Prescribing & Medicines Management
page PM4
July 2004

Features

Faculty goes from strength to strength

The faculty of prescribing and medicines management was the first faculty set up under the College of Pharmacy Practice, recognising the need to support the development of specialist areas of pharmacy practice. Created in 2001, it provides a strong and influential professional support body for UK pharmacists working, or with an interest, in prescribing and medicines management.

Three years on it has proved itself to be a dynamic and evolving specialist interest group of about 540 pharmacists, from all areas of professional practice in the UK, who are committed to high standards of practice. This article looks at what the faculty has achieved to date, and what it offers to those who join.

High standards

The faculty is managed by an elected and working board of six members, with provision to co-opt up to a further three members with expertise to lead on specific projects, or to represent member interests in one of the home countries. The board works to a formal constitution, and within an agreed corporate governance framework, with membership fees and sponsorship enabling the development and delivery of faculty activities.

The main aim of the faculty is to encourage and support the professional and personal development of its members to help them become recognised specialist practitioners. The faculty has an agreed framework of competencies, which in generic terms define the skills, knowledge and expertise around prescribing and medicines management that pharmacists must demonstrate before they can become accredited as full practitioner members. Accreditation is a rigorous, peer review process that involves preparing a reflective practice continuing professional development portfolio and making a submission of competency for assessment, followed by an interview. To date seven associates have achieved practitioner member status, with four of those simultaneously achieving the advanced award of the college.

Both the faculty competencies and the approach to reflective practice tie in with the plan and record approach of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and discussions are ongoing to try to ensure that the respective portfolios can be shared and used for a variety of purposes.

Professional development

To help the membership carry out their day job effectively and competently, and to progress towards accreditation, the faculty runs an extensive education and skills development programme. Designed specifically to link with the faculty competency framework, workshops and conferences deliver skills training on topics identified by the membership that they need to develop or build on. The highly successful “Develop yourself” series of one-day workshops covered leadership, team working and communication, developing personal responsibility, standards, outcomes and innovation, strategic thinking, and influencing. Two series of these have already been delivered around the UK, and a further series is planned for Autumn 2004 that will include two new modules (performance and project management) and a reflective practice learning set. A separate series of workshops provided training on facilitation skills, and recent conferences have covered risk and change management set in the context of NHS policy. Feedback from delegates has been positive and the building of local networks has been an additional benefit.

Personal support

From this summer, an initial network of 12 trained mentors will be available to provide support to associates seeking accreditation, and to others who want career or personal development guidance. All the mentors have attended a two-day mentoring master class, have the necessary skills and are volunteering their support within the limits of their own competency and capacity. This network will grow as new practitioner members are invited to attend training and to provide peer support to others.

Networking

Networking is an obvious but welcome side effect of the annual conference and workshop series that run during the year, allowing members to build supportive and professional friendships with each other. Obtaining responsive peer support from like-minded pharmacists is the major benefit of faculty Smartgroups, the members’ electronic e-mail group, which is in constant use as people seek answers to questions and issues, and share ideas with each other to prevent duplication. Faculty Focus, the quarterly membership newsletter, carries news pieces and information on faculty activities, and articles to help learning and to share best practice

Support for important developments

Pharmacist prescribing is an important and evolving professional development that has implications for practising members. The faculty has already produced several tools and resources on supplementary prescribing to help members to engage primary care trusts on this agenda and to help them develop this professional role. In the near future, further support will be offered to newly qualified prescribing pharmacists for CPD against recognised prescribing competencies and through the building of peer networks. With independent prescribing around the corner, the faculty will also look to provide appropriate support to those members taking on these extra professional responsibilities.

The NHS environment is rapidly changing and with it comes a myriad of opportunities in terms of role expansion and skills development, eg, pharmacists with a special interest and consultant pharmacists. The faculty keeps a watching brief on emerging policy initiatives and formally responds to those most pertinent to the personal and professional development of its membership.

Practice research

Reviewing current, and investigating new, practice is an important component of personal and professional development that informs patient care. The faculty has developed a practice research strategy through an expert working group, and will help increase members’ knowledge and engagement in the first instance by providing support through educational materials and events.

It is also hoped to offer a travel bursary, through a competitive process, that will enable a member to travel abroad to study prescribing and medicines management in different health care systems. Successful candidates will be expected to share their learning formally with the rest of the membership.

From strength to strength

The faculty has proven to be a specialist interest group really worth joining. It provides a comprehensive programme of personal and professional support to its growing and active membership, based on identified needs. It supports and contributes to prescribing and medicines management policies, and promotes learning and the sharing of good practice. Many associates are working towards becoming accredited practitioner members, which as a result will affirm the faculty as a body of recognised expertise.

All pharmacists welcome

If you are interested in joining, details are available on the faculty’s website, or directly from the college. Entry-level membership is as an associate (AFPMM, CPP) with full member status (MFPMM, CPP) being conferred through the accreditation process when knowledge, skills and experience are demonstrated against the competency framework.