Continual arrangements for staff development and building a supportive culture of shared learning

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

The pharmacy is on theoutskirts of the town centre. It dispenses NHS and private prescriptions andsells over-the-counter medicines. And provides advice on the management ofminor illnesses and long-term conditions. The pharmacy delivers medicines to people’shomes. It supplies medicines in multi-compartment compliance packs, to helppeople remember to take their medicines. And it provides some advanced NHSservices.

Relevant standards

• 2.2 - Staff have the appropriate skills, qualifications and competence for their role and the tasks they carry out, or are working under the supervision of another person while they are in training

Why this is notable practice

The pharmacy actively encourages learning by making regular training available. And the pharmacy team members work well together in a supportive environment.

How the pharmacy did this

The Superintendent Pharmacist (SI) led regular training sessions with all the team. This included a comprehensive induction programme which included learning associated with the pharmacy’s standard operating procedures (SOPs). Team members received individual copies of SOPs along with a staff handbook and their contract.

Pharmacy team members had access to training modules using resources provided by the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE). Each member of the team had their own CPPE login details. And the system kept records of their training. Pharmacy team members completed all learning associated with the NHS Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS). This included Children’s Oral Health, Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children and Risk Management.

Newer members of the pharmacy team shadowed more experienced colleagues when learning various tasks. This included tasks associated with the end of month processes and managing the pharmacy’s social media account. The pharmacy had introduced a ‘buddy’ system to support colleagues in training roles. Pharmacy team members regularly shared information related to healthy living topics and learning with each other through regular conversations and team meetings.

The pharmacy had ‘Training Request' forms and these forms were available for team members to take and fill in if they wanted any specific training or further support in any role. The forms required team members to confirm if they had previously had training and acknowledge they had checked the SOPs for information before requesting the additional training. They could also state if they wanted one-to-one learning and if they were able to complete additional training outside their contracted hours.

What difference this made to patients

Pharmacy team members are well supported in identifying and achieving their learning goals. This means people visiting the pharmacy can feel assured that services are being provided safely by staff who keep their skills and competences up to date.