Advancing Pharmacy Practice
Beyond the post registration foundation years, pharmacists may choose to continue to develop their knowledge, skills, and competence to evolve their scope of practice.
The HEE Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England outlines the core capabilities for health and care professionals working at an advanced level of practice regardless of their setting, subject area, and job role. Linked to this, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum describes the entry level standards for advanced pharmacists working in patients facing roles.
Whilst developing as an advanced level practitioner, colleagues may choose to undertake formal postgraduate training courses such as and Advanced Practice MSc, Advanced Pharmacy Practice qualification or similar, typically in addition to Independent Prescribing.
For information relating to funded Independent Prescribing programmes, regionally and nationally, please access the national HEE website from the button below. The HEE website for the Centre for Advancing Practice contains information relating to funding for Advanced Practice Qualifications available through HEE and is available below. Outlined below is an overview of the regional CEPIP legacy programme, which closes in 2022 and will be superseded by the independent prescribing funding offer being made available nationally.
Independent Prescribing
Applications for Independent Prescribing training places in 2022/23 are now open!
These places are available to pharmacists across England who meet the following eligibility criteria:
Community pharmacists (including locum pharmacists); Pharmacists employed in General Practice (who are not eligible for, or enrolled on, the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Programme (PCPEP) and those who are working to provide primary care services (e.g., working in primary care) who are not employed in ARRS roles); and Health and Justice pharmacists
Pharmacists enrolled on CPPE’s Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) and meet the PCPEP criteria to enrol on an Independent Prescribing Course
Pharmacists working in an NHS Hospital Trust or Mental Health Trust (NHS managed sector); pharmacists working in an integrated care board, ICB (previously CCG pharmacists)
To find out more, including guidance on how to apply, visit the National HEE Pharmacy website by accessing the button below where you will find further information and a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions.
Clinically Enhanced Pharmacist Independent Prescribers (CEPIP)
History of CEPIP
Research conducted in the West Midlands from April 2013 by Health Education England - West Midlands, identified a potential role for the Pharmacist in areas such as pre-discharge medicines optimisation in the Emergency Department (ED) and Acute Medicine Units, as well as within Clinical Decision Teams in the undertaking of medicines-related and minors-focussed clinical duties. Such duties are often undertaken by junior medical staff; staff who face significant demands on their time with emergency admissions.
Provide advanced clinical skills training for pharmacists.
Develop a medicines-focused clinician; able to practice as a pharmacist prescriber, while also assisting in wider clinical duties.
Develop a programme relevant in terms of content and transferability in urgent and acute settings across secondary, primary and community care.
CEPIP offers the ‘hands on’ training opportunities to produce the pharmacist of the future – a practitioner with advanced skills to confidently and competently manage patients with health assessment, diagnostic and clinical examination skills comparable with that of an Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
CEPIP Providers, Course Dates, and Deadlines
There are two CEPIP course providers for London and the South East, information on course dates and deadline dates can be found below. The first courses will be delivered in August 2018.
Medway School of Pharmacy, Course Venue: Chatham, ME4 4TB
Medway School of Pharmacy, Course Venue: Chatham, ME4 4TB
Details of the course can be found on the fact sheet below.
How can I apply?
Applications for the courses are done through the university websites, via the links in the fact sheets.
This process is now closed and will be replaced with Independent Prescribing training for pharmacists across sectors in all regions of England from Autumn 2022.
How are places allocated?
Places are allocated to pharmacists based on the quality of their application, including the applicants ability to meet the GPhC minimum requirements for entry and mandated course requirements. See the universities website for more information.
There is no allocation of places per trusts, due to fluidity of staff movement within the region, which would make such allocations impossible to manage. In having no set allocations, it allows pharmacy departments to manage / plan training to fit their needs, which will include the availability of staff to undertake the course; taking into consideration the course requirements.