Education & Training

The pharmacy department at Mid Essex Hospital places great value in training and developing its staff. We offer a wide variety of in-house, regional and National training programmes and study days for all grades of staff.

We recognise the potential in learning from each other, identifying learning styles and offering a variety of training methods that take these considerations into account.

Induction

All new members of staff complete a Trust induction course and a comprehensive in-house pharmacy induction pack. The induction allows an overview of the whole service. An appraisal is performed after 3 months so that training and development needs can be identified and undertaken early on.

CPD

CPD is embedded in pharmacy culture at MEHT. CPD is actively encouraged and we have at least 6 trained CPD facilitators available to assist with identifying CPD opportunities and assisting with CPD recording to meet RPSGB standards.

Trust courses

The Trust is committed to staff training and development and offers a wide range of courses.

External courses

External training providers are utilised to deliver training and accreditation.  The department encourages attendance at regional and national training events to support networking and personal development.

In-house training

The pharmacy department has a number of in-house training manuals which support staff development.

There is a weekly training programme in place which is facilitated by qualified pharmacy staff and offers a variety of training opportunities.

Staff groups

Pharmacists and technicians provide and undertake a wide variety of formal education and training programmes.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists undertake the postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy.

All pharmacists work and are trained in accordance with the GLF and ALF as appropriate to their roles.

Senior pharmacists are encouraged to develop specialist skills and training as appropriate to their role.

Senior pharmacists are encouraged to train at pre-registration and diploma tutors.

Senior pharmacists are trained to become independent prescribers.

Technicians

Qualified technicians are provided with training opportunities to extend their skills:

• London regional accredited checking technician scheme
• In-house accredited checking technician scheme
• Dispensing accuracy
• NVQ A1 assessor training (London Pharmacy Education & Training – LPET)
• NVQ V1 verifier training (LPET)
• NVQ business skills
• Management training
• LPET Technician self development scheme
• Conference attendance (regional and national)
• In house training package – near patient technician training
• Patient counselling skills course – accredited
• Certificate for medicines management for pharmacy technicians
• UKMI Medicines information accreditation scheme for pharmacy technicians
• PIMS training (procurement)

Pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians

These are recruited annually.  The minimum qualifications required to apply for this post are 4 GCSEs grade A-C (Maths, English and one science). Trainees undergo a 2 year day release training scheme at Chelmsford college of further education to obtain a BTEC in pharmaceutical sciences which is the underpinning knowledge for the NVQ level 3 which is performed in the work place.

Trainee technicians rotate through the entire pharmacy service –

• Pharmacy stores and goods receiving
• Dispensary
• Aseptics
• Clinical rotation (visits to wards and self directed rotas encompassing any identified and approved learning needs – visits to clinical areas within the Hospital and outside units)

NVQ team

The NVQ team at MEHT pharmacy consists of 2 experienced Internal Verifiers (one of whom was recently awarded LPET IV of the year 2008) who are also trained assessors and a further 4 highly experienced NVQ assessors to support candidates and assist with completion of both qualifications for NVQ3 and also NVQ2.

Pre-registration pharmacists

These are recruited annually. The pre-registration pharmacists undergo an extensive structured training programme throughout all areas of the pharmacy service in secondary care, mental health and spend some time in primary care also.

The pharmacy team at MEHT has a large team of experienced pre-registration pharmacist tutors to guide and support each trainee.  The in-house training is supported by local area tutorials and a regional programme of study days.

SATOs (Senior assistant technical officers)

SATOs are now required by law to achieve an NVQ level 2 in pharmacy services. Our experienced NVQ team support all candidates through this, and offer underpinning knowledge training sessions to assist with development

SATOs rotate through all areas of patient services within pharmacy and work through in-house training manuals and processes.

It is common for NVQ level 2 qualified SATOs (with the appropriate GCSEs) to progress to become pre-registration pharmacy technicians.

Aseptics

The team in aseptic consists of pharmacists, technicians and SATOs.

The qualifications required are the same as for the rest of the pharmacy team, however specific aseptic training is given via in-house manuals and external courses.

Specialist courses are also funded and attendance encouraged.

Training others

Pharmacists and technicians from the pharmacy team are heavily involved in the medicines management training of junior doctors and nurses within the Trust on an official level by providing study days and unofficially in the course of their day-to-day work.

Work experience

Pharmacy at MEHT welcome those interested in developing a career in pharmacy services to apply for work experience.

Application forms are available on the Trust internet pages.

To optimise the experience you receive we will only approve work experience places when staffing levels allow us to ensure appropriate training/supervision.