Overview

This module will equip allied health professionals acting within their scope of professional practice, to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively as independently and supplementary prescribers. This will enhance their role within clinical practice and enable them to contribute further to the achievement of effective patient outcomes.

Module aims

The education programme aims to develop the knowledge and skills required by an allied health professional to practice as an independent and/or supplementary prescriber, meeting the standards set by the HCPC (2013), for entry onto the Register as an independent and/or supplementary prescriber.

Entry requirements

To gain entry onto the programme you must: 

• Be registered with the HCPC in one of the relevant allied health professions.
• Be professionally practising in an environment where there is an identified need for the individual to regularly use independent and/or supplementary prescribing.
• Be able to demonstrate support from their employer/sponsor including confirmation that the entrant will have appropriate supervised practice in the clinical area in which they are expected to prescribe.
• Have an approved medical practitioner, normally registered by the employer/health service commissioning group; a) who has experience in the relevant field of practice, b) who is trained and has experience in the supervision, support and assessment of trainees, c) who has agreed to provide the student with opportunities to develop competencies in prescribing and to supervise, support and assess the student during their clinical placement.
• Normally have at least 3 years relevant post qualification experience.
• Programme providers must ensure through the pre-programme assessment or from clear documented evidence that candidates have appropriate background knowledge and experience and are able to study at academic level.

Module content

This module has been developed in response to the Department of Health and Health Care Professions Council expansion of prescribing rights for appropriate allied health professionals, namely physiotherapists and podiatrists.

One of the unique features of undertaking this module at Keele University is that lecturers contribute from a range of healthcare backgrounds (nursing and midwifery, medicine, pharmacy and physiotherapy).

The module will also run alongside the independent and supplementary prescribing module for nurses and midwives.

Teaching and assessment

The principal learning and teaching methods used in the module may include:

• Lectures, seminars and workshops: The core of each module delivery mode is a series of face to face tutor-led or group-led seminars or workshops.

• Web-based learning using the Keele Learning Environment (KLE), Blackboard. 

• Group work and peer support. All modules use focused group work and class discussions within face to face tutor time.

• Directed independent study. Most of the study hours for each module comprise independent learning by expecting participants to add depth and breadth to their knowledge of topics, to practice skills and to reflect on critical incidents and their practice.