Insert your Trust Logo
Student Technician
Training
Medicines Information
2007
Name:
Student’s Name
Date:
Starting day of rotation
Template prepared by:
To be reviewed:
Template adapted by:
UKMi Education and Training Working Group May 2007
May 2008
Name and date
A.
Introduction to Medicines Information (MI)
General Information.
Optional information - add information about the services you provide, who your
customers are and any other information relevant to your local service
Staff Structure – structure and/or names of current MI staff
About this training pack
The NVQ/SVQ training program for pharmacy technicians includes a unit on “Providing
Pharmaceutical Information and advice”.
This unit covers the provision of
pharmaceutical information and advice, including the sensitivity of providing such
information and the need to pay attention to detail. It highlights the importance of
keeping clear and accurate documentation. The provision of information and advice is
a key function of the MI Service. However, it is also an important part of all areas of
pharmacy practice. It is not essential to spend time in MI as the evidence
requirements for this unit may be met in any area of pharmacy. However if you are
spending time in MI then this training pack gives guidance on activities to help you
gather the required evidence.
This training pack is based on, and should be used in conjunction with the National NHS
Training Manual for Student Technicians (which may be accessed at
http://semmed.nhs.uk/dyn/_assets/_folder6/TheNationalNHSTrainingManualforStudentPharmacyTechnicians20052.doc ),
the UKMi Training Workbook, and the Medicines Information Computer Aided Learning
(MiCAL) package. (N.B. Not all departments use the National NHS Training Manual but
there may be a local equivalent).
Add information about how the student can access MiCAL
As you work through the training programme you will receive feedback on your
progress. It is helpful for you and your NVQ/SVQ tutor if you complete the checklists
provided.
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B.
Planning your MI Training
Refer to National NHS Training Manual for Student Technicians (or local equivalent):
- Checklist
- Objectives
National Standards of Work
The activities suggested in this document are intended to help you achieve competence
in the 3 elements covered by the unit “Providing pharmaceutical information and advice”
namely:
1. Receive a pharmaceutical query
2. Prepare a response
3. Respond to a pharmaceutical query
N.B. During your placement in MI you will be given verbal and written feedback on the
activities you undertake and this may be used, in combination with your completed
activities, towards your evidence for this Unit. It is, however, unlikely that during
your short visit to MI that you will gather sufficient evidence of competence to
satisfy the NVQ/SVQ requirements. Once again it is important to understand that
the evidence requirements for this unit can be gathered in any area of pharmacy.
You should use the time in MI to acquire the necessary skills rather than trying to
collect evidence for the whole unit.
Select activities with MI manager/ supervisor according to time and facilities available
for training.
Orientation and introduction to MI
Subject
Brief notes/ numbers
Completed
1. Introduction to MI staff
2. Layout of Office – location of reference books, journals, files
etc.
3. Fire alarms, extinguishers and escape routes. Emergency
numbers.
4. Telephones – internal and external lines & numbers/directories.
5. In-trays, communications book, notice boards, diary/ wall
planner
6. Computers- logging on and logging off. Use of passwords
7. Customers - who are they?
8. Confidentiality
9. Introduction to Work book and MiCAL
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Suggested learning activities
Primary aim
 To develop skills in receiving and answering enquiries
Core Activities (related to primary aim)
Session 1
Subject
Achieving objectives - Discuss different
training resources available and the preferred
learning style(s) of student -
Learning aids
See above
NVQ/SVQ level 3 Standards
Discussion
Date & Time

Enquiry receipt & telephone skills
Local Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs)
Workbook (C)
UKMi Quick Question Guide
Background Information exercise
Enquiry receipt role play
UKMI briefings
Workbook (7)
MiCAL

Local resources (e.g. information
sources exercise)
Workbook(D)
MiCAL
Local resources (e.g. electronic sources
exercise)
Workbook(D)
MiCAL
Local resources
Workbook(D)
MiCAL

Local database/paperwork
Local SOPs
MiCAL
Workbook(C)
Enquiry answering role play


National NHS Training Manual for
Student Pharmacy Technicians (or local
equivalent)/ NVQ/SVQ level 3
standards/

Ethical dilemmas

Session 2
Key textbooks and journals-overview
Electronic resources – overview
Formulating a search strategy


Session 3
Enquiry Management Systems
Enquiry answering & telephone skills
Session 4
Start practice activities/enquiries and
questions
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Suggested learning activities
Secondary aim
 To gain insight into the structure and function of the local, regional and national
MI service.
Optional Activities (related to secondary aim)
If time allows
Continue practice activities/enquiries and
questions
Role of regional/specialist centres
Quality assurance and risk management
methods in medicines information.
Supervised answering of real enquiries (if
agreed with tutor)
National NHS Training Manual for
Student Pharmacy Technicians (or local
equivalent) / NVQ/SVQ level 3
standards
Workbook (B)
MiCAL
UKMI standards
IRMIS
Local QA
Peer Review
Full range of resources




Enter date and time if specific times of training or tutorials have been scheduled
E.
Assessment
Your MI supervising staff will provide feedback on the activities you undertake during
your MI placement. It is not, however, their role to assess you against the
objectives of this Unit. This assessment will be carried out at a later date by your
NVQ/SVQ assessor when you have gathered the supporting evidence for the
National Standards of Work. They may take the feedback from MI staff into
consideration when assessing you, but the activities you have undertaken during your
MI placement will need to be supplemented with evidence that you have put the enquiry
answering skills you acquired into practice.
Appendix B gives detailed objectives from the National NHS Training Manual for
Student Pharmacy Technicians
http://semmed.nhs.uk/dyn/_assets/_folder6/TheNationalNHSTrainingManualforStudentPharmacyTechnicians20052.doc
You can cross reference this with activities carried out during your MI placement to
assist you and your NVQ/SVQ assessor in the assessment process.
You may find it difficult to gather evidence for different enquirers who you do not
normally deal with in you workplace (e.g. member of the public). If this is the case then
please discuss with your NVQ/SVQ assessor who may be able to suggest a possible
solution. One option is a simulated exercise, however it is important to gain approval
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from the NVQ/SVQ assessor before undertaking such an exercise as they may not be
happy with this approach.
Insert the name of your Trust or MI Centre
Medicines Information - Feedback Form
Appendix A
Trainee
Trainer
Activity
Date
Activity
Date
Activity
Date
Feedback
Trainer
Feedback
Trainer
Feedback
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Insert the name of your Trust or MI Centre
Appendix B
Objectives and related activities
The objectives in this table are taken from National NHS Training Manual for Student Pharmacy
Technicians.
http://semmed.nhs.uk/dyn/_assets/_folder6/TheNationalNHSTrainingManualforStudentPharmacyTechnicians20052.doc
Please use this table to reflect on your MI placement and document the activities you completed
which provide evidence for each objective. This should help you identify your learning needs.
Objective
Activity
To establish who is making the enquiry
To be able to grasp the nature of the enquiry
To be able to obtain all the relevant details from the enquirer and from
a range of enquirers
To be able to establish what, if any information the enquirer already
has and to identify what and why the information is needed
To be able to record details of the request accurately and clearly
To ensure the enquirer is treated in a courteous manner
To be able to agree a timescale and a format for the response and
give an update on progress
To state when and to whom to refer the enquiries
To respond to all enquirers in a courteous, sensitive and helpful
manner
To demonstrate a good telephone manner and answer efficiently and
effectively
To list the range of places that information can be stored
To correctly identify the relevant source of information and gain
approved access, consider legal, ethical and confidentiality issues
To choose the most appropriate information source
To access and use the required information source
To identify the limitations of the chosen source of information and what
alternatives are available
To evaluate the accessed information and prepare a checked
response maintaining security of information, and be able to provide
responses in various formats
To document and file information accurately according to local
procedures
To explain why certain information is confidential
To ensure that information supplied is suitable for the customer’s
needs
To provide information within required deadlines
To provide information that is accurate, complete and consistent with
departmental protocols
To maintain customer privacy and confidentiality when necessary
To complete all relevant documentation and store appropriately
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