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The training and qualifications you'll need will depend entirely on the role you're applying for. The majority of clinical managers are qualified and registered healthcare professionals, and for some posts you will need to have gained experience in areas such as clinical audit or clinical governance.

Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. In the NHS, your career in clinical management would typically start at Agenda for Change band 6 or 7, with some positions at band 5, and the most senior roles rising to band 9 for, for example, a professional manager for a clinical service. NHS staff will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern. Roles in integrated urgent care/NHS 111 services are aligned to Skills for Health qualification levels. Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.

As with any managerial role, you'll need leadership skills, a willingness to work with others and respect their views, good communication skills, effective organisational skills, negotiating skills, the ability to challenge the way things are and find better alternatives, honesty and fairness in dealing with other people and a commitment to the ideals of quality and fairness in delivering healthcare.

In clinical management, you could progress to more senior positions, with a variety of responsibilities at operational or strategic level. For example, NHS trusts and the NHS 111 service have a medical director and a director of nursing, or other senior clinical management roles.

You need to study for an accredited qualification such as a BTEC National Diploma in pharmaceutical science, NVQ/SVQ level 3 in pharmacy services or a National Certificate in pharmaceutical science. To apply for a course, you need to be working in a pharmacy. Employers, including the NHS, offer jobs for trainee pharmacy technicians (or dispensing assistants). Employers usually ask for at least 4 GCSEs (9-4/A*-C), including English, maths and science or equivalent qualifications. A level 3 apprenticeship for pharmacy technicians is also available. It will help your application for a course or apprenticeship if you can show that you have an understanding of pharmacy and how it benefits patients. It is a good idea to spend some time with a registered pharmacist to see what the work is like.

Pharmacy technicians working in the NHS will work standard hours of around 37.5 a week which may include shifts. Newly-qualified pharmacy technicians will usually start in the NHS at band 4 of the Agenda for Change pay scale. Terms and conditions can vary for pharmacy technicians outside of the NHS, including those working in high street and retail pharmacies.

Pharmacy technicians need to be accurate and methodical, have an attention to detail, be able to read and carry out instructions and interested in people’s health. You'll need communication, customer service, science, IT and organisation skills.

With experience, you could specialise in a particular area of practice such as mental health, oncology (cancer treatment) or paediatrics. Or you could specialise in areas such as medicines management, manufacturing, quality control, education and training, information technology, supplies procurement, clinical trials or medicine information services. You could also take additional training to extend your practice to include additional responsibilities. You could become a senior pharmacy technician, responsible for the work of other technicians. A chief pharmacy technician is responsible for the day-to-day management of a pharmacy department.