Education & Training
Education and Training Overview
Strategy
Pharmacy staff training and development in Grampian is overseen by the Education and Training (E+T) steering group. Representation on this group comes from all sectors including community pharmacy development team, HSCP leads, local training providers and corporate level.
Remit of the group:
- To provide strategic direction for learning and development to NHS Grampian pharmacy services.
- To provide a forum for strategic communication between NHS Grampian and its education providers and sectors / organizations that pharmacy services provide education for
- To meet on a bi monthly basis
Strategic Remit:
- Develop and maintain a strategy for learning and development in pharmacy services across Grampian
- Lead the assessment of education and training needs across the pharmacy service
- Encourage development and maintenance of a culture of learning within pharmacy services across all staff
- Scrutinize sector and service plans for education and training in response to service need
- Horizon scan for future needs and workforce planning
- Over see annual budget
- Act as a forum for liaison with key internal and external stakeholders relating to pharmacy education
- Reports to Director of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Technicians
National Pharmacy Technician Group Scotland (NPTGS) and APTUK are setting up a national virtual branch.
Plans are to launch in January 2022
If you would like to be involved email: scotland@aptuk.org or nptgs@outlook.com
To join APTUK go to their webpage www.aptuk.org
Education Resources
Resources to support answering medicines-related questions in primary care for NHS Scotland
FAQs
Who can I contact for information on training?
gram.pharmacyeducationgroup@nhs.scot
Independent prescribing
How do I become an Independent prescriber?
Qualified for more than 2 years? Find out more at Prescribing and clinical skills | NHS Education for Scotland
or newly qualified? Post-registration foundation curriculum | RPS (rpharms.com)
In order to qualify as an independent prescriber, you must complete a GPhC-accredited programme. On successful completion of the programme, you will receive a practice certificate in independent prescribing, making you eligible to apply for annotation on the register.
Independent prescribing entry requirements
Details of the pre-requisites for entering a pharmacist independent prescribing programme
How can I access funding for IP courses?
NES funding for 2022 courses is closed. Contact universities for information on self or employer funded places.
When / where are IP courses held?
Both Schools of Pharmacy in Scotland organise and run Independent Prescriber courses each year.
The process to apply for NES funded courses for 2022 is closed. Contact universities for information on self or employer funded places.
Can I access funding to attend events?
Pharmacy staff from all sectors can access limited NHSG funds ring fenced for education and staff development. These funds are reserved for skills that develop current practice in line with policies/strategy rather than training to deliver contractual or paid services. Requests are considered on an individual basis by the Pharmacy Education and Training group and full or part funding may be allocated. For more information or to submit a request email gram.pharmacyeducationgroup@nhs.scot. Examples of events that may be funded are business administration skills, leadership and support to attend conferences or specialist training days.
Peer support : Where can I access peer support?
Pharmacists: Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland have an active branch within Grampian. Contact via social media or email scotinfo@RPharms.com
Pharmacy technicians: Association of Pharmacy technicians UK (APTUK) have an national branch launching Jan 2022. They can be contacted via social media or by emailing scotland@aptuk.org
Practice Based small group learning (PBSGL) is a forum to meet with other professionals and discuss practice. Information on how to find and join a local group click here or via webpage www.cpdconnect.nhs.scot/pbsgl
Revalidation
How do I revalidate?
Pharmacy professionals have to revalidate annually, information for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can be found on the GPhC webpage or by emailing gram.pharmacyeducationgroup@nhs.scot
Professional bodies offer recording platforms and support before submission, contact details in Peer Support section