1. Update from Buttercups Training
So, this morning’s session is to brief you on what’s new at Buttercups. What’s NEWS for you, and where we are after the CSR on October 20th. I want this to be as interactive as possible so there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions. There will be a presentation site on the Buttercups website next week with all the relevant information and also an FAQ site that you can add questions to via . This will be password protected so it’s important that you us and ask for the code.

2. But first... Why train? What training do you need?
What are the obstacles?
What else do you want to know?
Let’s start by finding out what you need to know and how we can help you.
L2/L3/DRUM/risk assessment/team leading/management/budgeting/HR issues/CPD – patient related
Time, commitment/cost/ability
Funding/ availability

3. Update from Buttercups Training
Back to the update…

4. So, how can we help you?
IT and development can reduce your costs and improve learner engagement. We think that CPD should be available to all but where’s the budget? So, it needs to be on-line and therefore available at a nominal fee. Our in – house team are open to suggestions for topics
Our professional service team are the face of Buttercups, they answer your calls and give friendly advice, but they’re also our proof reading team, our key skills tutors for english and maths and are involved with the initial assessments carried out be learners which help us to identify where additional help may be needed
The pharmacists and scientists assess and support the learners through the study part of the courses
Our team of assessors assess the competence part of the dispensary courses and you are likely to see them if you embark on any of the NVQ style programmes

5. New curriculum
Changes to the training for Dispensing Assistants and Pharmacy Technicians aim to ensure that pharmacy staff meet the new regulator’s standards. The changes came into effect from September 1, 2010.
So after three years of steering groups, working groups, strategy groups and countless others meeting to discuss the new frameworks for training we have a snappy new title NVQ QCF A nightmare for the training provider – an early Christmas present for the printers.
The new qualifications are not just a name change, though– they introduce new mandatory knowledge units, which are designed to underpin an evidence-based demonstration of competence in practice.

6. Level 2 options Equivalent – now transferable A NEW Apprenticeship:-
English and Maths
Technical certificate – (knowledge)
Competence check (NVQ)
What does this mean to you?
The new dispensing assistant course delivered by Buttercups will be relaunched, is transferable to other sectors and still meets your requirements.
If you’re thinking about funding then the first apprenticeship became available for our sector on September 1st

7. Credit Value required: Minimum 8, Maximum 8. Mandatory Units (3)
What is the qualification structure for the EDEXCEL Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills (NVQ) (QCF)?
Learners must complete all three units in Group A (Mandatory Units) plus four units from Group B (Optional Units). A minimum of 20 credits is required for this qualification.
Learners will need to choose their optional units with their employer. Confirmation of the optional units chosen will be requested at course induction and further information provided if required.
A – Mandatory Units
Mandatory Units
Credit Value required: Minimum 8, Maximum 8.
Mandatory Units (3)
L/601/3394 – Assist with the provision of a pharmacy service to meet individuals’ needs
R/600/9413 – Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety
L/601/3430 – Contribute to the effectiveness of teams
So, the study part of the apprenticeship looks much like it has before - but an apprenticeship requires a competency based qualification too. You were denied this previously because certain units needed to be under the supervision of a pharmacist – that’s changed. Here are the mandatory units.

8. What is the qualification structure for the EDEXCEL Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills (NVQ) (QCF)?
B – Optional Units
Optional Units
Credit Value required: Minimum 12.
A minimum of 4 must be chosen
Credit Value
M/600/9371 – Assist in the sale of medicines and products 8
Y/601/3432 – Assist in prescribed items 3
Y/600/9378 – Assist in the issuing of pharmaceutical stock 4
D/601/3433 – Assist in the manufacture and assembly of medicinal products 7
M/601/3436 – Prepare aseptic products 10
H/601/3448 – Prepare documentation, materials, components and other items for the preparation of aseptic products 6
D/601/3450 – Assist in the preparation of documentation, materials and other items for manufacture and assembly of medicinal products
D/600/9379 – Assist in the issuing of prescribed items
T/601/3468 – Receive prescriptions from individuals
M/600/9385 – Receive pharmaceutical stock
T/600/9386 – Maintain pharmaceutical stock
Y/600/9395 – Undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items prior to the final accuracy check
J/600/9375 – Order routine pharmaceutical stock
There’s a whole raft of optional ones but plenty of choice

9. The long awaited Level 3 Not funded:
GPhC Technical Certificate (knowledge)
QCF (NVQ) Level 3 (skills)
Funded:
Apprenticeship
BTEC Pharmaceutical Science
Maths and English
What does this mean to you?
Technicians
The Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (NVQ) (QCF) – this replaces the NVQ Level 3 in Pharmacy Services.
It adds ‘Reflect on and develop your practice’, preparing them for CPD and ‘Undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled items
If funding is available learners must complete the new Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (QCF), which replaces what you know as the BTEC. If no funding is available then the course accredited by the GphC regulatory body is the one of choice because it’s cheaper but now the new requirement is that it’s identical to the Level 3 Diploma.
What’s changed?
Hospital and community learners also now study the same materials; for example, community learners will study clinical trials, aseptic preparation and manufacturing, and hospital learners will be exposed to the Drug Tariff, MDS and hosiery This is a good step forward. It breaks down some misconceptions about the ‘difference’ between hospital and community Technicians.”
So how can we help? What does this mean?
This is a long course - 720study hours – actually it never ceases to amaze me that these full time staff with families to look after can manage to study the equivalent of two A levels when frequently they struggled at school. They even say they like it. Our achievement rate is still around 85%. But there’s no doubt that out of hours help-line is more important than ever.
There’s a chemistry section too which is at A level standard hence our need for some science support staff.

10. New Level 3 Course modules
Dispensing and Supply of Medicines
Human Physiology
Module 2
Module 7
Pharmacy Law, Ethics and Practice
Action and Uses of Medicines
Module 3
Module 8
Chemical Principles for Pharmacy Technicians
Gastrointestinal and nutritional medicines
Module 4
Module 9
Biological Principles in Pharmacy
Cardio-Respiratory Medicines
Module 5
Microbiology for Pharmacy
So, what can you expect in the level 3 study course – basically science, followed by patient centred stuff.

11. New Level 3 Course modules
Central Nervous System medicines
Communicating in Pharmacy
Module 11
Module 16
Infections and immunology
Professional Development in Pharmacy
Module 12
Endocrine and genito-urinary medicine
Module 17
Community Pharmacy Practice
Module 13
Module 18
Malignant disease and Musculoskeletal medicines
Pharmaceutics
Module 19
Module 14
Making Medicines for Pharmacy
Medicines for the ears, eyes, nose and skin
And then a bit of background to demonstrate how the sectors specialise

12. New assessment strategy
So, why is this all new to you? The strategy means that you needed to be working in a pharmacy for 14 hours per week. That’s gone. You can undertake the knowledge working anywhere. The competency requires observation of practice by an EW. The EW is a pharmacist or pharmacy technician who can register. That’s where we can help and it’s included in the fee. For those of you who can register there’s another career option – you must be inducted and registered with the Centre

13. Skills that are assessed
Provide an effective and responsive pharmacy service
Process pharmaceutical queries
Make sure your actions within the workplace aim to protect the environment
Reflect on and develop your practice
Receive prescriptions from individuals
Confirm prescription validity
Assemble prescribed items
Issue prescribed items
Prepare extemporaneous medicines for individual use
Order pharmaceutical stock
Receive pharmaceutical stock
Maintain pharmaceutical stock
Issue pharmaceutical stock
Undertake an in- process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items, prior to a final check
Just a quick overview of the skills that are assessed with red indicating a battle I lost and green a result

14. Prepare to conduct a review of an individual’s medicines
THREE of the following
Assist in the supply of pharmaceutical appliances
Process prescriptions for payment
Prepare to conduct a review of an individual’s medicines
Enable learning through demonstrations and instruction
Contribute to the effectiveness of teams
NEW Level 4:
ADDITIONAL POST Qualification (LEVEL 4)
Undertake the final check of dispensed medicines and products
Take a medication history from an individual
Determine the suitability of an individuals own medicine for use
Notice here an optional unit in green devised with you in mind. At last I hear you cry! Note that there are also some qualifications at level 4 available

15. The NVQ/QCF Collecting the necessary evidence of competence is something many learners struggle with. It’s official – we surrender. We’ve tried podcasts, videos, visits. They hate it. That’s why Buttercups assessors have developed a new approach to this. Instead of expecting learners to interpret for themselves the competence standards and then provide the necessary supporting evidence of competent performance, Buttercups assessors will do this for them. All your learner has to do is relate their normal working activities to the assessor, and the assessor will map these to the required standards and give the learner clear, practical advice on gathering the necessary evidence.
For learners who have access to the Internet, the new Buttercups e-portfolio offers assessment without the need for photocopying or postal costs.

16. It’s been an uncertain year regarding funding...

17. Buttercups helps with funding We can offer part-funded Advanced Apprenticeship programmes to eligible candidates aged over 19 years applying for the Technician programme. That’s in England only and we have a temporary blip in Yorkshire and Humber.
We can also offer fully-funded Advanced Apprenticeships to eligible candidates aged between years. They could start with an apprenticeship programme of L2 and MCA. In other words, this is an opportunity for practices to train a school leaver right the way to Level 3 qualification at no cost.
“It’s really very disappointing how few Apprenticeships are taken up in the UK, compared with other countries. I think there are a number of reasons for this. Despite the best efforts of the BBC TV show, The Apprentice, Apprenticeships still conjure up a picture of manual labour – a young man in an overall, training to be a plumber or carpenter.”
For the pharmacy, an Apprenticeship represents a real opportunity to secure and train learners who will turn into first class employees. For the learner, it is a chance to develop professional skills without the debt of student loans.

18. In the pharmacy sector community pharmacy has not sold itself well as offering a career for non graduates. Not only have we played second fiddle to hospitals but I’m not sure we’re seen as a better choice than Topshop or M and S.
There’s plenty of information on apprenticeships but briefly we can advertise for you free of charge on the government’s vacancy matching service. You don’t have to pay the minimum wage the first year. When the apprenticeship contract has finished you don’t have to employ the apprentice although I guess you’ll want to. You must have a really good opportunity to engage with local schools... Don’t forget, there is funding for the over 19s too

19. Director-General, British Chambers of Commerce Colin Willman,
Sir,
As the FT reports every day, business is a competitive environment. Rarely does the entire business community come together passionately over one specific topic. Apprenticeships are an exception. We all, as leaders in business, support apprenticeships, and 85,000 of us have made a personal commitment to them – by employing apprentices in our own companies.
The spending review recently announced funding for an extra 75,000 apprenticeship places and today we have joined forces to urge other employers to consider how apprenticeships could help their businesses
We know that apprenticeships provide people with enhanced employment opportunities, and are a great way to learn. Supporting the growth of this programme will build a great legacy and ensure that we all support the business leaders of tomorrow.
David Frost,
Director-General, British Chambers of Commerce
Colin Willman,
Federation of Small Businesses
Darwin said to survive you need to adapt

20. Hospitals have been doing it for ages – taking a cohort of trainees and keeping only the best one. The others probably end up with you and you don’t deserve second best.
And don’t forget that funding can be used for those who are not unemployed and are over 19 – so you could potentially use the funding for your existing staff. Just don’t try reducing their wage!

21. Is that all there is to training.
CPD is essential for all staff and so our MCA Academy on-line is free for life, our DA Academy reflects the Technical certificate and is modular allowing those that aren’t ready to commit to the whole thing to take it steady. Our Technician’s Academy is at £60 per year with unlimited access to tutorials and modules is a great choice and we’re offering you a two for one deal. Our customer service for healthcare professionals and team leading for professionals , as well as IT courses give you an opportunity to continue to train staff. The team leading course is actually 50% of the Certificate in management Studies at level 3
Why choose Buttercups?
Buttercups Training produces happy and successful learners through its:
World class support
Flexible, innovative and interactive correspondence learning
Key account manager who can report on your employees progress
20 years’ experience of delivering quality training to pharmacy staff
Proactive screening of all enrolments for funding eligibility
Committed to help your staff with CPD at nominal fees

22. Update from Buttercups Training
Call us – we’ll try to meet your needs