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FPMM aligns with national agendas

The Faculty of Prescribing and Medicines Management (FPMM) was set up as a semi-autonomous professional body within the College of Pharmacy Practice (CPP) in March 2001, to support pharmacists in any health care sector who have a specific interest in this area of practice. Since the faculty’s inception, associates have steadily progressed to full membership through demonstration of both CPP and FPMM competencies.

The Department of Health has adopted a series of competency frameworks developed by the Competency Development and Evaluation Group (CoDEG). As a result, demonstration of competencies is likely to become a prerequisite to career advancement as employers and employees get to grips with progression via the NHS knowledge and skills framework, and certificated achievement of defined competency levels. In the community sector, for example, the new contract requires accreditation through the demonstration of competencies before the pharmacist can exploit fully the opportunities afforded by advanced and enhanced services.

In light of these developments the faculty has decided to adopt these frameworks, in place of its own framework published in September 2002, and to use them as the basis for membership of both the FPMM and the CPP. Competency assessment helps to develop FPMM members. It fits with professional accreditation and the anticipated re-accreditation and validation to continue to practise. Competency assessment assists in identifying any gaps in a member’s capabilities and in recognising training needs. For employers, competency assessment can also confirm the suitability of an individual for a specific post.

Levels of membership

In a bold move to make faculty membership more relevant and more applicable, three membership levels have now been established, based on the general and advanced or consultant level frameworks.

General level Prescribing and medicines management was originally considered by the faculty to be a specialty that required advanced practice, particularly in primary care. However, the new community pharmacy contractual framework will increase the number of pharmacists providing medicines management services to GP practices. Furthermore, as hospital pharmacists’ roles move away from medicines supply they are becoming increasingly involved with prescribing and medicines management services.

The faculty recognises that these changes require a review of the place of faculty membership for pharmacists practising in general roles, such as community pharmacy, rather than exclusively in specialist roles within the NHS or private sector.

In recognition of the introduction of the new contractual framework, and the generalist professional roles undertaken in secondary care by many pharmacists, the FPMM now promotes general membership of the faculty and college. Roles for which this level of membership may be most appropriate include: community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists not working solely in a single clinical specialty and pharmacists with less than three years’ experience in practice.

Pharmacists who wish to apply for general level membership will be delivering general services, although will be encouraged to move towards advanced membership if they take on specialist roles. This level of membership is achieved by working through the general level competency framework.

Advanced level Advanced level membership is achieved by working through the
advanced or consultant level competency framework. It is likely to be the most appropriate level of membership for:

· Pharmacists working as specialists in the prescribing and medicines management arena of primary care or at the interface with secondary care

· Professionals and managers supporting pharmacists (eg, area managers, professional development managers, pharmaceutical advisers)

· Local professional group and network members

Fellowship level Fellowship level is also achieved by working through the advanced or consultant level competency framework and again is aimed at pharmacists working in specialist roles under advanced level. However, competence must be demonstrated, and evidence provided, at a considerably higher level than for advanced membership.

How to become a faculty member

Pharmacists seek FPMM membership to be formally recognised as a specialist practitioner in the field of prescribing and medicines management. Membership confirms that a pharmacist:

· Has proven high standards of practice (ie, he or she has demonstrated that the competencies agreed, set and required by the faculty have been met)

· Has had his or her skills, knowledge and expertise reviewed by a peer group (pharmacists working in the same specialist area of practice)

· Is committed to continuing professional development and maintaining high standards of practice

For faculty membership, associates will now be asked to present a self-assessment version of the appropriate CoDEG framework, with a portfolio of evidence. Membership will be approved either at general, advanced or fellowship level, depending on the candidate’s experience and level of working. Attaining faculty membership in this way will be an excellent method of demonstrating competence to employers.

The application is processed by two faculty assessors. After discussing the submission, the assessors will invite the candidate to interview or ask for more evidence. Alternatively, candidates may be told that some areas of competency need further attention and may be invited to re-apply for membership at any time.

To help associates move towards full membership, the faculty operates a mentoring system. This involves a faculty member being available to offer advice and support to associates in preparing their submission for membership. The mentor will listen, encourage, challenge and question in such a way as to empower associates to achieve their goal. Mentors can give advice and feedback on:

· How to structure the portfolio
· The scope of the portfolio
· Pieces of evidence
· The application
· The level of membership to apply for

In addition, associates are encouraged to contact each other to provide mutual
support.

In summary, the FPMM is moving in a proactive way to deliver a support mechanism for pharmacists to achieve career aims in a structured way that is in line with national agendas and likely local requirements. Gaining full faculty membership can go a long way towards demonstrating the competencies required in a pharmacy world, changing at an unremitting pace. The challenge is whether just the committed few or the mass of the pharmacy profession will grasp this strategy in assessing competencies and take advantage of all opportunities.