Dear Member

If you intend to apply for IP (which we highly encourage), we wanted to try and aid with the decision around the choice of institution.

If you have already started the process of becoming an IP or are intend to do this, please fill in the form so we can add you to our IP Group on Whatsapp for relevant messages, help and support (including help with finding a DPP / DMP).

Why is the choice of an institution so important? 
Some of us haven’t entered formal education for a very long time; therefore, the method of teaching and assessment will be imperative to determine your experience through this journey. We all naturally require different levels of support. For example, if you learn better with a varied approach, then a university that offers a blended learning style (a mixture of workshops, virtual, face-to-face) may be best suited. Whereas if you learn best on your own, an institution that offers a more self-directed learning environment may be best.

We have put together a table of information on the teaching and assessment styles of each University offering the IP HEE-funded programme. We hope that this will help you make your choice. Once you have decided, please apply as soon as possible as the funded placements are offered on a first come, first serve basis. The funding which is available spans through cohorts starting in this academic year (September 2022). Each university will have several different intakes such as Sept 2022, Jan 2023, March 2023 and April 2023 (Please check the university site for details). Alongside this, the timetable for each university is on each respective website, so please do look and make sure that you can attend the sessions before you apply as institutions do expect 100% attendance.

There is a key to help you navigate your way through the information in the table, please click here to view the table.
 

How to choose your topic to prescribe in (scope of practice)?
If we can offer one piece of advice around scope of practice, it would be to keep it simple and very specific! The IP course will take time and effort.... read more...

What is the role of the DPP ?
A DPP doesn’t need to be a doctor, due to a change in regulation. This means that an independent prescriber can be your DPP, including a pharmacist independent prescriber. However, you must be careful when choosing your DPP as .... read more...

Finding a DMP/DPP
If you are having an issue finding a GP mentor (DMP) or a designated pharmacist practitioner (DPP), then we are in a perfect position to help you. You can utilise our DMP or DPP Mentor Pairing Service to help you find a suitable mentor who has experience training pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to become independent prescribers. Our experience is that this requirement is one of the most frustrating when you prepare to become an independent prescriber and is laden with difficulties.

What is the role of the University?
The university IP programme is there to teach you the skills around prescribing, these include topics such as:
    • Applying, managing and utilising professional knowledge and skills commensurate with being an independent prescriber.
    • Working collaboratively with... read more...

How can we help you through this process
We understand that the application process can be quite daunting, but we are here to support you every step of the way.

• You will be required to complete a personal statement describing why you have chosen your scope of practice and how you intend to apply it to your current role. • Each university will have a slightly different variation in their questions around this. But do not worry, we can guide you with ideas on what you can include in your statement.
• Similarly each university will have different requirements for their application process, including the forms themselves, please do not hesitate to ask for help of you need it. 
 

We are here to support you along this journey from deciding a scope of practice to the application process, to helping you during your course. No question is off limits, If you have any please feel free to get in touch with us on info@pharmaplusltd.co.uk

RESOURCES

Please see the resources below which you may find useful:

• Trainee and Newly Qualified prescribers | RPS (rpharms.com)
• https://www.rpharms.com/resources/pharmacy-guides/independent-prescribers-guide 
• Training for non-medical prescribers | Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk)
• https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/pharmacy/pharmacy-integration-fund/pharmacy-integration-fund-courses-pharmacists