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Bradford College

Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Services and Therapeutics

Qualification Gained
Pearson BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Services and Therapeutics
Study Level
Level 4
Course Type
Adult
Duration
2 years
Start Date
September 2024
Study Mode
Part-time
Location
Advanced Technology Centre

  Overview

This programme has been designed to meet the specific needs for further development of pharmacy clinical professionals. It is the only BTEC programme offering an academically recognised award in pharmacy clinical services within the UK.

This programme is designed to fit in with your needs, circumstances and your career aspirations by providing education and training through a mixed approach to the learning experience.

You will be working in a clinical pharmacy environment in Primary Care, Secondary Care or Community Pharmacy (other pharmacy sectors will be considered). You will be a pharmacy technician registered with the GPhC (or a pharmacy technician in Northern Ireland/Ireland).

You will be given access to learning materials and resources on the College’s virtual learning environment. This learning material will provide you with the necessary understanding and skills to complete the assignments. The majority of the course will be delivered as blended learning, without the need for regular attendance at the College.

Note: this course is not regulated by Ofqual.

For further information and a copy of the full programme specification, please contact [email protected]

  Key Info

The course is designed to fit around normal workplace employment but requires good time management. You will need to nominate a mentor in your workplace.

Personal Study time is approximately 6-10 hours per week.

Unit 1: Clinical Pharmacy Services – Principles and Reflective Practice

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with knowledge of the core aspects of clinical practice and how to reflect on this as part of their professional practice as a pharmacy technician.

Learners will gain an understanding of professional practice, patient management, organisational structures, collaborative working, ethical aspects and medicines supply. They will also reflect on their own practice in these areas to enable them to operate responsibly and deliver safe and effective clinical pharmacy services.

Unit 2: Patient Monitoring and Clinical Skills

The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an underpinning knowledge of the main diagnostic testing used with different patient groups for the initiation, maintenance and management of drug therapies.

Learners will understand how to interpret the results of diagnostic testing, develop clinical assessment skills, and apply the information to patient drug therapy, enabling them to assist the wider healthcare team in advising on appropriate medicine-related issues.

Unit 3: Therapeutics and Disease Management

The aim of this unit is to expand learner knowledge of major drug groups, identifying their use in medical practice and the management of acute and long-term conditions.

Learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of the core elements of therapeutics in the treatment of common diseases, enabling them to assist the healthcare team in advising on appropriate medicine-related issues.

Unit 4: Operational Management of Clinical Pharmacy Services

The aim of this unit is to develop learner understanding of the operational elements of clinical pharmacy services.

This unit focuses on the principles of law, ethics and local and national guidelines used to support service delivery in clinical practice. It also aims to reflect on operational management skills and introduce the learner to quality management by applying standards to work practices. This involves the use of the clinical auditing processes to review and assess systems and influence outcomes.

Unit 5: Managing a Quality Improvement Project in Clinical Pharmacy Services

This unit aims to provide learners with the skills and underpinning knowledge needed to manage a quality improvement project in clinical pharmacy services. They will be able to apply these skills through practice-based experience in their own area of work. Learners will also extend their reflection, key evaluative and critical thinking skills.

Learners will plan for their quality improvement project by researching a chosen topic area and producing a breakdown of resources and a project action plan.

Learners will implement, manage and complete their quality improvement project. They will work towards deadlines and monitor project performance. Learners will prepare an evaluative and reflective report throughout the quality improvement project that will look at how the project performed, if the scheduled plan met the project aims and objectives, and how improvements could be made in the future.

Entry to this course means that you will be working in a clinical pharmacy environment. You should be a registered Pharmacy Technician (or a Technician in Northern Ireland/Ireland).

You must be able to gain practical experience in a clinical environment in order to produce evidence of achievements. You will need to have access to a work-based mentor who is a recognised specialist in pharmacy clinical practice.

It is advised, but not mandatory that learners are expected to undertake 6-10 hours of personal study per week.

Enrolment onto this course is completed remotely, we enrol in April and September.

You will need a PC with access to the internet in the workplace and at home too.

The course is graded through questions and answer and case study based learning, assignments and a project which runs throughout the course.

If you are 16 to 18 years old you won’t have to pay tuition fees. If you’re 19 or older you may need to pay a fee.

This is representative of the most common fees scenario, but actual fees can vary depending on a number of factors. Please contact us if you need more guidance.

Our Students Say

I would highly recommend this course. This course has presented a number of positive challenges, allowing me to build on my clinical, communication and time management skills. I believe this course provides a great platform from which to advance the pharmacy technician role, develop professionally and provide an excellent opportunity for anyone looking for a new challenge. Andrew Woods Senior Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician, Former Clinical Pharmacy Services student at Bradford College
The knowledge I gained from [this course] was instrumental for me when taking on a new promoted post. I would not have had the confidence to develop and take this role forward as a Pharmacy Technician if it had not been for this course. Anne Marshall Pharmacy Technician, Former Clinical Pharmacy Services student at Bradford College
The support from the tutors at Bradford College is first class and they help to make you feel comfortable whilst providing constructive feedback from lessons & assignments. Dale Yates Lead Pharmacy Technician, Former Clinical Pharmacy Services student at Bradford College

If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact [email protected]

Disclaimer: Our prospectus, college documents and website are simply here to offer a guide. We accept no liability for any inaccurate statements and are not responsible for any negative outcomes if you rely on an inaccurate statement. We reserve the right to withdraw any programmes or service at any time.