Pharmacy Clinical Practice (Community and Primary Care) (MSc/Diploma/Certificate)
Advance your Pharmaceutical Care and Enhance your Career!
A leading-edge, flexible programme of weekend workshops and distance learning that will provide you with in-depth knowledge and skills to enhance your career as a community or primary care pharmacist working in the UK.
Am I eligible for the course?
You must be a pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), working a minimum of one day a week in either a community pharmacy or primary care organisation in the UK. Preference will be given to those who have at least one year of post-registration experience, but applications from newly qualified pharmacists will also be considered.
What is the course philosophy?
The course is very much focused on the pharmacist’s personal development and the application of theory to practice in order to become a confident and effective practitioner as a member of the wider healthcare team.
Importance is placed upon reflective practice, with coursework designed to encourage better understanding of individual learning styles and placing practice experience into the wider therapeutic role. Reflective skills learned on this course are designed to be applicable throughout your career.
What is the aim of the course?
To provide educational support for pharmacists who wish to enhance their knowledge of therapeutics and improve their medicines management skills in order to provide patient-centred care.
What are the core learning outcomes?
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of a specific therapeutic area and apply this to the care of patients with chronic conditions.
- Describe the different models for medicine management and discuss their application to local practice.
- Communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals fostering good working relationships.
- Display good consultation skills to assess, identify and resolve a patient’s pharmaceutical care needs.
- Become a reflective practitioner able to steer your own Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Course structure
As practicing pharmacists we understand the need for flexibility when trying to incorporate further study into busy and demanding lifestyles. We have therefore developed a flexible, modular course combining weekend schools (four per academic year), home learning and work based practical assignments.
Year one and Year two students attend the same study weekends, thus providing a useful support network. A buddy system is also in place as a peer support mechanism.
Whilst we encourage students to continue on into the third year in order to obtain your MSc, we have recognised that career goals can change over time and therefore provide the option of exiting the course earlier if necessary. For example, if you were to leave the course after the successful completion of two years (eight modules) you would be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma, whereas leaving the course after four successfully completed modules at the end of year one would entitle you to a Postgraduate Certificate. Individual modules can also be studied as a short course.
Overview of content
2012 – 13 Modules:
| Medicines Management | (20 credits) | 6th & 7th Oct. 2012 |
| Management of Cardio-vascular Conditions | (20 credits) | 24th & 25th Nov. 2012 |
| Management of Respiratory Conditions | (10 credits) | 26th & 27th Jan. 2013 |
| Management of Gastro-Intestinal Conditions | (10 credits) | 23rd & 24th March 2013 |
Assessment - 3th May 2013
2013 – 14 Modules:
| Public Health in Community Pharmacy | (20 credits) | Dates to be confirmed |
| Management of Endocrine Disorders | (20 credits) | Dates to be confirmed |
| Management of Central Nervous System Disorders | (10 credits) | Dates to be confirmed |
| Management of Skin Conditions | (10 credits) | Dates to be confirmed |
Assessment - To be confirmed
Overview of assessment
There are up to four pieces of coursework (for example MUR, case studies, field trips, and surveys) associated with each module plus the completion of one audit project and reflective portfolio (based on the general level of competency framework) per year. There is also a class test (multiple choice questions, case studies, and skills based assessments) in May of each year.
The course includes MUR Accreditation and Enhanced Services Accreditation which is delivered in conjunction with WCPPE.
Stand alone modules (occasional students)
This course has been developed for pharmacists practicing in community and primary care throughout the UK. However, pharmacists practicing in different areas, or other healthcare professionals who identify a module that meets their continual professional development will be considered for eligibility to take to take a free-standing module. The programme is structured so that students can improve their therapeutic knowledge and understanding for a given topic whilst developing new skills within the framework of an individual module. Each module is rated as a single or double module and awarded a number of credits as indicated above. The credit rating system is recognised by other universities. Each module can be taken as a stand alone module for occasional students. However, students are expected to complete the assessments in order to gain credits.
MSc year
After completing the Postgraduate Diploma, students have the option of progressing onto the MSc. This one year programme provides training in research methods to enable you to design a viable study protocol. With guidance from your Supervisor you will then undertake an independent research project based upon your chosen area of pharmacy practice, which will then be written up in the form of a dissertation. We encourage our MSc students to feed back their findings to their employers, and disseminate to the wider industry through academic journal articles and/or presentations.
Costs
The annual course fees are as follows and are subject to confirmation:
| UK Students | Overseas Students | |
| PG Certificate: | £2,350 | £5,000 |
| PG Diploma: | £2,350 | £5,000 |
| MSc: | £2,350 | £5,000 |
UK
If you wish to study a stand alone module, the costs per module are as follows:
| UK Students: | Overseas Students: | |
| 20 credit module: | £800 | £1800 |
| 10 credit module: | £400 | £900 |
How will this course benefit me?
Apart from gaining an additional qualification from a prestigious institution, in-house research indicates a range of benefits previous students have cited from completing the course, namely: greater job satisfaction, enhanced communication with other healthcare professionals and patients, the ability to implement new services and/or extend roles, together with movement into managerial positions, or into the Primary Care sector. In addition, you will also have formed valuable professional relationships with academic staff and other students.
Feedback from previous and current students
- “... the course had a tremendous impact on my career development. It is the most important move I have made in my career. I would recommend the course to any pharmacist. I wish that I had obtained my MSc many years ago.”
- “Loved the weekend schools, packed with interesting topics.”
- “Excellent course! I’ve enjoyed it a lot and will recommend it to other people”
- “I thoroughly enjoyed undertaking the audit and it definitely built relations between myself, GP’s, nurses and the LHB.”
- “Really good course, lecturers and course staff all fantastic. Excellent knowledge obtained throughout the course.”
- “.. they get the experts in to talk to you who you wouldn’t meet in normal working life.”
- “I am making an improved contribution to patient care in the locality to where I work. I feel my reputation among public, colleagues and other healthcare professionals has grown.”
- “ ... it’s done as a module weekend and you have two days of teaching and sharing. You mentor each other really, not just through buddying but there’s such a wide range of experience and people coming from very different types of practice. During the weekend you gain a lot from other people’s input, which you wouldn’t get from totally distance learning.”
- I’ve been out of college for more than 20 years, now I’m confident that I know more than new graduates.”
- “Much improved confidence when contacting GPs and recommending treatments ... much improved signposting.”
- “I have found the course hugely beneficial to my practice and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.”
- “Problem solving questions and case studies extremely valuable.”
- “Greater understanding of new pharmacy contract and its implications enhanced clinical knowledge, greater interaction with multidisciplinary team.”
How do I apply?
Apply on line at http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/pg/apply/index.html before the 27th July 2012. Earlier applications are encouraged. Late applications may be considered but not guaranteed.
Course Director
Dr Delyth James
