Unit 8 Selling Over the Counter Medicines and Medicinal Products Assignment Brief 2026

University the woolwich college
Subject Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff

Unit 8 Selling Over the Counter Medicines and Medicinal Products Assignment Brief

Qualification Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff (603/6166/9)
Unit Number 8
Unit Title Selling over the counter medicines and medicinal products
GLH 70
Credit 10
Learning Outcomes 1. Be able to identify individual needs for medicines and products within a pharmacy setting 

2. Be able to recommend  suitable over the counter medicines and products

3. Understand how to assist in the provision of pharmacy services

Vocational Scenario or Context

This unit aims to develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of their own roles and responsibilities and the role of the pharmacy team in relation to the sale of over the counter (OTC) medicines and medicinal products; providing advice to individuals on the safe and effective use of non-prescribed medicines and devices. Learners will develop skills enabling them to identify individual needs and recommend suitable over the counter medicines and products. This unit will help equip you with the knowledge required to work effectively and safely on the medicine counter and the skills to communicate with individuals using appropriate questioning techniques and in a way which meets their needs. You will consider the importance and impact of your role within the pharmacy environment and gain the knowledge required to work effectively and safely on the medicine counter. The unit identifies use of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the importance of working within the limits of your own role. You will also learn to identify different classes of medicines, their uses and side effects, helping you to choose suitable products to sell to individuals or refer to the pharmacist. You will learn how to use resources to provide advice and information to individuals and how to choose the most appropriate information in line with the current guidelines and safe practice for over the counter.

Section 1 – 1: Be able to identify individual needs for medicines and products within a pharmacy setting

Unit/Criteria reference To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
1.1 Communicate with individuals in a manner that is appropriate to their needs in line with local and national protocols

Task 1 –  Describe methods of communication used for individuals in your pharmacy in line with local and national protocols

Communication Method Description When will this type of communication be used/adaptation required How does this meet local and national protocols
1. Open questions or closed questions    
2. Clear speech      
3. Informal Language and Formal language    
4. Active and reflective listening      
5. Verbal and non verbal      

Task 1 – Describe how you would adapt your communication style for the types of individuals (customers) when selling over the counter medications

Communication Method Description When used and adaptions required
2. Those with no idea of their needs    
3. Those with a clear idea of their needs    
4. Customers representative    
5. Those presenting with symptoms    
6. Specific language needs e.g. English not their first language    

Section 2 – Be able to recommend suitable over the counter medicines and products

Unit/Criteria reference To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
2.1 Describe the difference between the classes of medicines
2.3 Explain the impact of changes to classes of medicines on the sale of over the counter medicines
2.4 State uses, side effects and contra-indications for commonly used over the counter medicines

Task 2 – In the table one, describe each legal classification of medication and proved TWO examples. In table two, think about the types of premises that can sell medicines and who will authorise this.

Table 1

Medication Legal Clasification Description Two Examples
1. General Sale List (GSL) 1)

2)
2. Pharmacy Line (P)   1)

2)
3. Prescription Only Medication (POM) 1)

2)

Table 2

Legal Category Premises Who can authorise?
GSL Lines    
P Lines.
POM Lines  

Task 3 – Giving four examples, explain the impact of changes that may occur to classes of medicines when making sales over the counter.

Change to class of medicine What impact this may have
Change from POM to P or P to POM  

 
Product Knowledge
 

Medicines liable to Misuse

  
 

Excess quantities requested

Task 4 – Briefly set out indications, side effects and contra-indications for at three different types of medicines used more frequently when making over the counter sales

Section 3- Understand the role of pharmacy support staff in promoting health lifestyle

Criteria covered by this task:
Unit/Criteria reference To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
3.1 Outline the roles and Responsibilities of the pharmacy and wider healthcare team
3.2 Apply national and local requirements and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in relation to over the counter medicines and products
3.4 Identify resources that can be used to ensure that product knowledge remains up to date and explain why it is important to keep product knowledge up to date

Task 5 – Provide three examples when you have referred when selling over the counter medicines to the different roles in the table below and explain why you made that referral

Role Condition or item requested Reason for referral Responsibilities
Pharmacist    
Pharmacy Technician      
GP      
Pharmacy assistant/Medicines Counter assistant    

Task 5 – Explain the local requirements of selling medicines over the counter and how this relates to pharmacy standard operating procedures (SOPs). You will need to consider the roles of individuals involved in the sale of medicines over the counter.

Task 6 – List four reasons why it is important to keep product knowledge up to date

Task 7 – Describe three resources you have used to keep yourself up to date on product knowledge

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria
1 Be able to identify individual needs for medicines and products within a pharmacy setting 1.1 Communicate with individuals in a manner that is appropriate to their needs in line with local and national protocols
1.2 Demonstrate the use of appropriate questioning techniques to obtain relevant information to identify individual needs for a medicine or product.
2 Be able to recommend  suitable over the counter medicines and products

 

 2.1 Describe the difference between the classes of medicines
2.2 Demonstrate how different classes of medicines affect an over the counter sale
2.3 Explain the impact of changes to classes of medicines on the sale of over the counter medicines
2.4 State uses, side effects and contra-indications for commonly used over the counter medicines
2.5 Demonstrate the use of appropriate information that should be given to individuals when selling a range of different commonly used over the counter items
Learning outcomes Assessment criteria
3 Understand how to assist in the provision of pharmacy services

 

 3.1 Outline the roles and responsibilities of the pharmacy and wider healthcare team
3.2 Apply national and local requirements and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in relation to over the counter medicines and products
3.3 Recognise poor performance of others and take appropriate action
3.4 Identify resources that can be used to ensure that product knowledge remains up to date and explain why it is important to keep product knowledge up to date

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