Workforce and Quality
Education Programme Director Network Events
We organise and facilitate 2–3-hour virtual network events for both our Foundation Trainee Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician Education Programme Directors (EPDs) across London. Outlook calendar invitations and agendas are circulated in advance of the event. Please feel free to forward the invitation on to other members of the pharmacy team who may be deputising for an EPD.
Educational Infrastructure Change Process
We circulate our communications to many staff involved in the education and training of pharmacy staff. It is important for us to know who the current Educational Leadership Team are in your department. Educational Programme Directors (EPDs) are our main link with your trust and we also require one* main contact to liaise with when specific data required for commissioned trainees is returned.
For our commissioned programmes, the Chief Pharmacist and EPD(s) should be named each year upon the return of the NHS Education Contract Annex: Provision of Training. In addition, if there is an Education & Training Lead or an EPD Support role recognised within the trust, this should be included as well.
If there are changes during the year, please inform us by completing the Educational Infrastructure Change Form below. This form should also be completed if additional colleagues are recruited into the education and training team to provide overarching leadership as a Specialist Education and Training Lead or EPD Support, as this may aid in succession planning.
We have developed an EPD Orientation guide to support EPDs in their role and how we link in with this. Please download this guide.
*in some cases where there are multiple sites for large trusts, two contacts can be named.
Specialist Education and Training Lead
The Specialist Education and Training Lead may act as the overarching co-ordinator for all Educational programmes (much like a Director of Medical Education ‘DME’ in medicine). whilst the EPD manages the strategy and operational aspects of a specific programme.
Educational Programme Director
An “Educational Programme Director” in pharmacy (EPD) oversees one or more entire training programmes locally, regionally, or both, developing and implementing programmes together with external bodies and local teams. An individual may be the EPD for more than one programme. The EPD ensures that quality criteria are met, including resource, appropriately trained supervisors, possibly selection of candidates, monitoring of progress and equal opportunities. We recommend that consideration be given to the EPD being a member of the local Senior Pharmacy team where appropriate.
EPD Support
This role supports the EPD and may be used for succession planning. The person filling this role will be supporting the EPD with operational aspects of the programme.
Supervisor Training
Supervisors play a key role in helping trainees to develop the skills, knowledge, understanding and behaviours they need to meet the standards expected of a pharmacy professional. We are aware of concerns regarding the need to have adequate training programmes available to develop and support supervisors.
NHS England are pleased to announce additional, fully funded educational supervision training for those supervising foundation trainee pharmacists.
This training will ensure those involved in educational supervision, including Designated Supervisors (DSs), and Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPPs), are confident to provide support and developmental aid to foundation trainee pharmacists across all sectors.
This training offer provides 250 places exclusively for prospective DPPs, in addition to 250 places for other educational supervisors, including DSs, (previously known as pre-reg tutors).
Sign up now for Educational Supervisor training for the pharmacy workforce which will be delivered by ProPharmace.
Who is eligible:
• Educational supervision programme - Pharmacy technicians and pharmacists who supervise trainees
• DPP programme - independent prescribers who supervise foundation trainee pharmacists. Regulatory changes in 2019 mean that experienced independent prescribers of any profession can apply for DPP training to support pharmacists to become independent prescribers.
Places on the course are limited and on a first come bases.
Alternative options are listed below (this is not an exhaustive list).
Educational Frameworks
Frameworks are available for both the Educational and Practice Supervisor roles within pharmacy for primary and secondary care staff who manage and deliver training. These can be used as a standalone tool for supervisors to identify competencies relevant to their role(s). It can also be used for them to demonstrate competence against the criteria set, by mapping their experience and identifying learning needs.
The frameworks can be found on our website, on the next tab.
e-Learning for Healthcare (eLfH): Practice and Educational Supervisor Training
eLfH hosts online training for Practice and Educational Supervisors. There are two programmes available which can be accessed:
• Core Skills for Pharmacy Practice and Educational Supervisors: this is for all who are new to the supervisor role and/or those that have not practiced in this role for several years.
• Enhanced Skills for Pharmacy Practice and Educational Supervisors: this is for all supervisors looking to further develop as a supervisor.
These programmes have been written for registered pharmacy professionals. However, pharmacy support staff will be able to achieve key development skills from completing the courses via eLfH.
The programme can be accessed from the eLfH platform.
General Pharmaceutical Council
The GPhC has developed resources for designated supervisors. These resources can be found here: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/education/pharmacist-foundation-training-scheme/training-placement/designated-supervisors.
Guidance on supervising pharmacy professionals in training is also available from the GPhC website.
Note: Health Education England (HEE) merged with NHS England to create a new organisation on 1 April 2023. National guidance documents may refer to HEE until the process of harmonisation with the new NHS England is complete.
NHS England Website
A webpage designed to support designated supervisors with information about the trainee pharmacist foundation training year is available on the NHS England website.
Note: Health Education England (HEE) came together with NHS England to create a new organisation on 1 April 2023. National guidance documents may refer to HEE until the process of harmonisation with the new NHS England is complete.
Educational Frameworks
We have worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop curricula and frameworks for both the Educational Supervisor (ES) and Practice Supervisor (PS) roles within pharmacy, for primary and secondary care staff who manage and deliver training.
The ES and PS frameworks are now published and can be used in two ways:
As a standalone tool for supervisors to identify the competencies relevant to their role(s) and to demonstrate competence against criteria set by mapping their experience and identifying learning needs.
Complete the relevant supervisor training course - more information about this will follow.
Professional Development Framework for Educators
The Professional Development Framework for Educators has been developed by the Multiprofessional Faculty Development (London and South East) Team. It has been designed to guide educational practitioners, in healthcare, in their development as educators to support their learners. Each domain, within the framework has been mapped to healthcare regulatory standards for education and training and to the HEE Quality Framework. This framework meets the needs for all EPDs. It is recommended that new EPDs utilise the ES Framework and map themselves against the Professional Development Framework for Educators and identify any learning needs.
Trainee Support
It is recognised that over the course of an educational programme, foundation trainee pharmacists and pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians may require additional support or adjustments to their training in order to successfully complete their training programme. To facilitate this, NHS England has developed a Trainee Support Process, the details of which are included within a Trainee Support Guide. This process is applicable for foundation trainee pharmacists and pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians in training placements commissioned by NHS England.
This guide has been designed to help organisations assist individuals who require support during their training programme. Please follow the link below to refer to the Trainee Support Guide for full details on identification, support and our notification process.
Where appropriate, contact us via the Request for Trainee Support form below. It is imperative that trainee consent is obtained prior to any personal details being disclosed to us.