The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has updated its Competency Framework for all Prescribers.
These updates will come into force for registrants and education providers in September 2022.
The framework sets out what good prescribing looks like across all health professions, and since September 2019 has been adopted by the HCPC as its standards for all prescribers. If you have a prescribing annotation on our Register, you must meet the competencies set out in the framework in your prescribing practice.
The framework has been updated following a six-week public consultation which took place earlier this year. We responded to the consultation in support of the proposals and have been working with RPS on the final framework. The updated framework takes into account a number of changes including:
- Legislation changes introducing paramedic prescribers in April 2018
- Current prescribing topics such as remote prescribing, social prescribing, promotion of non-pharmacological treatment, psychosocial assessment and eco-directed sustainable prescribing
- Publication of the RPS competency framework for designated prescribing practitioners in December 2019, which the HCPC has also adopted. Find out more here
The scope of the framework has been expanded, with 12 new supporting statements being included and new information sections added. Changes have also been made to improve clarity and consistency.
An online version of the framework is also now available on the RPS website, along with a Welsh version, examples in practice, a presentation, help on how to evidence your competency and further supporting resources.
What does this mean for registrants?
HCPC registrants with a prescribing annotation will need to make themselves aware of the changes and ensure these are incorporated into their practice in time for the coming into force date of September 2022.
What does this mean for education providers?
We will be asking providers to embed the revised framework into their training in time for September 2022. We will confirm this has been completed through our next scheduled performance review engagement.