Working as a pharmacist in the UK or Ireland

Ateam Health Recruitment

Working as a pharmacist in the
UK or Ireland

Welcome to the Ateam Health Recruitment UK / Ireland Pharmacy Scheme! This could be the first step in discovering a new and exciting life, living and working as a pharmacist in the UK or Ireland.

Ateam Health Recruitment is the UK’s leading Specialist Pharmacist Recruitment Agency with over 8 years experience in recruiting and relocating pharmacists from all over the world to work in the UK, you can be assured you are being looked after by a well respected and professional organisation.

As a highly qualified healthcare professional your skills are in great demand in the UK and Ireland and we have access to the UK and Ireland’s best employers with the best jobs all over the country, salaries ranging from 33 000 Ł to 37 000 Ł. As such, Ateam is able to offer you all of the following:

FREE OF CHARGE:

Positions available all over the UK and Ireland (London excluded)

Consultancy and preparation support

Paid UBELT Language Exam

RPSGB Registration paid upfront

Up to 12 weeks initial on-the-job training to get you accustomed to UK Pharmacy practice

On-going training and development in UK or Irish Pharmacy

One-way flight to the UK/Ireland

UK airport pick-up and travel to the town or city of your job in UK

Up to 3 Nights accommodation at the Ateam offices in Birmingham (when required and capacity allows)

1-4 weeks initial accommodation in the town or city of your job

Full support and guidance with UK/Irish Pharmacist registration

Full support from Ateam on the ground in Romania and in the UK/Ireland to assist with any relocation issues and questions

Assistance with opening a UK/Irish bank account and Credit Card

Assistance with obtaining a UK National Insurance Number

Assistance with Home Office registration

We are here to ensure that your goal of living and working in the UK or Ireland becomes a reality.

On page 12 of this handbook you will find your Master Checklist This is very important as it lists all the things that you will need to attend to, well before you are due to leave Romania. All items listed must be attended to, to ensure that you will be legally able to work and be registered in the UK/Ireland. Each item on the checklist has a page reference number. On that page within the handbook you will find further explanatory information on that item. Tick off the items as you complete them and make sure that all items and tasks have been completed prior to leaving Romania.

The rest of this handbook describes the entire process of applying for and securing a pharmacist position in the UK / Ireland followed by all the steps involved in relocating from Romania. There are 7 steps in the process, which you will need to follow. Please read the entire handbook before starting Step 1. Please note, Step 5 (page 6) can be started immediately as it does take some time.

To be Eligible to Apply for A Position through the UK / Ireland Pharmacy Scheme you must:

be a national of Romania

be in good standing with the Romanian Pharmaceutical Chamber

have a Diploma in Pharmacy from Romania which complies with the Training
Directive 85/433/CEE OR have worked for at least 3 consecutive years during the last 5 as a pharmacist (the acquired rights certificate)

have good written and verbal English skills

be able to provide at least 2 satisfactory professional references

have a desire to live and work in UK / Ireland for 18 months or longer

be ready and able to relocate to the UK / Ireland within 6 months of being offered employment

l        Take part in our training sessions (please see more on page 5)

l        Read the books recommended by Boots the Chemist and other suitable literature

l        Work with your consultant

During the preparation period your consultant will provide additional information and learning resources that will help you improve your interview skills, your knowledge about living and working in the UK as well as your cultural and social integration ability.

Please take into account that, in order to ensure a regular flow of information from your consultant, you will have to be actively involved in the communication. In this respect, informing your consultant on your needs, questions and giving feed-back on your progress, will be of great use. Fur further information, please contact Ioana Florescu, your recruitment consultant.

The first step to working in the UK / Ireland is to supply us with your CV and a completed

application form.

the following items need to be sent to Ateam

as soon as possible

1. The Ateam Application Form

Please fill out the attached Ateam UK / Ireland Pharmacist application form, answering all questions (see page 13).

An up-to-date CV

A CV is needed by Ateam to show potential employers in the UK / Ireland your skills and abilities, when sourcing job opportunities.

This can be emailed to ioana@ateamjobs.com

This is to be typed and well presented. It should include the following information:

personal details – name, address, contact phone numbers, email address etc

educational details – include the name of the university where you did your Diploma
and the exact dates when you studied

detailed work history – name of employer, location, position, exact start and finish
dates, duties and responsibilities

details of any training courses you’ve completed

your skills and attributes (both as a person and a pharmacist)

hobbies and interests

Please see the sample CV posted on www.ateam.ro If you require assistance with creating your CV please let Ateam know.

Pre-Screening Phone Call

After you have sent in all the items in Step 1, an Ateam consultant will review your application. Upon confirming your eligibility to work abroad the consultant will contact you by telephone for a short informal telephone call. This will be to determine your verbal English skills and clarify your intentions and preferences for working in the UK / Ireland. After this phone conversation Ateam may require you to complete further pre-screening procedures or may immediately approve you for interview. If you need to improve your English skills, our partner CALC (Careers Abroad Language Centre) team is happy to help you with further preparation. For more information please visit https://www.calcinternational.com/

Approval for Interview

Pharmacists who have been approved after the pre-screening phone call and additional pre-screening procedures (if required), will progress to step 3. If a pharmacist is not approved for interview, Ateam will of course continue to work with them and monitor their further development until they are ready to take the following step.

Two Pharmacist employer references

If you are approved for interview, you will required to obtain 2 written references from previous employers. These are required for UK / Ireland employers to evaluate your professional performance in your past jobs.

Preparation for the interviews

Once you have been approved for the interview you have the possibility to attend professional training sessions offered by Ateam. The aim of the training sessions are

to offer you the possibility to adjust and familiarise with the requirements you have to comply with in order to become eligible for the position

to train and assess the necessary professional, social and linguistic competencies expected by the employer.

Candidates can attend one or more training sessions in order to prepare for the interview.

We regularly organize training sessions in Romania. For more information please visit our web site: www.ateam.ro

Interviews

Interviews consist of two parts. The first is an English test carried out by Bath University Language examiner and the second an interview with a Boots the Chemists representative.

UBELT English language exam

The exam contains two phases.

During the first phase, all candidates take a written exam. During this phase their listening, reading and writing skills are tested.

During the second phase each candidate is invited to a face to face interview with the English language examiner. This phase can take place either before of after the written part. This part tests your speaking skills

Face to Face Interviews in Romania
A representative from Boots the Chemists will travel to major cities in Romania to conduct face to face interviews.

You will be notified well in advance of the time and location of your interview and booked into a date that suits your availability.
Please note: it is highly likely that you will be required to attend for 3 - 5 hours.

After the Interview

After your interview your consultant will be in contact to let you know whether or not you have been successful and whether the UK / Ireland employer wants to offer you a position.

Offer Letter and Employment Contract

If you are offered a position, you will receive an Employment Offer letter and 2 copies of your Employment Contract from your Consultant in the UK. Please read this contract carefully, as it will contain your salary and other important information. If you have any questions you may contact your Consultant.

Once all terms have been agreed you will need to sign and date both Employment Contracts and return one copy to your Consultant.

The Registration Process - Overview

There are 8 Documents that you will need to obtain:

(You will find comprehensive explanatory notes on each of these documents on the following pages)

An original certificate to confirm your registration and good standing from the Romanian Pharmaceutical Chamber and official translation

A Certificate issued by the Ministry of Public Health to confirm your qualification status under the Training Directive 85/432/EEC

RPSGB Questionnaire

A notarised photocopy of your passport with translation of notarisation

A notarised copy of your original birth certificate (and marriage certificate) + official English translations + translation of notarisation

An original health declaration signed by both you and your doctor + stamp’s official translation

A notarised copy of your Diploma and official translation + translation of notarization

A notarised copy of your right to practise / original resolution and official translation + translation of notarization

The Registration Process - Detailed

An original Certificate to confirm your registration and good standing from the Romanian Pharmaceutical Chamber and official translation

The Certificate confirms that the Pharmacist is in good standing with the Romanian Pharmaceutical Chamber.

In order to obtain the Good Standing Certificate from the Romanian Pharmaceutical Chamber you have to submit the following documents to the local chamber:

1. standard application form
2. copy of the diploma
3. copy of the Romanian Chamber of Pharmacists Member Certificate
4. copy of ID/passport
5. copies of other diplomas obtained
6. statement issued by the Local Chamber of Pharmacists regarding the good standing of the applicant

The Certificate is issued in 30 days and it is valid for 3 months.

In order to obtain your Certificate please contact your Local Chamber of Pharmacists.

Colegiul Farmacistilor din Romania
Phone: 021 210 02 51 Fax: 021 210 02 56

Email: office@colegfarm.ro www.colegfarm.ro

An original Acquired Rights Certificate issued by the Romanian Ministry of Public Health to accredit your graduation diploma and to confirm your work experience of 3 years out of 5.

In order to obtain this Certificate from the Romanian Ministry of Public Health you have to submit the following documents:

1. cerere in care se vor preciza si datele de contact;

2. copia actului de identitate;

3. copia legalizata dupa diploma de bacalaureat ;

4. copie legalizata dupa Diploma de farmacist;

5. copie legalizata dupa foaia matricola;

6. adeverinta eliberata de Facultatea de farmacie absolvita in care se precizeaza perioada in care au fost efectuate studiile universitare ;

7. copie legalizata dupa cartea de munca sau adeverinta de la unitatea angajatoare din care sa rezulte conditia de experienta profesionala mentionata;

8. copie legalizata dupa documentele de schimbare a numelui.

Ministerul Sanatatii Publice

str. Cristian Popisteanu nr. 1-3, sector 1, cod 010024, Bucuresti Directia Generala Organizare, Resurse Umane, Dezvoltare Profesionala si Salarizare

Phone:

Public relations: 021-30.72.675, www.ms.ro

RPSGB Questionnaire

Please complete the RPSGB questionnaire that will be sent to you once you have accepted the offer from the employer. Answer all questions as accurately as possible.

A notarised photocopy of your passport (with translation of notarisation)

You will need to get a clear and legible photocopy of your passport and have it notarised by a notary When getting your passport notarised, your notary should view both the copy and the original and on the copy, write or stamp: “I certify that I have seen the original document and this is a true copy” sign and date below. The notarisation must be officially translated into English.

A notarised photocopy of your original birth certificate (and marriage certificate) + official English translations (with translation of notarisation)

You will need to organise a clear and legible photocopy of your Original Birth Certificate. If you are married and have changed your name, you will need to organise a clear and legible photocopy of your Marriage Certificate.

An official English translation will be required for both of these documents.

Both of these documents need to be notarised by a notary. When getting your documents notarised, your notary should view both the copy and the original and then on the copy of your documents, should write or stamp: “I certify that I have seen the original document and this is a true copy” sign and date below. The notarisation must be officially translated into English.

If you have changed your surname due to a reason other than marriage you will need to organise Change Name Certificate together with its official English translation.

An original health declaration signed by both you and your doctor + stamp’s official translation

A requirement of RPSGB to register you as a pharmacist in the UK / Ireland is that you are in a fit physical and mental state. You will need to visit a Medical Practitioner and pass a medical examination. You will need the Medical Practitioner to complete the standard form (in English) that has been included with this handbook.

PLEASE NOTE: The Health Declaration needs to be an original, signed and dated by both yourself and the medical practitioner and must include the medical practitioner’s registration number and official surgery stamp – this stamp needs to have an official certified English translation

A notarised copy of your Diploma and official translation (with translation of notarisation)

You will need to organise a clear and legible photocopy of your Pharmacy Diploma

An official English translation of your Diploma will be required.

Your diploma will need to be notarised by a notary. When getting your Diploma notarised, your notary should view both the copy and the original and then on the copy, write or stamp: “I certify that I have seen the original document and this is a true copy” and sign and date below. The notarisation must be officially translated into English.

A notarised copy of your right to practise / original resolution and official translation (with translation of notarisation)

You will need to organise a clear and legible photocopy of Right to Practise / original resolution as a Pharmacist

An official English translation of your right to practise / original resolution will be required.

Your right to practise / original resolution will need to be notarised by a notary. When getting your Right to Practice as a Pharmacist notarised, your notary should view both the copy and the original and then on the copy, write or stamp: “I certify that I have seen the original document and this is a true copy” and sign and date below. The notarisation must be officially translated into English.

Please send all the above items to:

Ms Ioana Florescu

Ateam Health Recruitment

1051 Budapest, Október 6 u. 3. Hungary

By SECURE post

Ateam will send your documents onto the RPSGB and continue to monitor your registration until it is approved by the RPSGB.

Between now and when you land in the UK / Ireland

By this time you will have received your job offer and signed and returned your employment contract and obtained your Pharmacist registration with the RPSGB. Your Ateam consultant will now begin to arrange all your travel, and arrival plans with you. Prior to your departure for the UK / Ireland, your Ateam Consultant in consultation with you and BOOTS will organise and confirm:

The location and start date of your job

Your Flight to the UK / Ireland

Details of our Meet and Greet service (see below)

Initial accommodation arrangements

Upon arrival in the UK / Ireland – Meet and Greet Service

Upon arriving in the UK / Ireland, an Ateam representative will arrange to pick you up from the Airport. The driver will take you to the Ateam offices where your Consultant will:

Help you get settled in to your on-site accommodation

Help you arrange a UK / Ireland bank account (you will need this to be able to work in the UK / Ireland)

Help you arrange your Home Office registration

Answer any questions you have regarding your upcoming work arrangements

After a good night’s rest, and with your bank account opened, you will be transported to the town or city where your job is. Your employer will be there to meet you and will have arranged 4 weeks’ initial accommodation. Your employer will provide you with assistance in finding more permanent accommodation during this period.

Your employer will assist with anything you require over the first few days as you settle in. They will let you know where the pharmacy is and advise the best way of travelling to and from work.

Remember Ateam are here to support you, even after you have started work. Your Ateam consultant will be in contact with you to organise your National Insurance number within 3 weeks.

Below is your master checklist of things that you need to organise to be able to work in the UK / Ireland. Each point has a page reference where you will find further explanatory notes clarifying exactly what needs to be done and why:

Romanian Pharmacist

Application to Work in the UK

Name : Mr/Mrs/Ms 

Residential Address : 

Mailing Address : 

Email Address :  

Telephone Numbers : Home ( ) Work (optional) ( )

Fax Number/s :  Mobile :

Date of Birth :  Place of Birth :

Nationality/Citizenship : Marital Status :

EU Passport Holder: YES / NO Which Country:

At which university and in which year did you complete your pharmacy degree/diploma?

When were you first eligible to practice pharmacy in Your Country? (inregistrarea in tara D-voastra)

Additional Qualifications Obtained:

Training Courses Attended:

How Many Items per day do you dispense on average?  

Do you normally work with dispensing support from Dispensary Technicians? YES / NO

Do you plan to bring a partner and/or Children with you to the UK   YES / NO

(If yes, please list partner and child names and ages) 

Please circle your pharmacy preference: Busy / Quiet

Please circle your pharmacy preference: Large / Small

Please circle your location preference for a position in the UK:

Please note: priority will be given to pharmacists who are willing to go to any location

Any Location South East South West North East North West

East Midlands West Midlands Wales Scotland Ireland

Please list details of any specific location preferences  

How long is the notice period with your current employer? 

When do you anticipate being able to relocate to the UK to start work?

Please circle your intended length of stay in the UK:

Please note: priority will be given to pharmacists who commit to at least 2 years or longer

Permanently More than 3 years 3 years 2 years 1 year

Have you ever been to the UK before? YES / NO

Do you already have friends of family in the UK? YES / NO

(If yes, please advise their location)

Please indicate why you wish to relocate and work in the UK:

Through which recruitment agency did you make this application?..