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
Scottish pharmacy experiential learning is funded by the Scottish Government and organised in partnership between Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and other pharmacy stakeholders.
NES Pharmacy supports experiential learning (EL) in Scotland by managing the financial governance of ACTp funding and providing Quality Management of EL, through training of facilitators and approval of training sites, on behalf of the universities.
Experiential Learning in 2024-25
The EL Activity Calendar details all EL activity planned for 2024-25.
Training providers and facilitators of experiential learning
Funding, called ‘Additional Cost of Teaching (ACT) fees’ are available to training providers who are facilitating student pharmacists’ experiential learning as part of the MPharm curriculum throughout an academic year.
To be eligible to receive an ACT contribution, the pharmacist facilitating EL (Facilitator) needs to have committed to undertaking Preparation for Facilitating Experiential Learning Training (PFEL). This is a training and preparation package and a PFEL fee is payable per Facilitator. The training will cover a variety of topics including:
Further information, useful resources and available PFEL dates can be found on our Turas Learn page.
Training providers
Every experiential learning provider needs to sign an Educational Agreement /Service Level Agreement to participate in experiential learning. Organisations will be contacted by NES and asked to review and sign an agreement if there is not one already in place.
Experiential learning principles for training providers [DOCX] are available. The aim is that every student pharmacist will receive equitable high-quality learning opportunities and support in every experiential learning provider across Scotland.
These principles form the basis of the NES Pharmacy Initial Education and Training quality management process for training providers. This include site approval for training sites who will be hosting student pharmacists on experiential learning.
Feedback requirements
All student pharmacists who undertake EL should be provided with regular verbal feedback throughout their EL placement. The EL facilitator should have regular conversations with the student pharmacist, encouraging them to reflect and learn from their experiences and to identify areas for development. We ask that EL facilitators provide clear, fair and honest feedback and ensure that the student pharmacist is at the centre of this and has the opportunity to input and ask questions.
In addition to regular feedback conversations, all student pharmacists must receive written feedback in the format outlined by the relevant university. It is essential that this is provided, as it is required for student pharmacist assessment by the university.
The feedback requirements have changed for 2024-25 EL and are different for each university. These are detailed below.
Feedback for Robert Gordon University Student Pharmacists from 2024-25:
|
STAGE OF STUDY |
FEEDBACK REQUIREMENTS (FOR EACH EL PLACEMENT) |
|
Stage 1 |
Daily signed attendance record EL facilitator feedback – via Individual Feedback form on Turas Training Portfolio |
|
Stage 2 |
Daily signed attendance record EL facilitator feedback – via Individual Feedback form on Turas Training Portfolio |
|
Stage 3 |
Daily signed attendance record Complete one mini-CEX and record on Turas Training Portfolio EL facilitator feedback – via Individual Feedback form on Turas Training Portfolio |
|
Stage 4 |
Daily signed attendance record Complete one mini-CEX and record on Turas Training Portfolio Complete one Case Based Discussion and record on Turas Training Portfolio EL facilitator feedback – via Individual Feedback form on Turas Training Portfolio |
EL facilitators or other collaborators can learn more about Supervised Learning Events, including mini-CEX and Case Based Discussion, on the Supervised Learning Events (SLEs) | Turas | Learn (nhs.scot).
Please note that the university EL teams are always on hand if you would like support or have any concerns. Any concerns should be raised immediately with the relevant contact listed in the ‘University EL Teams’ section below.
Useful Resources for Robert Gordon University Student Pharmacists and their EL Facilitators:
Planning for RGU student pharmacist experiential learning leaflet – coming soon: This provides an overview of the student pharmacist and EL facilitator journey through planning and attending / hosting EL. This document contains all of the links mentioned below.
RGU EL placement handbook for facilitators 2024- 25(pdf): All student pharmacists and EL facilitators should read this to support planning and for awareness of the responsibilities of the student pharmacist, EL facilitator and RGU Professional Experiences team.
EL Framework documents: Support student pharmacists and EL facilitators to plan appropriate learning activities throughout experiential learning (EL). They outline tasks suitable for different year groups and provide suggestions to involve the pharmacy team and wider MDT for support and supervision. They include suggested supervised learning events (SLEs), supporting completion of mandatory SLEs for Stage 3 and Stage 4 student pharmacists.
Community Pharmacy EL Framework
Hospital Pharmacy EL Framework
Pre-EL communication form: for the EL facilitator and student pharmacist to share relevant information with each other in the initial stages of planning.
RGU experiential learning feedback guidance: this details the 2024-25 feedback requirements for each year group. This guidance also contains tips for providing effective feedback and examples of completed individual feedback, mini-CEX and CBD forms.
Supervised Learning Events page on Turas Learn: This has more information about conducting SLEs and will be helpful for EL facilitators and other collaborators who are new to using these.
Student pharmacist guide to using Turas Training Portfolio: How to access and send requests for feedback and SLEs
EL facilitator guide to documenting individual feedback and SLEs on Turas Training Portfolio: a ‘how to’ guide for EL facilitators and other collaborators providing written feedback and completing SLEs with student pharmacists on Turas Training Portfolio.
Final day checklist for student pharmacists and EL facilitators: this checklist can be used by student pharmacists and EL facilitators as a reminder of required actions throughout the EL placement.
Student feedback on EL experience:This document shows the feedback that is requested from student pharmacists at the end of each EL experience.
Cultural Humility module on Turas learn: For EL facilitator development, raise awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion experiences and to develop yourself as an ally.
Leading to change Allyship Hub
Resources for existing Experiential Learning (EL) facilitators
Feedback for University of Strathclyde Student Pharmacists from 2024-25:
Student pharmacists from the University of Strathclyde will be required to obtain the feedback detailed below:
|
Year Group |
Feedback from EL facilitator (per placement) |
Feedback from pharmacy or multidisciplinary team member (per placement) |
Feedback from peers |
Feedback from patient (per year) |
|
Year 2 |
1 |
1 |
NA |
1 |
|
Year 3 |
1 |
1 |
Two over three years |
1 |
|
Year 4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Year 5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
These feed into the student pharmacist reflective portfolio and OSCE for university assessment.
Useful Resources for University of Strathclyde Student Pharmacists and their EL Facilitators:
UoS 2024-25 Experiential Learning Handbook: All student pharmacists and EL facilitators should read this to support planning and for awareness of the responsibilities of the student pharmacist, EL facilitator and UoS EL team.
EL Framework documents: Support student pharmacists and EL facilitators to plan appropriate learning activities throughout experiential learning (EL). They outline tasks suitable for different year groups and provide suggestions to involve the pharmacy team and wider MDT for support and supervision. They include suggested supervised learning events (SLEs) but note that these are not mandatory for UoS student pharmacists.
Community Pharmacy EL Framework
Hospital Pharmacy EL Framework
Pre-EL communication form: for the EL facilitator and student pharmacist to share relevant information with each other in the initial stages of planning.
UoS assessment guidance for facilitators: This details the 2024-25 feedback requirements for each year group and provides information on the assessment pathway for EL. The guidance also includes a completed example of the student assessment form for your reference.
Final day checklist for student pharmacists and EL facilitators
Student feedback on EL experience: This document shows the feedback that is requested from student pharmacists at the end of each EL experience.
Cultural Humility module on Turas learn: For EL facilitator development, raise awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion experiences and to develop yourself as an ally.
Leading to change Allyship Hub
University EL Teams
If you would like support or have any concerns or issues (including student pharmacist absence) during experiential learning please contact the relevant university, contact details below.
|
RGU key EL contacts |
||
|
Michelle Strachan |
Regional Tutor: North Region |
07734 773394 |
|
Aly Brown |
Regional Tutor: West Region |
07966 284238 |
|
Gillian Robertson |
Regional Tutor: East Region |
07734 773426 |
|
Craig McDonald |
MPharm Placement Officer |
07384 877779 / 01224 262500 |
|
Nicky Spalding |
MPharm Placement Administrator |
01224 262671 |
If you wish to speak to someone regarding experiential learning at Robert Gordon University, please follow the communication pathway detailed in the RGU EL Placement Handbook.
|
UoS key EL contacts |
||
|
Paul Kearns |
MPharm EL Co-ordinator |
0141 548 3428 / 07785 661386 |
|
Morven McDonald |
MPharm EL Co-ordinator |
0141 548 3428 |
|
Phil Brown |
MPharm EL Administrator |
0141 548 3475 |
|
Anne Boyter |
Fitness to Practice |
0141 548 4594 |
|
NES Pharmacy key EL contact |
||
|
NES Pharmacy EL Team |
Enquiry will be routed to appropriate person |
|
If you have any questions, please email nes.elpharmacy@nhs.scot