Nationally Recognised Competency Framework for Pharmacy Technicians:

The Assessment of Medicines Management Skills

Application for Approval under the ‘Grandparent Clause’ - Mapping Document for Training & Assessment Programmes

Version 1: October 2011

Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and the Grandparent Clause

It is recognised that some candidates will have completed an assessment programme for medicines management skills prior to the launch of the national framework standards. Under these circumstances, only a training provider who has an approved programme against the national MMS framework will be given authority to assess if the work completed by the individual is sufficient to meet the standards set. Where appropriate, these candidates may still be awarded a nationally recognised accreditation under a term called the ‘grandparent clause’.

'Grandparenting' can be defined as the recognition of pharmacy technicians whose training does not meet the minimum criteria set in the national medicines management framework, but who have undertaken relevant training and assessment prior to the national framework being available and have considerable proven, relevant, experience ranging over a period of time.

Training providers who wish to grandparent candidates who completed the programme prior to the national framework standards being available, may asses their previous programmes and determine their suitability for grandparenting. A training provider will be authorised to grandparent existing candidates only if:

·  the most current programme has been approved against the national MMS framework and this is the programme that any new candidates will be undertaking

·  evidence can be provided that all the core learning outcomes associated with each module were assessed in the previous programmes and the candidate’s competency was documented, as outlined in the following mapping document

NB: The approval process for grandparenting does not include scrutiny of assessment methods

The underpinning skills, if not assessed as specific criteria, may be covered by the candidate’s experience in the role and the sign off of their Educational Supervisors and Senior Pharmacy Managers.

Once a current scheme has been approved against the standards of the national framework, training providers should use the criteria outlined in this document to map existing schemes against the grandparent clause.

Regional training providers that are responsible for the grandparenting of multiple local and in-house programmes, should issue the grandparent mapping document to each organisation requesting grandparenting, for completion by the local training provider. This documentation should then be submitted to the regional training provider for review and a final decision on the programme’s suitability for grandparenting.

When a training provider makes the decision to grandparent candidates that have been accredited under previous programmes, that training provider must ensure that each candidate is awarded with a certificate or other form of confirmation indicating that their accreditation has been recognised as meeting the national standards under the grandparent arrangements. The following statement provides some sample wording that may be adapted and used in these instances:

‘This medicines management training & assessment programme meets the standards for the nationally agreed framework for Medicines Management under the grandparent arrangements and is therefore a nationally recognised accreditation.’

The training provider must keep a record of any candidates grandparented under the transitional arrangements.

The grandparent clause is only a transitional period which will close two years after the launch of the national framework; however, courses that are approved within this timeframe will be given a minimum of one year to accredit candidates under the grandparent arrangements. This will allow time for programmes to be updated by training providers and approved nationally, and for individual candidates to apply for accreditation.

Where a programme is not approved for grandparenting, it is recommended that only candidates who complete the revised approved scheme be eligible for a nationally recognised accreditation. Candidates that completed the programme prior to the national approval will be required to demonstrate that they have met the additional assessment criteria before they can be awarded a nationally approved accreditation.

Application, Outcome and Feedback on modules to be used for ‘grandparenting’

Organisation/Local training provider / Organisation:
Full Address:
Contact Name:
Job Title:
Contact No:
Email address:
Programme Title
Date application for grandparenting submitted
Date submission received
Please provide a summary of the modules to be considered under the grandparenting arrangement including the dates started and any major changes made
Training Provider assessing programme for suitability to grandparent / Organisation:
Full Address:
Contact Name:
Job Title:
Contact No:
Email address:
Training Provider to complete:
Date current programme approved by PEDC/APTUK approval panel (NB: modules will only be assessed for grandparenting once the current scheme has been nationally approved)
Please indicate which specific modules of the national framework are suitable for grandparenting in the programme
(Delete where appropriate) / Module 1 Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting
Module 2 Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting
Module 3 Level 1 Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting
Module 3 Level 2 Suitable for grandparenting/Unsuitable for grandparenting

The Modules

Module 1: Accurately supply medicines to individual patients / State how the outcomes below were assessed and documented in previous training and assessment programme
Document/page No: / Outcome covered? yes/no
(To be completed by approved Training Provider) / Comments (including reasons when criteria not met)
LO1.1 – Accurately order medications for individual patients
In accordance with the organisation’s procedure, correctly order appropriate items, which must include:
a)  Appropriate prescription validity & clarity
b)  Correct individual
c)  Correct medicine name
d)  Appropriate dosage form/presentation for the patient (e.g. liquids for those with swallowing difficulties, compliance aids where needed)
e)  Correct strength
f)  Correct quantity
g)  Correct instructions
h)  Correct medicine brand, where appropriate
i)  Formulary compliance (if applicable)
j)  Cost codes ensuring accurate financial reporting (if applicable)
LO1.2 – Deal with a variety of initial and/or repeat supply issues
LO1.3 – Facilitate the timely processing of orders
LO1.4 – Identify and resolve risks/problems associated with the incorrect storage and stock control of individuals’ medicines
LO1.5 – Complete all relevant documentation accurately
Other assessment methods used to assess competency : / State which assessment methods were used / Panel Comments
Logs (include number of items)
Candidate interviews
Tests, including multiple choice questions, calculations and mock set up prescriptions or mock med recs
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Other

Module 1 Approval

Approved/Not approved for grandparenting? / Comments
Date approved
Date grandparenting period to end
Module 2: Determine the Suitability of a Patient’s Own Drugs (PODs) For Use / State how the outcomes below were assessed and documented in previous training and assessment programme
Document/page No: / Outcome covered? yes/no
(To be completed by approved Training Provider) / Comments (including reasons when criteria not met)
LO2.1 – Confirm the process for using patients’ own drugs
LO2.2 – Assess patients’ own drugs ensuring they are fit for the purpose required
LO2.3 – Review patients’ own drugs for relabeling
LO2.4 – Manage patients’ own drugs if unsuitable for use
Other assessment methods used : / State which assessment methods were used / Panel Comments
Logs (include number of items)
Candidate interviews
Tests, including multiple choice questions, calculations and mock set up prescriptions or mock med recs
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Other

Module 2 Approval

Approved/Not approved for grandparenting? / Comments
Date approved
Date grandparenting period to end
Module 3: Medicines Reconciliation (Level 1 & 2) / State how the outcomes below were assessed and documented in previous training and assessment programme
Document/page No: / Outcome covered? yes/no
(To be completed by approved Training Provider) / Comments (including reasons when criteria not met)
LO3.1 – Medicines Reconciliation Level 1 – Accurately complete and record medication histories
Use a range of sources of information, which must include:
a)  Patient
b)  Patient’s own drugs
c)  GP surgery
Record details of ALL medications being taken on the appropriate documentation. These must include:
a)  Medication name
b)  Form
c)  Strength
d)  Dose
e)  Frequency
f)  Allergies / intolerances
g)  Specific patient requirements (e.g. compliance aids, no clic-loc lids, etc)
h)  Whether repeat medication or acute medication. If acute then document when prescribed and for how long (steroids/antibiotics etc)
Recognise the limitations of a single source and the reasons for always checking with a further source, which must include:
a)  Establishing a suitable second (or further) source(s)
LO3.2 – Medicines Reconciliation Level 2 – Reconcile the verified medication history with the most recent prescription available
LO3.3 – Communicate the outcomes of the level 1 or level 2 medicines reconciliation process
LO3.4 – Complete all documentation accurately and legibly
Other assessment methods used : / State which assessment methods were used / Panel Comments
Logs (include number of items)
Candidate interviews
Tests, including multiple choice questions, calculations and mock set up prescriptions or mock med recs
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Other

Module 3 Approval

Med rec Level 1 Approved/Not approved for grandparenting? / Comments
Med rec Level 2 Approved/Not approved for grandparenting?
Date approved
Date grandparenting period to end

Nationally Recognised Competency Framework for Pharmacy Technicians: The Assessment of Medicines Management Skills – Application for grandparenting v1

October 2011

1