There are lots of reasons why people may take a break from practising as a pharmacist. For example, taking time to recover from a long term illness, bringing up a family or taking a gap year.
If you are contemplating a return to practice following a break of more than twelve months you will have to complete the GPhC return to registration application form and provide a portfolio of evidence of current competence. You will need to consider the knowledge and skills that you already have, identify any gaps and develop a plan on how you might best fill these gaps.
Return to practice courses, work shadowing, mentoring and on-line forums are amongst the options available to help you to enhance your knowledge and skills.
The Return to practice checklist published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is available to RPS members.
Find out more at https://www.rpharms.com/resources/pharmacy-guides/returning-to-practice-a-guide/return-to-practice-checklist
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) Return to prescribing course is a three-day programme delivered over a three month period. It is open to any pharmacist prescriber registered in England who needs to regain the competence and confidence to prescribe.
Over the three days you will reflect on your current skills and identify actions, resources and opportunities to address gaps in the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for effective prescribing. This will be achieved through a mix of individual learning, group activities and discussions, and sharing of best practice.
Find out more at https://www.cppe.ac.uk/career/return-prescribing
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) Returning to the register course addresses the GPhC requirement for all returning pharmacists to submit a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates their current professional competence. The CPPE runs four courses each year, two face-to-face workshops (two evenings per workshop) and two on-line workshops (two evenings per workshop). This course is free to returners in England and Wales.
Find out more at https://www.cppe.ac.uk/career/return-to-register
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) offers a coaching service. If you have a specific work-related goal, for example returning to practice, the CPPE can help you to achieve this within a supportive framework.
Find out more at https://www.cppe.ac.uk/support/need-support
Returning pharmacists will need to keep abreast of new services in order to remain an attractive proposition to prospective employers. Pharmacists who are able to provide services such as Medicines Use Reviews (MURs) and New Medicine Services (NMS) will be more likely to get work.
Medicines Use Reviews and New Medicine Services
See the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) website for further information on Medicines Use Reviews and New Medicine Services.
Medicines Use Reviews is a free on-line resource at http://www.murtraining.co.uk developed by pharmacists, and it has several scenarios that you can work through.
NHS repeat dispensing service
The PSNC state that at least two thirds of all prescriptions generated in primary care are for patients needing repeat supplies of regular medicines. Under this service, pharmacies dispense repeat prescriptions and store the documentation if the patient requires them to do so. For further information, see the PSNC website.
CPPE repeat dispensing training
The CPPE offers a repeat dispensing learning programme and assessment. For further information, see the CPPE website.
The Pharmacy Times
The Pharmacy Times on-line site has a large section on medical conditions. Here you will find advice in a variety of formats, ranging from articles to pod-casts and videos, to help you to keep up-to-date with the latest information on a variety of disease states. For further information, see the Pharmacy Times website.
NHS smartcard
All pharmacists need to have an NHS smartcard in order to access the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). Your local registration authority or area team will be able to provide you with a smartcard. To find your local area team, see the NHS choices website.
h4>Royal Pharmaceutical SocietyThe Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) website contains general information on return to practice, including tips for your portfolio and personal statement, a return to practice checklist, FAQs and case studies. For further information on return to practice, see the RPS website.
The RPS offers discounted rates to those who are on maternity leave or are not currently working owing to issues such as health problems. For further details of discounted membership rates, see the RPS website.
PJ Online
PJ Online includes articles, details of courses and links to other useful resources. Some information is available to all visitors to the website, whilst information such as archived articles is for members of the RPS who have registered with PJ Online and paid subscribers only.
For further information, see the PJ website.
Day Lewis supported training placement programme
For some pharmacists who have completed the CPPE Return to Practice programme, there is also the opportunity for a placement on the Supported training placement programme. This is a joint partnership between the CPPE and Day Lewis, offering a number of one month placements for pharmacists who are seeking to return to practice.
During this placement an experienced Day Lewis pharmacist will assess and mentor you, and on successful completion of the placement you will be awarded with a certificate. For further information, visit the CPPE website.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) work shadowing information
The RPS website provides information on work shadowing, including how to find a work shadow placement, how to prepare for it and to get the most out of it. For further information, see the RPS website. Please note, you will need to be a member of the RPS if you wish to use their services.
RPS mentoring service
The RPS offers its members a mentoring service. This can range from a one-off session focusing on a particular issue to a long term relationship that will enable you to build confidence and enhance your skills. Mentors can also, at your request, liaise with the GPhC to ensure that you fulfil any conditions attached to your return to the register.
The RPS online mentoring database helps to match mentor and mentee. However you can also utilise local practice forums and online groups to search for potential mentors.
For further information on the mentoring service, see the RPS website.
National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP)
NAWP is keen to help men and women who wish to return to practice. This includes the provision of low-level continuing support, introduction to work opportunities with sympathetic employers and a mentoring scheme. For further information, see the NAWP website.
There are many job sites to help you to find employment. We have compiled a list of specialist pharmacist sites, locum sites and more general job sites. To view these, see our the harmacist Support Looking for work: job vacancy sites factsheet.
Working as a locum
Pharmacists who are struggling to find work might want to consider working as a locum. For further information, including paying tax, personal indemnity insurance and employment rights, see our Locum fact sheet.
Pharmacist Support
While people are unable to work, we can also provide specialist advice on benefits entitlement.For people who are struggling to manage their finances, we can provide specialist debt advice.
Financial assistance towards essential expenditure in times of hardship may be provided to those affected by loss of work, for example, pharmacists seeking to return to work after a period of illness. Examples of help include course and travel costs, registration fees and help with household costs.
If you are currently experiencing hardship, do not hesitate to contact us. We can help you assess whether an application for financial assistance is the best route and discuss what other support might be available for you
To contact Pharmacist Support visit www.pharmacistsupport.org email info@pharmacistsupport.org or call 0808 168 2233
Listening Friends
The Pharmacist Support confidential Listening Friends telephone helpline, staffed by volunteer pharmacists, can provide a listening ear to pharmacists who have not worked for a while and may be anxious about returning to practice.
Call Listening Friends on: 0808 168 5133