Returning to work after a break in practice

It is inevitable that there will be occasions where pharmacy technicians/healthcare professionals have a break in service due to travelling, maternity leave, sickness etc. Following any significant break in practice it is essential that the individual receive a re-introduction to the role during which time they are supported as they refresh their knowledge and skills before returning to work in the medicines optimisation role unsupervised. 

Should the break exceed 6 months however, or cause the individual to exceed their re-accreditation period, some additional portfolio work is required in order to demonstrate competency prior to working unsupervised.

Any individual who meets these criteria should liaise with their Medicines Optimisation lead and their managers to choose from the following options: 

 1) The chief pharmacist takes full responsibility for the trainee’s competence
NB: In order to return to practice with this option, the chief pharmacist is required to provide a brief statement indicating why the trainee is suitable for return to immediate practice, taking into account the break in the role  

2) The trainee attends the practice development day as a refresher or an in-house refresher and completes a percentage number of items and competency-based assessments to be agreed with the Chief Pharmacist – Recommended (in line with the national medicines management skills framework): 

Unit 1.1 – Manage patient medication requirements 

Competency Based Assessment - Manage Patient Medication Requirements
Accuracy Log - Manage Patient Medication Requirements - Assessment of Patients Own Drugs
Accuracy Log - Manage Patient Medication Requirements - Managing Patient Supply Needs

50 items/10 patients from each element – supply and assessment of PODs - documented as evidence within a continuous assessment period
2 competency-based assessments 

Unit 2.1 – Medicines Reconciliation

Competency Based Assessment - Intermediate Level Unit 2.1 - Medicines Reconciliation
Accuracy Log - Intermediate Level - Unit 2.1 - Medicines Reconciliation

5 Medicines Reconciliation processes - documented as evidence within a continuous assessment period
2 competency-based assessments 

Unit 2.2 – Discharge Facilitation 

Competency Based Assessment - Intermediate Level Unit 2.2 - Discharge Facilitation
Accuracy Log - Intermediate Level - Unit 2.2 - Discharge Facilitation

5 discharge facilitation processes - documented as evidence within a continuous assessment period 
2 competency-based assessments