Purpose

This course is written and designed to enable registered technicians to undertake the final accuracy check on dispensed prescriptions competently in line with the pharmacy’s own standard operating procedures (SOPs). As part of the course, learners are independently assessed and accredited by NPA Assessors to undertake this highly responsible role, thereby giving our members the peace of mind to fully optimise skill mix within the pharmacy team.

Outcomes

• Build the confidence and competency of the trainee accuracy checking technician (ACT) on accuracy checking dispensed prescriptions which have been pre-approved by a pharmacist
• Develop the trainee ACT’s professional awareness of pharmacy practice including the legal and ethical implications surrounding the role of an ACT
• Final assessment of checking skills in a pharmacy environment
• An accuracy checking technician (ACT) frees up time for the pharmacist to offer patient-centred care by focusing on service provision, medicines’ management and optimisation
• Reduced risk of dispensing-related incidents as ACTs will be accuracy checking items labelled and dispensed by another individual
• GPhC registered pharmacy technicians are not required to re-accredit every two years. All other accredited accuracy checkers will require continuous re-accreditation via a reassessment portfolio every two years.

Suitability

This course is written and designed for pharmacy technicians registered with the GPhC.

Delivery

This portfolio-based course consists of:

• Complete learning resources
• Practice-based checking activities
• Structured learning assessment questions, activities and reflective exercises
• Monthly appraisals with the supervising pharmacist

The material for this course includes separate guides for the tutor and the trainee. The tutor pack is used to support the tutor on what to expect from the course and the trainee. The trainee pack covers the following:

• An introduction to the role of an ACT
• The importance of standard operating procedures
• Information on patient confidentiality
• The legal and ethical implications of the role of an ACT
• Assignments and reflective exercises
• Guidance on how to build a portfolio evidencing ongoing accuracy checking
• Dealing with dispensing and checking errors appropriately
• The importance of proactively approaching errors in minimising risk to patients
• Regular reviews with the tutor in the form of appraisals
• The structure of the final assessment in the pharmacy
• Re-assessment and ongoing development – if applicable

Assessment

This course can take between 3 – 12 months to complete.

The trainee will have to submit a portfolio of evidence which must include:

• Answers to the written assignments and reflective exercises
• Evidence of consecutively accuracy checking a minimum of 1000 items over at least three months, double-checked by the tutor
• Monthly appraisals with the tutor
• Evidence the ability of maintaining patient confidentiality

The trainee will have to evidence their competency in the form of a final assessment which includes:

• A practical accuracy checking assessment in the pharmacy
• A telephone interview with an NPA assessor

The tutor will be provided with a final assessment guide once their trainee has submitted their portfolio. This guide will help them to prepare for conducting the assessment within the pharmacy at a time that is suitable to them and the trainee. This guide includes two test packs – each pack contains 15 prescriptions.

Upon submission of a satisfactory portfolio of evidence and successful completion of the final assessment, an ‘indefinite’ e-certificate for accuracy checking will be provided to GPhC registered pharmacy technicians. All other accredited accuracy checkers will receive a two year e-certificate for accuracy checking and instructions on renewal.

The course price allows for up to two attempts at the final assessment. Thereafter a reassessment fee of £60 + VAT will be applicable.

View our blog post for eight top tips on passing your accuracy checking final assessment.