NHS Education for Scotland
A skilled and sustainable workforce for a healthier Scotland
NHS Education for Scotland
A skilled and sustainable workforce for a healthier Scotland
Advanced expert professional practice (EPP) training is available after you have completed the Post - Registration Pharmacist Foundation Programme.
The aim of this training is to equip practitioners working within a specific area of practice with specialist more advanced skills. Practitioners develop an online portfolio over an 18 month-2-year period to demonstrate competence in the Advanced area of practice.
Currently there are frameworks available for:
Pharmacists Working in a GP Practice (for all information for this programme inc. registration)
Registration
Registration is online, twice a year and opens on 1st November to start training on 1st February and on 1st August to start training on 1st September. Please click here to register.
Educational Supervisor
Ideally educational supervisors should register throughout the same time period as foundation pharmacists.
However, you may register at anytime throughout the year but will still need to attend a regional induction event and complete the online training modules before you start tutoring an advanced EPP pharmacist.
After registration educational supervisors will receive (just before the training start date) a welcome email that provides information about what you need to do to get started.
At this time, you also need to book to attend an induction session (via Portal), which is generally held 2-3 weeks after the training start date.
The aim of this specialist training is to equip practitioners working within a specific area of practice with specialist skills.
The objectives are designed to demonstrate the competency of pharmacists wishing to work within antimicrobial stewardship.
The module will be addressed through directed reading, experience in practice and work-shadowing where appropriate.
The module will take approximately 18 months to complete. However, it may take less time for pharmacists who have previously completed vocational Post - Registration Pharmacist Foundation Programme.
Advanced EPP specialist pharmacists are expected to develop a portfolio which demonstrates competence of the various tasks detailed within the specialist competency framework.
Supporting resources
There are a variety of resources available to help you complete the advanced EPP infection and antimicrobial stewardship module. They are displayed within the ePortfolio but the spreadsheet of all resources is available below to download. The resources are organised by the elements within the advanced EPP competency framework.
There are a few resources listed which are on YouTube and may not be accessible from NHS premises. These may require to be viewed from home or on a personal electronic device.
*Please note that the resources for this training module will soon be moving to be within the e-Portfolio*
Resources for the competency framework
Work to be completed prior to the Microbiology Laboratory visit is on ePortfolio
Pre-requisites
There are two specific pre-requisites for the advanced EPP infection and antimicrobial stewardship module.
You are required to be completed these two activities as well as the generic requirements before you start your training.
1. Critical appraisal skills Level 1 and 2
If you have previous experience of critically appraising literature, then there is no need to undertake any activities that are included as part of the presentations. The information is on the e-Portfolio. The recordings are within the VT Foundation Resources Booklet within e-Portfolio (VT foundation and EPP resources).
2. Health Associated Infection - Mandatory training package
The information is within the specific spreadsheet of resources for this module on e-Portfolio
The learning objectives are designed to demonstrate the competency of pharmacists wishing to work with older people. The module will be addressed through directed reading, experience in practice and work-shadowing where appropriate.
The module will take approximately 18 months to complete. However, it may take less time for pharmacists who have completed vocational Post - Registration Pharmacist Foundation Programme.
Advanced EPP specialists in training are expected to develop a portfolio which demonstrates competence of the various tasks detailed within the specialist competency framework.
Supporting resources
There are a variety of resources available to help you complete the Pharmaceutical Care of Older People module.
The resources are organised by the Elements within the Advanced EPP Competency Framework and are on the e-Portfolio. There are FAQs on e-Portfolio to help get you started.
Requirements
For the EPP Pharmaceutical care of older people module there are only the generic pre requisites to be completed. These are detailed within the e-Portfolio.
The specialist learning objectives are designed to demonstrate the competency of pharmacists wishing to work in public health. The module will take approximately 18 months to complete.
Advanced EPP specialists in training are expected to develop a portfolio which demonstrates competence of the various tasks detailed within the specialist competency framework.
Supporting resources
There are a variety of resources available to help you complete this EPP module.The resources comprise mainly links to a variety of websites. The resources are organised by the elements within the EPP Competency Framework and are available on the e-Portfolio.
For advanced EPP training there are in-training reviews (ITRs), a portfolio assessment and a final online viva assessment.
All trainees should attend at least one ITR throughout their training. Video conference (VC) facilities may be used to attend an ITR. The trainee needs to attend the final online viva assessment in person.
In-training reviews (ITRs) are sessions where trainees meet with members of the specialist interest group (SIG), deliver a presentation of a clinical case and as part of the presentation detail their training progress to date and their objectives for the next 3-6 months of training.
All trainees should attend ITRs to enable peer learning. Each trainee receives written feedback from NES, after the session.
The sessions are generally at NES, Glasgow after 3 months and 3 monthly thereafter until completion of the module. VC facilities are available.
A portfolio assessment is then held prior to a online viva assessment about 11 weeks later.
The final online viva assessment lasts approximately 1 hour and is a discussion about your portfolio by an assessment panel comprising of NES, an expert in the area of practice and an external assessor.
Flow diagram of the Vocational Training assessment process
Autumn 2021 assessments
Last updated: Friday, July 15, 2022