Reminder to pharmacists about the 31 December cut-off date for declaration
of competence forms for dispensing/pharmacy assistants
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has issued a reminder to
pharmacists about the 31 December cut-off date for submitting declaration
of competence forms for each member of staff in current employment who
falls within the minimum competence requirement “grandparent”
clause.
From 1 January 2005 pharmacists will have a professional
obligation to ensure that dispensing/pharmacy assistants are competent
in the areas in which they work to a minimum standard equivalent to the
new pharmacy services level 2 qualification of the Scottish or National
Vocational Qualifications (S/NVQ) or are undertaking training towards
achieving such competence. The policy covers dispensing/pharmacy assistants
working under the supervision of a pharmacist in the community, hospital
or other pharmacy sector.
The transitional arrangements, known as the grandparent
clause, will allow existing staff to continue working without the need
for a new qualification after 1 January 2005 provided they demonstrate
their competence to a satisfactory minimum standard. Supervising pharmacists
must complete a declaration of competence form for each member of staff
whom they wish to declare as exempt from further training. Any employee
who has not been declared exempt from further training under the grandparent
clause arrangements will, from 1 January 2005, be required to undertake
an accredited course.
Further information on the regulation of dispensing/pharmacy
assistants, including copies of the declaration of competence form, a
list of approved courses (mapped for equivalence under the grandparent
clause arrangements), frequently-asked questions and case studies, can
be obtained from
the Society’s website (www.rpsgb.org/pharmacysupportstaff). Copies
of the declaration of competence form can also be requested from the Society’s
Registration Section (telephone 020 7572 2577 or e-mail: gp2@rpsgb.org).
Further information is also available from Sadia Khan at
the Society’s headquarters on (tel 020 7572 2537; e-mail sadia.khan@rpsgb.
org)
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