had never quite been right. After joining Leamington PCN in 2023, I was given the opportunity to enrol on the course and take the next step in my career – highlighting the role employers can play in supporting ongoing professional development.
Balancing the course alongside my role came with its challenges. As my position was not directly patient-facing, I needed to secure a placement in a community pharmacy, attending one day every fortnight over the two-year course. With the support of a welcoming placement team, I was able to gain the hands-on experience needed, while carefully managing my time to complete coursework, evidence, and case studies.
Despite these challenges, I found completing the course alongside my role proved highly beneficial. My clinical knowledge has significantly increased, giving me the confidence to manage more complex work and queries relevant to my role. The opportunity to take on more clinical work also helped deepen my understanding and strengthen my ability to support both colleagues and the care homes I work with.
Reflecting on my journey, I feel a strong sense of personal accomplishment having successfully completed something I have been working towards for many years.
For others considering a similar path, I would emphasise that the qualification is very achievable, with a well-structured learning platform and plenty of support available. I would also highlight the importance of good time management, noting that setting a clear plan and scheduling coursework in advance helped me stay on track… particularly towards the end of the programme.
I hope my experience will encourage others to explore similar development opportunities.
Sharon’s achievement not only reflects her dedication and commitment but also highlights the value of investing in staff development across the PCN – supporting individuals to grow in their roles while enhancing the care and services we provide. Investing in skills development is something we’re really proud of at SWGP and across our member practices and PCNs.
For more inspiration, why not have a look at some of our other team insights.