Overview

In the fast changing world of pharmacy and healthcare provision, standing still is not an option, but you may, understandably, feel under-equipped to meet these new challenges. Let Keele help you meet the challenges set by the Government’s initiatives for the profession. In addition, the requirements for pharmacists to demonstrate their commitment to continual professional development is as strong as ever and is reflected in the General Pharmaceutical Council’s announcements regarding the assurance of the continual fitness to practice of pharmacists.

Our Clinical Pharmacy Programme for hospital pharmacists was first established in 1981 and we are proud of our high completion rate. Our distance learning programme in Clinical Pharmacy for hospital pharmacists aims to provide you with a wider view of health care, and equip you with sufficient knowledge, skills and confidence to be able to develop and extend your clinical and professional role as part of a multidisciplinary health care team. The programme links to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Advanced Pharmacy Framework to enable you to meet the relevant competencies and provide evidence for your continued professional development.

The Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (previously known as Department of Medicines Management), is part of the School of Pharmacy at Keele University and has a reputation for providing stimulating educational programmes for pharmacists.

We are closely in touch with current hospital practice, through our advisors and are continually updating the programme to meet the changing requirements of the health service and individual practitioners.  The programme is highly acclaimed by students, employers, purchasers and external course assessors for its structure, content and end value in relation to service, professional and career development. We are happy to put you in touch with some of our former students for their independent view.

To support health professionals in their own professional development the School of Pharmacy have developed a variety of CPD Plus+ and CPD Plus+ Open Learn modules which are available as 10, 15 and 30 credit modules. Course participants may choose to study one module only as a ‘stand alone’ course or choose different pathways to reach the awards of Certificate, Diploma and Masters. This gives health professionals choice and flexibility to meet their own specific professional development needs and to advance their professional practice. The distance learning format of the courses enables busy health professionals to study where and when it is most convenient to them.

Module aims

The aim of this course is to develop participants’ knowledge and understanding in relation to theory and good practice in education that they can apply to their education and training role in the workplace.

Learning outcomes:

• draw on current and established literature relating to theory and good practice in education to discuss these in the context of the themes:
  • Knowing your learners
  • Designing a learning event
  • Assessing your learners
  • Learner support
  • Quality assurance and evaluation
• demonstrate your ability to apply your knowledge and understanding of theory and good practice in education to 'real life' situations related to themes of the module.

The programme will also encourage you to develop the self-discipline of private study, self-directed learning and critical reflection through the use of a reflective portfolio that you can continue beyond your formal study period with Keele in your own Continuing Professional Development.

Entry requirements

Applicants must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), or equivalent for pharmacists working overseas, and be practising either full-time or part-time within the hospital sector. It is also essential that you have the support of your workplace to access patient data where necessary for course learning activities and assessment. 

Normally, only applicants with the minimum of a second class degree classification (or equivalent for applicants from outside the UK) in Pharmacy will be accepted onto the programme without interview. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The University reserves the right to interview prospective students and take up academic references. The final decision in any case rests with the University. Candidates are also admitted on the basis of perceived and potential competence to complete the programme.

English language proficiency requirement

If English is not your first language, you must either:

Hold a degree from a school where English was the language of instruction

OR

Take the IELTS (average of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all categories)

Please note that IETLS exams must be no more than two years old at the start of the course for which you have applied. 

Module content

The principle areas covered in this course include

• Knowing your learners
• Designing a learning event
• Assessing your learners
• Learner support
• Quality assurance and evaluation

Teaching and assessment

The Clinical Pharmacy Programme is designed principally for distance-learning. We provide online distance-learning materials so that you can study where and when it is most convenient for you. This course is complemented by 2 compulsory face-to-face study days.  Our methods of delivery allow us to revise and update the course quickly to meet your changing needs as a pharmacist.

The Clinical Pharmacy Programme is fully supported by a team of experienced, friendly, and approachable academic, administrative and technical staff based at Keele. The Programme is also supported by our network of experienced, practising hospital pharmacists. You’re not on your own! You will require the equivalent of 100 hours of study to complete a 10 credit course.  Remember that the online nature of our course materials, and the fact that a good proportion of the assessed work focuses on your daily practice, means that you can integrate study and work.

Assessment is entirely by coursework for the Clinical Pharmacy Programme. Assessment for this course will include a Practice Based Assignment.

A Reflective Portfolio forms the basis of assessment for all Clinical Pharmacy modules which assesses your ability to relate theory to practice, and self evaluation of, and reflection on, your own performance and CPD needs.

The nature of the assessments develops your written and oral communication skills. Practical skills and key life/transferable skills are assessed within the methods described above. Each method of assessment is supported by clear criteria for marking; these are explained in the relevant Course Handbooks. The minimum pass mark is 50%.