In accordance with regulatory body requirements students are required to complete 26 mandatory days of blended theoretical learning incorporating a combination of:

• 2-3 interprofessional taught days either on-campus or online (Hybrid) at either our College Lane or De Havilland Campuses in Hatfield, Hertfordshire
• 11 live online interprofessional days delivered between 09.30-16.00 on Tuesdays (November 26 Cohort), Wednesdays (September 26 and May 27 Cohorts) or Thursdays (January 27 Cohort)
• Monthly online small group tutorials led by an identified Personal Tutor
• 1 live online assessment and diagnostic development day (Pharmacist students only)**
• 1 on-campus physical skills development day in a simulation laboratory on our College Lane Campus (Pharmacist independent prescribing students only)**
• Guided study days
* Requirements of at least 85% monitored attendance at live sessions which amounts to a maximum of 2 permitted absence days.
** Pharmacist students are required to attend the mandatory assessment and diagnostic skills day, and students will not be able to complete the programme unless these days have been attended.

Assessment
In accordance with regulatory body requirements students are required to successfully complete the following four assessments to complete the programme:
1. Online Numeracy assessment (pass or fail with a minimum pass mark 100%).
2. Oral presentation: Prescribing Case Study, (minimum pass mark 50 (level7) – the mark for this element determines the overall grade for this module.

3. Unseen 1 hour 15-minute Applied Pharmacology Examination (pass or fail with a minimum pass mark 80%).
4. Prescribing Practice Portfolio (incorporating demonstration of the student’s achievement of the competences outlined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) A Competency Framework for All Prescribers) (pass or fail)

The length of registration for this module is normally one year and therefore each of the four assessments should be completed by this point other than in exceptional circumstances.

Prescribing Practice, Practice Supervision and Assessment
Alongside theoretical sessions students are also required to complete an additional compulsory additional period of 90 hours of supervised prescribing practice learning supported by a:

Practice Educator (PE) for AHP Students
Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor (PS/PA) for Nurse and Midwife Students
Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) for Pharmacist Students

Virtual Consultations: The amount of virtual consultation (telephone or video) allowed in supervised practice are limited to a maximum of 5 hours with the DPP/PA/PE and 25 hours in total.

To be eligible to undertake these roles supporting professionals must meet the following criteria:
• Hold current registration with their professional regulator (NMC, HCPC, GPhC or GMC)
• Have been qualified as an independent prescriber for a minimum period of 3 years within the student’s intended field of prescribing practice and prescribe regularly
• Meet all competencies within the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) A Competency Framework for All Prescribers and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) A Competency Framework for all Designated Prescribing Practitioners
• Have experience or training in teaching, assessing and/or supervising in practice.
• Engage in on-going professional development to reflect and develop in my role
• Have the support of their employing organisation to act as the PE, DPP or PA for the student.

In undertaking this role supporting professionals agree to:
• Support the student/apprentice in their development of the competencies outlined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) A Competency Framework for All Prescribers and to collaborate effectively with the Students Practice Supervisor (nursing and midwifery students/apprentices only) and Personal Tutor and/or Academic Assessor to enable a valid assessment of the competencies achieved.
• Supervise, support, and assess the student/apprentice, facilitating them to spend a minimum of 25 and maximum of 50 of the required 90 hours of period of learning in practice with them during the programme.
• Appropriately raise to the Personal Tutor and/or Academic Assessor at the earliest opportunity and respond to any concerns regarding student/apprentice conduct, competence, and achievement, and understand I will be supported by the University of Hertfordshire in doing so.
• Not to support more than 2 independent and/or supplementary prescribing students undertaking a prescribing programme at any UK university at the same time.
To allow the student to be sufficiently supported in practice, the Designated Prescribing Practitioner is required to be within a 30-mile radius from the student.

Community Pharmacists: Designated prescribing practitioners for community pharmacists must work either in in a GP practice or Hospital. This is to enable community pharmacists to gain the breadth and depth of experience to develop assessment and diagnostic skills relevant to their scope of intended prescribing practice.

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Prerequisites and Admissions Process
Admission to the Independent/Supplementary Prescribing Programme is achieved through a comprehensive process, that meets all GPhC, HCPC or NMC standards as applicable.  As part of this process, applicants are required to complete an online application and to submit an additional UH DPP PA PE PS Signature Form (See Downloads box on the right-hand side, or downloaded from section - 'Independent and/or Supplementary prescribing within application) that provides the team with the evidence that applicants have:
•    met the essential entry criteria for the programme required by their regulatory body (GPhC, HCPC or NMC) outlined below
•    identified an intended scope of prescribing practice
•    the appropriate and required support available to enable them, to successfully develop as safe and appropriate prescribers within their intended scope of prescribing practice.
•    The UH DPP PA PE PS Signature Form needs to be downloaded and completed and signed with handwritten signatures.
•    Your application will be rejected without a fully completed UH DPP PA PE PS Signature Form.

The following documents are critical to your application:

•    UH DPP PA PE PS Signature Form signed with handwritten signatures (please clearly name the uploaded document)
•    Copy of your passport (please clearly name the uploaded document)
•    Copies of your professional qualification(s) (please clearly name the uploaded document(s)
•    Current Enhanced DBS (dated within the last 3 years)
Applications will not be progressed until applicants have completed their online application and submitted their fully completed and signed Signature Form. 

Please ensure that the correct sections have been completed and signed with handwritten signatures.

Criteria for Entry to the Independent/Supplementary Prescribing Programme for Pharmacists

1. Current registration as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or, in Northern Ireland, with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
2. Demonstration of good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI and any other healthcare regulator with which they are registered. Please be aware that, in line with our admissions requirements, we are unable to accept applications while a Fitness to Practise warning remains active on your record.
3. Applicants must have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber. This experience and awareness will act as the basis of their prescribing practice whilst training.
4. For the purposes of developing their independent prescribing practice, applicants must identify an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning.
5. Written confirmation of support to undertake the prescribing programme from their employer, including NHS and non-NHS employers. The support available must include time to attend scheduled study days at the University, access to appropriate learning opportunities in practice and protected time to engage in practice development activities with an identified Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise their learning in practice.

The DPP must:

be a registered healthcare professional in Great Britain or Northern Ireland with legal independent prescribing rights who has been prescribing regularly for a minimum period of three years.

be suitably experienced and qualified to carry out this supervisory role as defined in Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2021) A Competency Framework for Designated Prescribing Practitioners and have demonstrated CPD or revalidation relevant to this role.

Designated prescribing practitioners for community pharmacists must work either in in a GP practice, Clinic or Hospital.

6. Evidence of current DBS clearance (enhanced disclosure) i.e., obtained within the last three years.

Venue

Blended with the opportunity for online, hybrid and or/on campus learning and assessment at one of our Hatfield campuses as detailed above.

Learning Outcomes

• To prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively and to prescribe medications within your field of competence.
• On successful completion you will be awarded a Practice Certificate and be recommended to the relevant Professional Board as an independent or supplementary prescriber.