“Grandparent clause” arrangements for dispensing/pharmacy assistants finalised
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has now finalised the transitional arrangements that will allow existing dispensing and pharmacy assistants involved in pharmacy services to continue working without the need for a new qualification when the regulation of such assistants begins in 2005.
A minimum competence requirement comes into force on 1 January 2005,
requiring staff to undertake an accredited course before they can work
as dispensing/pharmacy assistants. The transitional arrangements, known
as a “grandparent clause”, recognise that existing staff
may already have appropriate training and/or work experience. It therefore
allows them to be exempted from the new requirements — but only
if the supervising pharmacist provides the Society with a formal declaration
of competence by 31 December 2004.
Under the grandparent clause, exemption from further training will be
open to staff who have already completed an approved course and have
been declared competent by a supervising pharmacist, or who have undertaken
relevant work experience and have been assessed and declared competent
by a supervising pharmacist.
The supervising pharmacist will have to complete a declaration of competence
for each member of staff whom he or she wishes to declare as being exempt
from further training. A support guide has been prepared to help pharmacists
with completing the declaration. The guide and a declaration form are
contained within an eight-page document that will be published in The
Pharmaceutical Journal on 17 January 2004. It will also be made available
from the Society’s website. A dedicated e-mail address and helpline
number will be introduced to help with any queries.
Nigel Graham, the Society’s head of practice, said: “In the
changing climate of pharmacy, the Society has made a decision to move
towards the regulation of dispensing/ pharmacy assistants. The Government
has highlighted the fact that patient safety is of the highest concern
and there is a need to assure patients that the staff who care for them
are well trained and maintain the essential level of competence. Policies
will be implemented soon that will affect both the training of support
staff and the environment in which they undertake their work.
“
The Society has taken a pragmatic view and recognises that staff currently
in the role may already have completed training and/or have relevant
work experience. The declaration of competence reassures pharmacists
and the public that the employee is trained to the required level and
is competent in their role. The Society has considered carefully the
kind of support that pharmacists will require to implement its policy,
and we hope members will be reassured that the process would not be an
onerous one.”
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