NHS Pharmacy Education
& Development Committee
Nationally Recognised Competency Framework for Pharmacy Technicians:
The Assessment of Medicines Management Skills
Application for Approval under the ‘Grandparent
Clause’ - Mapping Document for Training &
Assessment Programmes
Version 1: October 2011
NHS Working Group for the development of a
National approach to Medicines Management
website:
www.nhspedc.nhs.uk
including Northern Ireland
Nationally Recognised Competency Framework for Pharmacy Technicians: The Assessment of Medicines Management Skills – Application for grandparenting v1
October 2011
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Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and the Grandparent Clause
It is recognised that some candidates will have completed an assessment programme for medicines management skills prior to the launch of the national
framework standards. Under these circumstances, only a training provider who has an approved programme against the national MMS framework will be given
authority to assess if the work completed by the individual is sufficient to meet the standards set. Where appropriate, these candidates may still be awarded a
nationally recognised accreditation under a term called the ‘grandparent clause’.
'Grandparenting' can be defined as the recognition of pharmacy technicians whose training does not meet the minimum criteria set in the national medicines
management framework, but who have undertaken relevant training and assessment prior to the national framework being available and have considerable
proven, relevant, experience ranging over a period of time.
Training providers who wish to grandparent candidates who completed the programme prior to the national framework standards being available, may asses
their previous programmes and determine their suitability for grandparenting. A training provider will be authorised to grandparent existing candidates only if:
 the most current programme has been approved against the national MMS framework and this is the programme that any new candidates will be
undertaking
 evidence can be provided that all the core learning outcomes associated with each module were assessed in the previous programmes and the
candidate’s competency was documented, as outlined in the following mapping document
NB: The approval process for grandparenting does not include scrutiny of assessment methods
The underpinning skills, if not assessed as specific criteria, may be covered by the candidate’s experience in the role and the sign off of their Educational
Supervisors and Senior Pharmacy Managers.
Once a current scheme has been approved against the standards of the national framework, training providers should use the criteria outlined in this document
to map existing schemes against the grandparent clause.
Regional training providers that are responsible for the grandparenting of multiple local and in-house programmes, should issue the grandparent mapping
document to each organisation requesting grandparenting, for completion by the local training provider. This documentation should then be submitted to the
regional training provider for review and a final decision on the programme’s suitability for grandparenting.
When a training provider makes the decision to grandparent candidates that have been accredited under previous programmes, that training provider must
ensure that each candidate is awarded with a certificate or other form of confirmation indicating that their accreditation has been recognised as meeting the
Nationally Recognised Competency Framework for Pharmacy Technicians: The Assessment of Medicines Management Skills – Application for grandparenting v1
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national standards under the grandparent arrangements. The following statement provides some sample wording that may be adapted and used in these
instances:
‘This medicines management training & assessment programme meets the standards for the nationally agreed framework for Medicines Management under the
grandparent arrangements and is therefore a nationally recognised accreditation.’
The training provider must keep a record of any candidates grandparented under the transitional arrangements.
The grandparent clause is only a transitional period which will close two years after the launch of the national framework; however, courses that are approved
within this timeframe will be given a minimum of one year to accredit candidates under the grandparent arrangements. This will allow time for programmes to
be updated by training providers and approved nationally, and for individual candidates to apply for accreditation.
Where a programme is not approved for grandparenting, it is recommended that only candidates who complete the revised approved scheme be eligible for a
nationally recognised accreditation. Candidates that completed the programme prior to the national approval will be required to demonstrate that they have
met the additional assessment criteria before they can be awarded a nationally approved accreditation.
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Application, Outcome and Feedback on modules to be used for ‘grandparenting’
Organisation/Local training provider
Organisation:
Full Address:
Contact Name:
Job Title:
Contact No:
Email address:
Programme Title
Date application for grandparenting
submitted
Date submission received
Please provide a summary of the modules to
be considered under the grandparenting
arrangement including the dates started and
any major changes made
Training Provider assessing programme for
suitability to grandparent
Organisation:
Full Address:
Contact Name:
Job Title:
Contact No:
Email address:
Training Provider to complete:
Date current programme approved by
PEDC/APTUK approval panel (NB: modules
will only be assessed for grandparenting once
the current scheme has been nationally
approved)
Please indicate which specific modules of the
national framework are suitable for
grandparenting in the programme
(Delete where appropriate)
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3 Level 1
Module 3 Level 2
Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting
Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting
Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting
Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting
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The Modules
Module 1: Accurately supply medicines to individual
patients
State how the outcomes below were assessed
and documented in previous training and
assessment programme
Document/page No:
Outcome
covered? yes/no
(To be completed
by approved
Training
Provider)
Comments (including
reasons when criteria not
met)
LO1.1 – Accurately order medications for individual
patients
In accordance with the organisation’s procedure,
correctly order appropriate items, which must include:
a) Appropriate prescription validity & clarity
b) Correct individual
c) Correct medicine name
d) Appropriate dosage form/presentation for the
patient (e.g. liquids for those with swallowing
difficulties, compliance aids where needed)
e) Correct strength
f) Correct quantity
g) Correct instructions
h) Correct medicine brand, where appropriate
i) Formulary compliance (if applicable)
j) Cost codes ensuring accurate financial reporting (if
applicable)
LO1.2 – Deal with a variety of initial and/or repeat
supply issues
LO1.3 – Facilitate the timely processing of orders
LO1.4 – Identify and resolve risks/problems associated
with the incorrect storage and stock control of
individuals’ medicines
LO1.5 – Complete all relevant documentation
accurately
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Other assessment methods used to assess competency :
State which assessment
Panel Comments
methods were used
Logs (include number of items)
Candidate interviews
Tests, including multiple choice questions, calculations and mock set up
prescriptions or mock med recs
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Other
Module 1 Approval
Approved/Not approved for
grandparenting?
Date approved
Comments
Date grandparenting period
to end
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Module 2: Determine the Suitability of a Patient’s Own
Drugs (PODs) For Use
State how the outcomes below were
assessed and documented in previous
training and assessment programme
Document/page No:
Outcome
covered? yes/no
(To be completed
by approved
Training
Provider)
Comments (including reasons
when criteria not met)
LO2.1 – Confirm the process for using patients’ own drugs
LO2.2 – Assess patients’ own drugs ensuring they are fit
for the purpose required
LO2.3 – Review patients’ own drugs for relabeling
LO2.4 – Manage patients’ own drugs if unsuitable for use
Other assessment methods used :
State which assessment
Panel Comments
methods were used
Logs (include number of items)
Candidate interviews
Tests, including multiple choice questions, calculations and mock set up
prescriptions or mock med recs
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Other
Module 2 Approval
Approved/Not approved for grandparenting?
Comments
Date approved
Date grandparenting period to end
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Module 3: Medicines Reconciliation (Level 1 & 2)
State how the outcomes
below were assessed and
documented in previous
training and assessment
programme
Document/page No:
Outcome
covered? yes/no
(To be completed
by approved
Training
Provider)
Comments (including reasons when criteria
not met)
LO3.1 – Medicines Reconciliation Level 1 – Accurately
complete and record medication histories
Use a range of sources of information, which must
include:
a) Patient
b) Patient’s own drugs
c) GP surgery
Record details of ALL medications being taken on the
appropriate documentation. These must include:
a) Medication name
b) Form
c) Strength
d) Dose
e) Frequency
f) Allergies / intolerances
g) Specific patient requirements (e.g. compliance aids,
no clic-loc lids, etc)
h) Whether repeat medication or acute medication. If
acute then document when prescribed and for how
long (steroids/antibiotics etc)
Recognise the limitations of a single source and the
reasons for always checking with a further source,
which must include:
a) Establishing a suitable second (or further) source(s)
LO3.2 – Medicines Reconciliation Level 2 – Reconcile
the verified medication history with the most recent
prescription available
LO3.3 – Communicate the outcomes of the level 1 or
level 2 medicines reconciliation process
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LO3.4 – Complete all documentation accurately and
legibly
Other assessment methods used :
State which assessment
Panel Comments
methods were used
Logs (include number of items)
Candidate interviews
Tests, including multiple choice questions, calculations and mock set up
prescriptions or mock med recs
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Other
Module 3 Approval
Med rec Level 1 Approved/Not
approved for grandparenting?
Med rec Level 2 Approved/Not
approved for grandparenting?
Date approved
Comments
Date grandparenting period to end
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Summary/Feedback
Nationally Recognised Competency Framework for Pharmacy Technicians: The Assessment of Medicines Management Skills – Application for grandparenting v1
October 2011
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