General Pharmacy Practice

Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice

Teaching

The programme is delivered by guided self directed student learning linked with contact days (a minimum of 5 per 30 credit course), workplace learning and is supported by learning sets.

Assessment

• A range of academic assessment strategies have been adopted including.
• Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.
• Multiple Choice Questions.
• Competency-based portfolio review.
• Written assignments to include: short essays; critical appraisals; reflective analysis of clinical work.

Practical experience in the workplace will be assessed against the general level competency framework for general practitioners by the practice tutor at regular intervals to agreed criteria.

Careers

Completion of the practice elements of the course will also lead to the award of a Statement of Completion of General Pharmacist Training (SCGPT) from an accredited training centre.

General Information

• Award: Postgraduate Certificate in General Pharmacy Practice, Postgraduate Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice.
• Length: 1-2 years part-time (Certificate only), 2-4 years part-time (Certificate and Diploma).
• Location: Some of the contact days will require attendance at the Anson Building, Universities at Medway Campus, Chatham Maritime, Kent. Others will be run at accredited practice bases.

Features

The structure of the programme empowers adult learners to plan and develop their own learning pathway towards the achievement of the academic and practice awards, thereby addressing their own personal and professional development needs. Students assess their own progress through the programme matrix and develop individual learning plans based on prior knowledge and skills acquisition. Courses may be followed sequentially or concurrently giving students a degree of flexibility. Students present themselves for summative assessment when they and their practice tutor and academic tutor feel they are ready. Regular progress reviews enable the identification of failing students so that remedial action can be planned and implemented. The flexible nature of the programme enables wider participation by pharmacists in a variety of work settings.

Programme Structure

The programme comprises of three compulsory courses:

Certificate:

• Developing the Practitioner (30 credits).
• Developing Clinical Practice (30 credits).

Diploma:

• Medicines Management in Practice (60 credits).

Offer Levels

Applicants will be pharmacists registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

In addition student practitioners must have an accredited practice base from which to operate and have access to a practice tutor accredited by the Joint Programme Board.