PRPS Information Booklet for Prospective Trainees Recruitment 2018

Transcription

1 Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS) TRAINING COHORT NHS Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS) PRPS Information Booklet for Prospective Trainees Recruitment Training Cohort

2 Contents Section 1 Introduction to the Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS)... 3 The PRPS Programme... 4 Section 2 The Recruitment & Selection Process... 5 Application... 6 Visitation & Training Provider Preference List... 7 Long-listing & Short-listing... 8 Assessment Centre... 9 Candidate Preference List & Matching Matching Outcomes & Handover Section 3 Information for Overseas Applicants Section 4 Further Information & Contacts Training Cohort

3 Section 1 Introduction to the Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS) NHS Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS) Since the launch of the PRPS in 2006, NHS Education for Scotland has controlled the organisation, administration and funding of pre-registration placements in both community and hospital practice. The number of funded posts available in the training year will be 200. Successful completion of pre-registration pharmacist training ultimately facilitates the achievement of registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The PRPS offers pre-registration pharmacists training in Scotland, a unique and broad experience covering both hospital and community practice and has the purpose of ensuring that all pharmacists are prepared in a way that allows them to use their clinical skills to serve patients and the NHS. All pre-registration pharmacists recruited into the PRPS will receive the same salary, enjoy the same core terms and conditions and follow a core training programme which, as recommended in the national strategy for pharmaceutical care, will include the opportunity for cross sector experience. A series of nationally co-ordinated tutorials will deliver the training programme. Each trainee in the NHS PRPS will: Be paid an annual salary (52 weeks) of 22,440, based on Agenda for Change Band 5 (This is the 2017 rate this will be reviewed in June 2018). Work 37.5 hours per week. These hours will be worked as part of the normal weekly opening hours of the training base. Receive 27 days annual leave and eight days public holidays. Be allocated one half-day per week (or equivalent) protected time for study time. NES is working with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and Training Providers to ensure that every pre-registration pharmacist funded by NHSScotland receives the same high quality training opportunity, support and experience regardless of the practice setting. This booklet describes the arrangements and the opportunities available, for pre-registration pharmacist training in Scotland for the training cohort. Information is also provided on how the scheme is structured and how the recruitment process operates Training Cohort

4 The PRPS Programme The PRPS establishes and utilises an educational framework for pre-registration pharmacist trainees, supervisors and tutors from both hospital and community practice in NHSScotland. The PRPS uses approved tutors to supervise trainees on standardised, broad-based training, covering primary and secondary care sectors, all in accordance with the requirements of the profession regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Prescribed training programme and coursework All pre-registration pharmacists recruited into the PRPS will follow a similar training programme based on the core programme framework. The programme is established in accordance with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) s requirements pertaining to pre-registration training. These require a minimum of six months to be spent in a patient facing sector being either community or hospital. Most trainees will train in one sector for the full 52 weeks but there is also the option to train in more than one sector through the modular programme. For the training year there will also be a co-ordinated NES programme for protected Remote&Rural/Difficult to fill posts. Information about the Modualr programme and the Remote&Rural/Difficult to fill programme will be available on the NES Pharmacy website. The learning outcomes of the training programme will be as specified in the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) s Performance Standards and Registration Assessment Framework. NES Pharmacy will organise and ensure uniformity in regional and national tutorials, and training events to complement the training programme. This will include assessed training in first aid and participation in a mock assessment. Specific information on the Training Providers and the training provision offered is available via the online recruitment system. By creating an account, you can access all Training Provider Information Statements. In preparation for your application, we recommend that you refer to this information and contact the named person as required. You could consider visiting the Training Practices that you are interested in as part of your preparation. All Training Practices are required to be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) prior to the start of preregistration training and this is based on NES approval criteria being met. The NES approval process aims to ensure that Training Practices demonstrate that a suitable educational environment exists. We ensure that the necessary facilities and support are in place to provide trainees with the level of training required. All Training Providers declaring an interest to be involved in the PRPS are required to sign up to the Educational Agreement a declaration that the organisation will adhere to the requirements of participation in the PRPS Training Cohort

5 Section 2 The Recruitment & Selection Process The recruitment and selection process aims to match eligible candidates to the most appropriate pre-registration Training Provider. Throughout the recruitment cycle, each applicant will be scored objectively against the skills and attributes listed in the person specification for the pre-registration training post (available via NES website). There are five phases to the Recruitment and Selection process, detailed in this section: - Application - Visitation & Training Provider Preference List - Long-listing & Short-listing - Assessment Centre - Preferencing & Matching - Matching Outcomes & Handover Please familiarise yourself with the recruitment timetable (available on NES website) and make a note of the key dates and deadlines. Please be aware that there are strict deadlines you will need to adhere to which includes offers of a preregistration training post. Please plan around these dates as they are non-negotiable and are necessary for the national process to work. No exceptions can be accommodated Training Cohort

6 Application 1 May 31 st 12 midday 2018 Candidates who are interested in a pre-registration training post are required to submit an application form by the published deadline. The application will assess certain criteria as detailed in the Person Specification. Candidates should familiarise themselves with the Person Specification and ensure that they fully understand what they are required to demonstrate when completing their application form. The PRPS application process is dependent upon applicants completing their application comprehensively to optimise their chances of success. Applicants are reminded however that your application is yours and as such, should be completed by you alone. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Applications are submitted via the online recruitment portal. When the application form goes live, a separate Applicant Guide will be available on the NES website providing details on how to complete and submit an application Training Cohort

7 Visitation & Training Provider Preference List 12 March 27 July 2018 Successful recruitment into the PRPS is dependent on matching with a Training Provider. As part of the selection process, both applicants and Training Providers are required to submit a preference list. Trainee applicants submit a list of Training Providers that they are interested in completing their training with and Training Providers submit a list of trainee applicants that they would be willing to work with and employ for the training period. Trainee applicants who are not included on a Training Provider Preference List are not eligible to be invited to the Assessment Centre. It is therefore very important that preferred Training Provider(s) get to know you prior to the selection process. It is the responsibility of all applicants to make contact with Training Providers at the earliest opportunity to improve their chance of being included on a Training Provider Preference List. You should endeavour to contact all of your preferred Training Providers to discuss the opportunities for vacational or part-time employment with them, or, at the very least, to arrange to visit the pharmacy and discuss pre-registration training with them. It is essential to do this prior to the deadline for submission of Training Providers Preference Lists. This is a highly competitive process and you should take some time to think about how to set yourself apart from other applicants. Remember that undertaking a summer placement or other work with a Training Provider is NOT a guarantee of being on the Training Provider s list. Details of the training places available in each region is available via the online recruitment system. The Training Provider Information Statements allow applicants to search for Training Providers according to their preference for sector and geographical area. An online account must be created in order to access the Training Provider Information Statement. Training places will be offered under individual training providers, under the NES co-ordinated modular programme and the NES co-ordinated Remote & Rural/ Difficult to Fill programme. These two programmes will have separate TPIS available to view. NES strongly recommends to both candidates and Training Providers that names on preference lists are neither divulged nor discussed, in order to maintain the integrity of the process Training Cohort

8 Long-listing & Short-listing All application forms go through a process of long-listing and short-listing: Long-listing The NES HR team first checks that applications meet the requirements and essential criteria detailed in the Person Specification. HR will also contact candidates at this time for any additional documentation that may be required. Short-listing Short-listing takes place after long-listing. Each anonymised application is objectively scored by two assessors. Short-listing is based on the information provided in the application form only and a score is awarded to each candidate. The scoring scheme is based on the criteria listed in the Person Specification. Please note, shortlisting will only be deemed necessary when demand for places exceeds maximum capacity at assessment centre. Applicants will not be short-listed if they fail to meet one or more of the essential criteria assessed at the application stage. Candidates who are unsuccessful at short-listing will not progress further in the recruitment process. In addition, only candidates who are included on a Training Provider Preference List are eligible to progress to the Assessment Centre stage. Short-listed applicants who are included on a Training Provider Preference List, will be ranked in descending order on the basis of their short-listing score. The highest ranked candidates will be invited to the Assessment Centre until all time slots are filled. As there are limited places on the PRPS, not all short-listed candidates will be invited to the Assessment Centre. Likewise, inclusion on a Training Provider Preference List does not guarantee a place at the Assessment Centre. You must apply your efforts equally to both your application form and to making contact with Training Providers. Short-listing results will be released via by the Pharmacy Recruitment Team. You are advised to check your s on a regular basis Training Cohort

9 Assessment Centre 4, 5 & 6 September 2018 The Assessment Centre is organised on an all-scotland basis and will be held on 4, 5 and 6 September 2018 in Edinburgh. All applicants must make sure that they are available to attend the Assessment Centre during this period as no alternative dates will be offered. All applicants will receive communication from NES by mid-august to advise whether they are being invited to attend the Assessment Centre or not. All applicants who are invited to the Assessment Centre will be required to undertake a multiple-choice question (MCQ) test, a written assessment and a verbal assessment. All assessments are invigilated and will assess some of the competencies in the Person Specification, including the applicants numeracy skills. The scores for each phase (the application form - only if shortlisting undertaken - the MCQ and the verbal and written exercises) will be cumulative throughout the process with the applicants final score determining their place in a ranked list of candidates eligible to be recruited into the scheme. The ranked list will determine the order by which candidates are matched to a training post. When invites to the Assessment Centre are issued, a separate guidance document will be available on the NES website providing details on what to expect at the Assessment Centre and how to ensure you are fully prepared Training Cohort

10 Candidate Preference List & Matching 7 September 2018 As part of the recruitment and selection process, candidates who are invited to attend the Assessment Centre are required to complete a Preference List ranking their choice of Training Provider(s). The deadline for submitting this form is 7 September 12 midday, via the online recruitment system. You must consider carefully your preferencing and you must be prepared to work with any of the Training Providers that you include on your list. Do not put a Training Provider on your list if you are not prepared to work with them. Shortlisted candidates are required to list, in order of preference, up to eight preferred Training Providers. Please note that recording no preference is not an option and that a minimum of one Training Provider must be specified to be included in the matching process. When considering your preferences it is essential to consider your options carefully. Prior to completing the Preference List, consider the particular Training Providers that you would like to complete your training with. Applicants should use the Training Provider Information Statements to help with this. Failure to complete and submit a Preference List by the deadline indicates that you have withdrawn from the recruitment process. Following the Assessment Centre, a list of eligible candidates is determined in ranked order. A process of matching is then undertaken based on candidate score and the Training Providers and candidates stated preferences. The matching exercise is about matching candidates to Training Providers, not to specific locations within a Training Provider organisation. Applicants might for example, list Boots UK as a preferred Training Provider rather than eight preferred branches of Boots. Or for example list NHS Lothian as a preferred Training Provider, rather than the individual hospital sites within NHS Lothian. Preference Lists are submitted via the online recruitment system. This section of the system will only be activated for those candidates who are invited to attend the Assessment Centre. A separate guidance document will be available on the NES website, providing details of the matching and offers process and how to complete and submit a Candidate Preference List Training Cohort

11 Matching Outcomes & Handover 17 September 15 October 2018 The NES Pharmacy Recruitment Team will issue the matching results to applicants via once matching has taken place. Successful applicants are made a best possible preference offer based on their submitted preferences and the rank they obtain. Please note that all offers for PRPS places MUST come from NES. No agreements can be made between the Training Provider and applicant directly. On receipt of an offer, successful candidates have 48 hours to consider and then accept, hold or reject an offer (thus withdrawing from the recruitment process). The hold option is only available to candidates who are not matched with their top choice of Training Provider. Candidates who do not match to their highest preferenced Training Provider may opt to hold an offer in case another post within the PRPS (higher preference) becomes available. Offers are made from 17 September 2018 onwards and candidates awaiting an offer are advised to check their s daily from this date until the NES final deadline for acceptance of offers. A separate guidance document will be available on the NES website, providing details of the matching and offers process, prior to the Candidate Preference List deadline. Once all matching outcomes are confirmed, NES carries out a Handover process. NES will notify the Training Providers which trainee(s) have matched to them. NES will issue copies of successful candidate application forms and supporting documents to the relevant Training Provider, in order for preemployment checks to be undertaken. Pre-employment checks include (but are not limited to): Passing final exams and therefore successfully completing a Masters Degree in Pharmacy Disclosure Scotland/Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) Satisfying the Training Provider that you have the right to work in the UK Occupational Health Clearance A contract of Employment is issued by the Training Provider and is a matter for agreement between the Training Provider and the pre-registration trainee. (Please note, NES is NOT the employer for the training programme). The Training Provider ultimately has the right to refuse employment Training Cohort

12 Section 3 Information for Overseas Applicants UKVI Policy & the PRPS Recruitment Process Please note that the following information is based on current UKVI policy and is subject to change at any time. Overseas pharmacists are eligible to apply for training posts provided all other eligibility criteria are met. As part of the long-listing process, the NES Pharmacy Recruitment Team checks immigration status and eligibility to work in the UK. Failure to provide the required proof of immigration status will result in the application being ineligible. Prospective applicants must ensure that they are aware of current legislation and how this may impact on their eligibility to be considered for training posts, if they are non-uk or non-eea nationals. For further information regarding Home Office/UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) policy and guidance, or for those who have queries relating to their immigration status, please visit the UKVI website Tier 2 Visa Applications from job seekers who require Tier 2 sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Due to UKVI policy regarding advertising timescales, it is not possible to satisfy the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) for pre-registration training posts and therefore applications from those requiring Tier 2 sponsorship and who are required to satisfy the RLMT, cannot be progressed. An exemption from the need to satisfy the RLMT must therefore be applicable. Information regarding Tier 2 sponsorship, including RLMT exemptions, can be found in the UKVI Tier 2 and 5 Guidance. The OSPAP Diploma and MSc level qualifications are both acceptable in terms of satisfying the 'Qualifications' criteria for pre-registration training. However, in order to meet the RLMT exemption criteria, if a candidate intends to apply for a Tier 2 visa for the training year, the MSc level OSPAP is required. All PRPS posts attract the same salary (regardless of sector) and, in accordance with current UKVI policy, the salary meets the minimum threshold for Tier 2 visa applications. However, as not all Training Providers hold a Tier 2 sponsorship licence, candidates who intend to apply for a Tier 2 visa, are advised to discuss this with Training Providers. We encourage all prospective trainees, who are NOT UK citizens, to contact us at pharmacy.recruitment@nes.scot.nhs.uk This will allow us to advise you on the recruitment process on an individual basis. Please provide details of your current immigration status, and any immigration status you intend to obtain for the training year, e.g. apply for a Tier 2 visa Training Cohort

13 Section 4 Further Information & Contacts Additional information and guidance documents will be published on the NES website at relevant intervals in the recruitment process. If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact the Pharmacy Recruitment team (NES HR Department) in the first instance: pharmacy.recruitment@nes.scot.nhs.uk NES website: Training Cohort