On successful completion of the Accuracy Checking Dispensing Assistant (ACDA) course, ACDAs are issued with a certificate which will state they are required to renew their certificate every two years and are able to carry out final accuracy check of dispensed medicines under supervision of a Responsible Pharmacist within a specific setting.
A Pharmacy Services Assistant (Pharmacy Support Worker) works under the supervision of a Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician in all areas of pharmacy practice, including community (High Street) pharmacies, hospitals, dispensing practices and prisons. Here at Skills4Pharmacy, we have taken the Level 2 Apprenticeship standard and looked at ways in which we can be sure it meets the needs of pharmacy employers and provides flexibility and adaptability.
This programme is accredited by GPhC to prepare you for assisting in the dispensary and undertaking the final accuracy check. It provides you with the knowledge and skills identified as required for the safe and effective performance of your role.
Standards
The course is equivalent to RQF Level 3 and covers the knowledge and understanding of the following National Occupational Standards (NOS):
PHARM28 Undertake the final accuracy check of dispensed medicines and products
The Programme is set out as follows:
Learning outcomes:
Entry criteria:
Duration to complete: 3 hours to complete the e-learning plus practice time to log 1000 items accurately, conduct reflective exercises, have monthly discussions with the tutor pharmacist and complete the formal assessment. The recommended time to complete this programme is 3-12 months.
Activities to be completed: To complete this programme you will need to read the Trainee resources, complete the online Enrolment Form, agree the Learning Contract, and then complete each of the activities in the programme and accompanying assessments. You will have a professional discussion with a Mediapharm mentor at the end before the certificate is released.
Revalidation: This qualification requires recertification every 2 years. It is only valid at the premises where you qualified and if your employer changes you will also need to revalidate.
The GPhC accredited Accuracy Checking Assistant qualification is only valid within community practice and remains valid for a 2 year period from the date on the certificate. Recertification to renew the certificate is required when the certificate expires or at any point when moving to a new employer.
Recertification is based upon two key principles:
Logs required for recertification
You should maintain a log of your practice throughout the 2 year period of validity for your certificate. The following logs will then need to be submitted to Mediapharm as evidence for recertification:
Evidence Required:
This GPhC accredited course is written and designed to enable qualified dispensers to undertake accuracy checks on listed dispensed items clinically approved by a pharmacist. Trainees should work in accordance with the pharmacy’s own accuracy checking standard operating procedures (SOPs). After successful completion of this course, an electronic certificate will be issued (this can only be used in a community pharmacy setting) that will demonstrate achievement of competence to GPhC accredited standards for accuracy checking. As part of the course, learners are independently assessed and accredited by NPA Learning and Development pharmacists to undertake this responsible role.
This mandatory course meets the training requirements outlined by the GPhC for staff undertaking dispensing activities.
This course is accredited by the GPhC as it is meeting the minimum training requirements for individuals involved with the dispensing process. It provides Dispensary Assistants with the skills and knowledge relating to legal aspects and procedures within the dispensary.
Any member of staff involved in the dispensing process must meet the GPhC's minimum training requirements for this type of role and start training within three months of starting in the role. To meet minimum training requirements a dispensing/pharmacy assistant needs to take the relevant modules of the Level 2 certificate in pharmacy service skills.
This course meets the GPhC minimum training requirements for dispensing assistants. It meets the following units of the GPhC minimum training requirements:
- Assist with the provision of a pharmacy service to meet individuals' needs
- Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety
- Contribute to the effectiveness of teams
- Receive prescriptions
- Assemble prescribed items
- Assist in the issuing of prescribed items
- Receive pharmaceutical stock
- Maintain pharmaceutical stock
- Order routine pharmaceutical stock
- Assist in the issuing of pharmaceutical stock
After successfully completing this course, colleagues will be able to confidently receive, assemble and deliver a prescription as part of the wider pharmacy team and achieve the recognised qualification of Dispensing Assistant, accredited by the GPhC.
The Support Staff Course for Dispensing Assistants offers in-depth knowledge in person-centred care, teamwork, health & safety, assembly and supply of medicines and working with pharmaceutical stock across the community and hospital pharmacies and dispensing practice.
The Support Staff Course for Dispensing Assistants offers in-depth knowledge in person-centred care, teamwork, health & safety, assembly and supply of medicines and working with pharmaceutical stock across the community and hospital pharmacies and dispensing practice.
The scope of the Accuracy Checking for Dispensing Assistants (ACDA) course is to train dispensing assistants to carry out the final check of listed dispensed items clinically approved by a pharmacist. It does not encompass aseptic dispensing, self-checking of own dispensing or pre-packing. The ACDA course is dependent upon Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) being in place for accuracy checking, which define the scope of what both a learner and fully qualified ACDA can and cannot check against a clinically screened prescription. The clinical and legal checks on the prescriptions must be completed by a pharmacist. On completion of the course, learners will be issued with a certificate which states that they are able to complete a final accuracy check under the supervision of a Responsible Pharmacist within a specified setting. Revalidation of the certificate is required every two years.