Professor Angela Alexander MBE Chair, Working Party The Designated Prescribing Practitioner Competency Framework Royal Pharmaceutical Society & Professor Emerita, School of Pharmacy, University of Reading
Training and Supporting Non Medical Prescribers: Developing the role of the Designated Prescribing Practitioner & Extending the role to Non Medical Prescribers
• supporting governance and accountability
• enabling non-medical prescribers (NMPs) to take on this designated practitioner role
• the new Designated Prescribing Practitioner Competency Framework
• how to evidence competence in the DPP role
• moving forward
Angela said that prescribing is not just writing the name of a drug on a piece of paper.
Angela continues to discuss the aims of the generic DPP role, which is to oversee, support and assess the competence of non-medical prescribing trainees, in collaboration with academic and workplace partners, during the period of learning in practice.
Angela also looked at the Professional skills and knowledge of the DPP. The practitioner taking on the DPP role:
2.1 Works in line with legal, regulatory, professional and organisational standards
2.2 Is an experienced prescriber* in a patient facing role
2.3 Is an active prescriber** in a patient-facing role, with appropriate knowledge and experience relevant to the trainee’s area of clinical practice
2.4 Has up-to-date patient-facing, clinical and diagnostic skills and evidence of demonstrating competence in an area of practice relevant to the trainee
2.5 Has knowledge of the scope and legal remit of non-medical prescribing for the NMP trainee’s profession
Alison Pottle Cardiology Nurse Consultant Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust delivered an extended session on 'Optimising the period of learning in practice' covering
• supporting NMP trainees to develop and demonstrate competence as a prescriber
• assessment to ensure trainees have met the necessary learning outcomes and
acquired competencies
• optimising the PLP for NMPs in training, working with academic partners, to ensure
the quality and safety of future non-medical prescribers
Alison covered the purpose and uses of the framework….
"Help healthcare professionals prepare to prescribe and provide the basis for on-going continuing education and development programmes, and revalidation processes. For example, use as a framework for a portfolio to demonstrate competency in prescribing....
‘Inform the development of education curricula and relevant accreditation of prescribing programmes for all prescribing professions."
Source: https://www.rpharms.com/Portals/0/RPS%20document%20library/Open%20access/Professional%20standards/Prescribing%20competency%20framework/prescribing-competency-framework.pdf
Alison concludes by saying "Academic and service providers have a collective responsibility and must work together to ensure the quality and safety of future non-medical prescribers in order to provide the best care and services for patients"