Appendix B
Accreditation of an independent prescribing programme to train
supplementary prescribers as independent prescribers (conversion)
Submission template (parts 1 & 2)
This template should be used to demonstrate how the provider meets the GPhC’s accreditation criteria for education and training programmes to train
pharmacist supplementary prescribers as independent prescribers (conversion programme)
The accreditation submission document should be a single document which includes:
 This template, completed in full, to include:
- A narrative explaining how each criterion is met. The narrative must be written in prose, clearly explaining how the criteria will be met. Reference to links,
file names, or module titles on their own are not acceptable.
- Full reference to the documents you are providing as evidence.
 Any other pertinent information.
You should provide documentary evidence to support the information that you have provided within the template. Following review of your submission document and
associated evidence you may be required to submit additional items of evidence, if this is necessary you will be notified in advance of your accreditation event.
The process for reaccreditation of an independent prescribing programme (full or conversion) will follow the same format as described for accreditation. The submission
documentation must include, additionally, an introduction section which includes the following:
 An overview of how the programme has developed since initial accreditation, including a summary of any major changes
 Information on the number of cohorts of the programme that have been delivered since the last event, including the number of pharmacists per cohort.
 A summary of the response to any conditions and recommendations that were made by the accreditation team at the previous event. Where a provider opted
not to action a recommendation, an explanation of the rationale for this decision should be provided.
Please ensure that you refer to the guidance within this template as failure to provide your submission in the correct format, with the required level of detail and clarity,
could lead to your accreditation event being cancelled or postponed. Information on how to submit your documentation can be found on the last page of this document.
If you have any questions regarding your accreditation submission please contact the GPhC’s Quality Assurance (Education) team on 0203 713 7973 or 7978
Independent prescribing accreditation submission template, 2015-2016
Name of University/Institution:
Name of School or Department:
Contact name:
Job title:
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
Email:
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General notes regarding completion of the template
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Except where single pieces of information or lists are asked for, your commentary must be written in prose. Directions to other documents only will not be accepted.
Hyperlinks may be used within your commentary to signpost to evidence but please check that the links are not broken and that external access is permitted.
Please ensure that all documentary evidence provided is referred to within your commentary.
Referencing additional materials
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For ease of reference, all supporting material should be numbered and named appropriately (for example, Appendix One – Student Handbook, Appendix Two – Programme
Specification)
Please ensure the same document name is used throughout the submission and in the appendices.
When referencing supporting material within the submission, please indicate the document clearly (for example, in bold) and use the full name and appendix number
throughout.
For reaccreditation only
Provider’s commentary
General note: Except where single pieces of information or lists are asked for, the provider’s commentary should be written in prose.
Directions to other documents only will not be accepted. Supporting documents should be included as an appendix to the application
template.
(Please delete the guidance notes when completing commentaries.)
Introduction for reaccreditation
Include:
• An overview of how the programme has developed since initial accreditation, including a summary of any major changes
• Information on the number of cohorts of the programme that have been delivered since the last event, including the number of
pharmacists per cohort.
• A summary of the response to any conditions and recommendations that were made by the accreditation team at the previous event.
Where a provider opted not to action a recommendation, an explanation of the rationale for this decision should be provided.
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Submission template part 1: meeting the accreditation criteria
Section 1: The programme provider
Criteria
Provider’s commentary
General note: Except where single pieces of information or lists are asked for, the provider’s commentary should be written in prose.
Directions to other documents only will not be accepted. Supporting documents should be included as an appendix to the application
template.
(Please delete the guidance notes when completing commentaries.)
1.1 Must be recognised by the
General Pharmaceutical Council
(GPhC) or the Pharmaceutical
Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
as a provider of an accredited
independent prescribing
programme or as a previous
provider of an accredited
supplementary prescribing
programme.
1.2 Must be part of, or be closely
associated with, a higher
education institution which
implements effective quality
assurance and quality
management and enhancement
systems and demonstrates their
application to prescribing
programmes. The programme
must be validated by its higher
education institution.
State which prescribing programmes your institution is/has been accredited to offer including relevant dates.
Include:
 Institution
 Nature of institution, any affiliations relevant to the application
 Department(s) offering the programme
 Experience of programme provision relevant to the application
 A statement that the institution has fully validated the programme in advance of the application.
 Details of quality assurance procedures for example student feedback and input from external examiner
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1.3 Must have adequate physical,
staff (academic and
administrative) and financial
resources to deliver the
programme including facilities to
teach clinical examination skills.
1.4 Must have identified staff with
Include:
 Accommodation allocated to/used by the programme (include explicit mention of facilities for teaching clinical examination skills)
 Equipment
 Support service
 Planned student numbers (and maximum student numbers (including ratio of pharmacists to other health professionals, where
applicable)
 How the programme will be funded
Include:
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Details of each member of staff associated with the programme (include names/titles/qualifications/professional
affiliations/contribution(s) to the programme/employment status (institutional employee/external)
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Calculate WTE/FTE assigned to programme
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Provide Curricula Vitae for each member of staff associated with the programme (summary format is acceptable)
appropriate background and
experience to teach the
programme, ideally including
practising pharmacists with
teaching experience and staff with
clinical and diagnostic skills.
1.5 Must have an identified practising Include evidence of how this person(s):
pharmacist with appropriate
 has/have contributed to the design of the programme and will contribute to its delivery.
background and expertise who
will contribute to the design and
delivery of the programme. The
identified pharmacist must be
registered with the General
Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC),
and where possible should be a
pharmacist independent
prescriber.
Section 2: Pre-requisites for entry
Criteria
Provider’s commentary
2.1 Entrants must be a registered
Include a description of how this will be checked.
pharmacist with the GPhC or the
Pharmaceutical Society of
Northern Ireland (PSNI).
As evidence of meeting the criteria in section 2 the provider should include documentation to demonstrate how they ensure that
applicants are suitable for entry to the programme (e.g. copy of the programme application form).
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2.2 Entrants must currently be
annotated as a supplementary
prescriber and able to provide
evidence of prescribing
experience within the UK that is
no longer than 2 years’ old.
2.3 Entrants must provide a
statement of support from a
medical practitioner that confirms
their competence as a
supplementary prescriber.
2.4 The provider must ensure that the
DMP, identified by the
pharmacist, has training and
experience appropriate to their
role. This may be demonstrated
by adherence to the Department
of Health Guidance (2001). The
DMP must have agreed to provide
supervision, support and
shadowing opportunities for the
student, and be familiar with the
GPhC’s requirements of the
programme and the need to
achieve the learning outcomes.
2.5 Entrants should demonstrate
how they reflect on their own
performance and take
responsibility for own CPD.
Include a description of how this will be established and agreed
Explain how:
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training will be provided
experience will be established and validated
the DMP’s service level is agreed
DMPs become familiar with the programme
the DMP is made aware of the GPhC requirements and learning outcomes
Explain how this will be demonstrated on application and its role in the programme.
Section 3: The programme
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Criteria
Provider’s commentary
3.1 Must be taught at least at
Include information on how the programme was benchmarked against the relevant academic level in the FHEQ (2008).
bachelor’s degree level (FHEQ
(2008), level 6 ) and reflect the
fact that since June 2002,
pharmacists have graduated and
practise at master’s degree level
(FHEQ (2008), level 7).
3.2 Must achieve the learning
outcomes identified in the
curriculum for an independent
prescribing conversion
programme.
3.3 Must include teaching, learning
and support strategies which
allow pharmacists to build on
their background knowledge and
experience and acquire
competence in prescribing.
3.4 Must provide opportunities for
pharmacists to demonstrate how
they will apply their learning to
the conditions for which they will
be prescribing.
3.5 Must contain learning activities
equivalent to 2 days including a
minimum of one day of face to
face learning activities. The
programme will be expected to
contain a range of appropriate
delivery methods
Note: The learning outcomes should be interpreted at the correct academic level for the programme (either level 6, level 7 or both).
Level 6 and 7 learning outcomes should be differentiated and it should be made clear how assessments test the correct academic
levels).
Complete submission template part 2.
Describe:
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The programme’s teaching and learning strategy
Overall learning time (specify the balance between, taught, directed, self directed and private study)
How students’ background knowledge and experience will be established
How that knowledge and experience will be developed to acquire competence in prescribing
If the programme relies on web-based learning materials the provider should arrange short-term access so that the panel may review
the materials before the accreditation event.
Describe how each student’s learning will be contextualised in their chosen prescribing field and how they will demonstrate clinical
competence.
Describe and quantify the learning activities equivalent to 2 days and confirm the period of delivery.
Provide the proposed timetable for pharmacists undertaking the programme.
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3.6 Must have a clear policy on
attendance and participation and
the obligations of pharmacists
who miss part of the programme.
Pharmacists must attend all
scheduled teaching and learning
sessions that provide instruction
on clinical examination and
diagnosis.
3.7 Candidates will be subject to the
full assessment process for the
conversion programme.
State the programme policy on attendance and the requirements on pharmacists who miss parts of the programme.
Confirm that pharmacists must attend all clinical sessions and that they will not pass the programme if they do not.
Include how students are made aware of the policy.
State the programme policy on attendance and the requirements on pharmacists who miss parts of the programme.
Confirm that pharmacists must attend all clinical sessions and that they will not pass the programme if they do not.
Section 4: Learning in Practice
Criteria
Provider’s commentary
4.1 The provider must support the
Include:
DMP with clear and practical
guidance on helping the
pharmacist successfully to
complete the period of learning in
practice including arrangements
for quality assurance of
summative assessments. The roles
of the programme provider and
the DMP for teaching the skills for
clinical assessment of patients
must be clearly set out.
4.2 The provider must support the
DMP with clear and practical
guidance on their role in the
assessment of the student.
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guidance issued to DMPs relating to successfully completing the period of learning in practice
arrangements for the quality assurance of summative assessments of learning in practice
the roles of the programme provider and DMP for teaching clinical assessment skills
Describe how DMPs are supported in the assessment students, providing a copy of any relevant documentation.
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4.3 The provider must obtain formal
evidence and confirmation from
the DMP using the specified
wording; “the pharmacist has
satisfactorily completed at least
2x7.5h days supervised practice”.
4.4 The provider must obtain a
professional declaration from the
DMP using the specified wording;
“In my opinion as the DMP, the
skills demonstrated in practice
confirm the pharmacist as being
suitable for annotation as an
Independent Prescriber”’
4.5 Failure in the period of learning in
practice cannot be compensated
by performance in other
assessments.
Describe the nature of the formal evidence from DMPs that pharmacist students have completed at least 2x7.5h days supervised
practice and how the relevant wording will be obtained.
Describe how the relevant wording will be obtained.
Confirm this is the case and describe where and how students will be made aware of this.
Section 5: Assessment
The programme provider should ensure that assessment strategies meet the requirements of the curriculum particularly:
Criteria
Provider’s commentary
5.1 Evidence from a range of
Describe what range of assessments will be used and how that range will test learning outcomes securely.
assessments that the student has
achieved the intended learning
outcomes for the conversion
programme.
5.2 The programme is freestanding
and will be assessed separately
Confirm this and explain how relevant assessments will be run separately if parts of the programme are shared.
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from any other programmes or
programme.
5.3 The assessment scheme should
demonstrate that the criteria for
pass/fail and any arrangements for
compensation between elements
of assessment, together with the
regulations for resit assessments
and submissions, are consistent
with safe and effective prescribing
and the achievement of all
learning outcomes.
5.4 In any assessment, a failure to
identify a serious problem or an
answer which would cause the
patient harm should result in
overall failure of the programme.
Describe:
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Compensation arrangements (see 4.5)
Resit regulations (which must be demonstrably consistent with safe and effective prescribing)
Mechanisms in place to ensure assessments are valid, reliable and robust
Provide a copy of the assessment marking criteria and explain how this is consistent with safe and effective practice.
Confirm this and identify mechanisms for identifying such problems/answers. Explain how students are made aware of this.
Section 6: Details of Award
Criteria
Provider’s commentary
6.1 The provider should award
Confirm that this will be the case and provide a sample certificate
successful candidates a ‘Practice
Certificate in Independent
Prescribing’ confirming that the
candidate has successfully
completed the programme and the
period of learning in practice.
6.2 The provider should send a
certified copy of the pass list to the
Registrar of the GPhC, via the
Applications Team, containing the
Describe the mechanism for doing this. Include:
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How the pass list will be certified.
How the pass list will be sent to the General Pharmaceutical Council.
The name and job title of individual responsible for submitting pass lists to the GPhC
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names and registration numbers of
the pharmacists who have
successfully completed the
programme and confirming that
they are eligible for annotation on
the GPhC Register as independent
prescribers.
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Submission template part 2: Mapping of independent prescribing learning outcomes to programme learning outcomes and
assessments
Level of Study:
(eg level 6 / level 7)
Note: If the programme is offered at both bachelor’s degree level (FHEQ level 6) and master’s level (FHEQ level 7) please complete a separate mapping table for each including a list of
the appropriate learning outcomes for that level.
General Pharmaceutical Council
(GPhC) Learning Outcomes
Following qualification, Pharmacist
Independent Prescribing will be able to:
Programme Learning Outcomes
Assessments
Translate the GPhC’s learning outcomes into programme learning
outcomes at the relevant FHEQ level (6, 7 or both)
Describe how each learning outcome will be assessed.
Describe the purpose of each component of
assessment, its length and its weighting.
1. Understand the responsibility that the
role of independent prescriber entails, be
aware of their own limitations and work
within the limits of their professional
competence – knowing when and how to
refer / consult / seek guidance from
another member of the health care team.
2. Describe the pathophysiology of the
condition being treated and recognise the
signs and symptoms of illness, take an
accurate history and carry out a relevant
clinical assessment where necessary.
3. Use common diagnostic aids e.g.
stethoscope, sphygmomanometer
4. Able to use diagnostic aids relevant to
the condition(s) for which the pharmacist
intends to prescribe, including monitoring
response to therapy.
5. Apply clinical assessment skills to:
 inform a working diagnosis
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 formulate a treatment plan for
the prescribing of one or more
medicines, if appropriate
 carry out a checking process to
ensure patient safety.
 monitor response to therapy,
 review the working differential
diagnosis and modify treatment
or refer
 consult/seek guidance as
appropriate
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the
legal, ethical and professional framework
for accountability and responsibility in
relation to prescribing.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Method
Overall percentage contribution to the assessment of the
programme
(Expand table as necessary)
Total
100%
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Documentary evidence
List below the documentary evidence that you are providing
Note:
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You do not need to duplicate evidence - you may find that you need to refer to one piece of documentary evidence multiple times across more than one section.
Please give each piece of evidence a clear and meaningful title. Use the same title when referring to the evidence within your commentary.
Each item listed should be referred to within your commentary.
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Expand table as necessary
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Submitting your accreditation documentation to the GPhC
You must send the following by post:
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4 Hard copies of your submission document Each copy should be bound or stapled (No box files, ring binders or lever arch files).
4 USB memory sticks each containing:
- A .PDF version of your submission document
- A .PDF version of each item of documentary evidence
Quality Assurance (Education) Team
General Pharmaceutical Council
25 Canada Square
London
E14 5LQ
and the following by email:
 A Word and a .PDF version of your completed submission template
education@pharmacyregulation.org
Please ensure that the hard copies and electronic copies arrive with the GPhC’s Quality Assurance (Education) Team on, or before, the submission
deadline. The deadline for submission documentation is normally six weeks in advance of the accreditation event (four weeks for reaccreditation);
however, you will be notified of your exact deadline date once the date of your accreditation event is agreed.
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