Skip to content

ASP._Page_site_elements_razor_entry_records_course_record_cshtml

What makes Independent and Supplementary Prescribing at Worcester special?

The independent and Supplementary Prescribing Course at Worcester is a multi-professional course which fundamentally enables practitioners within their therapeutic areas and clinical specialities from a variety of clinical settings to develop safe and effective prescribing practice. By building on your existing knowledge and experience, as well as health assessment skills-autonomous practice and professional development are enhanced whilst prescribing safely, appropriately, and cost-effectively in line with your professional and regulatory standard and code of conduct.

This Masters Level 30-credit six-month blended learning course has 2 intakes per academic year. It is delivered part time and is currently open to Nurses, Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists and Therapeutic Radiographers. At Masters level there is an expectation that you act autonomously in planning your study and time in practice.  The workshops, competency portfolio and assessments will expect you to be able to consider and evidence complex issues and demonstrate sound clinical decision-making, sometimes in the absence of all information. 

The prescribing courses offered at Worcester are accredited by the NMC and HCPC and are suitable for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals who meet the professional requirement to independently and supplementary prescribe from the BNF, BNF(C) and the NPF.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Delivered by specialist lecturers, practitioners, and tutors with extensive experience in prescribing in the acute and community sectors
  • The course is delivered using a blended learning approach, utilising a combination of face-to-face study days, online learning platforms, 1-to-1 tutorials and asynchronous self-directed resources.
  • Learning in practice will support development under the supervision of your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP).  NMC registrants require the support of a practice supervisor in addition to the DPP.
  • Can be taken as a standalone course, as part Masters In Advanced Clinical Practice or the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship
  • Approved by the NMC and HCPC against the Standards for Prescribing
  • Further information can be found in the Independent & Supplementary Prescribing MACP4007 course flyer.

Register your interest

Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the University of Worcester.


Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from those who are:

  • a registered Nurse (level 1) or Midwife or Specialist Community Public Health Nursing registrant or Health and Care Professions Council registrant whose profession is legislated as being able to act as a prescriber 
  • employed or self-employed as a registered Nurse or a registered Health Care Professional (including NHS and non-NHS settings) 
  • capable of safe and effective  practice in clinical/health assessment, diagnostics/care management and planning and evaluation of care 
  • at least 1 year post registration, prior to application on to the course

* Please note: the running of the course is subject to minimum numbers.

Further requirements

In addition you must have:

  • the necessary governance structures (including clinical support, access to protected learning time and employer support) to undertake the course
  • an appropriately qualified DPP/Practice Educator/Practice Assessor (NMC) or Practice Supervisor (HCPC)
  • a declaration of good character from the proposed student’s employer that confirms the student practises in line with the requirements of NMC (2018) The Code, the professional standards of practice and behaviour or HCPC (2016) Standards of conduct, performance and ethics. 
  • All applicants are required to complete the online application and in addition the regional prescribing application forms available by contacting plast@worc.ac.uk

     

Entry requirements by profession

Nurses and Midwives

For Nurses and Midwives the V300 course consists of 12 study days and 72 hours learning in practice.

Entry requirements

Independent and Supplementary Prescribing (V300) :

  • Current professional registration Parts 1 of the NMC Professional Register or registration with the HCPC.
  • A minimum of 1 years post registration experience (or part time equivalent), the year preceding application to the programme must have been in the clinical field in which you intend to prescribe.
  • Capable of safe and effective practice in clinical/health assessment, diagnostics/care management and planning and evaluation of care. Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of an appropriate health assessment module (MACP4002) aligned with the capabilities set out within the Multiprofessional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (Health Education England, 2017). 
  • Secured the support of your NMP Lead
  • Secured a Practice Assessor and a Practice Supervisor who meet the NMC requirements set out in Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (2018) and meet RPS Competency Framework for DPPs (2019) and has the approval of your NMP Lead.
  • Funding and Line Manager Approval.
  • A University Interview.
  • A declaration of good character by your employer or similar senior colleague (if self-employed).
  • A University Interview.

Allied Health Professionals

Including, Midwives, Podiatrists, Physiotherapists, Paramedics, Radiographers and Optometrists.

 Entry Requirements

  • Current professional registration with the HCPC whose profession is legislated as being able to act as a prescriber
  • A minimum of 1 years post registration experience (or part time equivalent), the year preceding application to the programme must have been in the clinical field in which you intend to prescribe
  • Capable of safe and effective practice in clinical/health assessment, diagnostics/care management and planning and evaluation of care. Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of an appropriate health assessment module (MACP4002) aligned with the capabilities set out within the Multiprofessional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (Health Education England, 2017).
  • Secured the support of your Non-Medical Prescribing Lead and a Practice Educator
  • Funding and Line Manager Approval
  • A University Interview
  • A declaration of good character by your employer or similar senior colleague (if self-employed)
Course content

Course content

Our Independent and Supplementary Prescribing courses lead to the following professional awards:

  • Independent and Supplementary Prescriber for Nurses (V300) (Level 7)
  • Independent and Supplementary Prescriber for Allied Health Professionals (Level 7)

They can also be taken as part of the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice or be recognised for credit towards the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice Apprenticeship.

The course content will support you to achieve safe and effective prescribing practice through consultation, assessment, negotiation, prescribing, monitoring and review as set out in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2021) A Competency Framework for all Prescribers.

Content will include:

  • Consultation and clinical decision-making with patients and carers
  • Cost effective and safe prescribing, de-prescribing, administration and review within the framework of professional accountability and responsibility
  • Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmaco-therapeutics for appropriate, cost effective, safe and competent prescribing across the life spans
  • Psychology of prescribing, concordance and achieving patient centred outcomes
  • Inter-professional and multidisciplinary working within national, and local guidelines, policies and frameworks
  • Current legal and ethical aspects of prescribing
  • Prescribing within the public health arena and social prescribing
  • Supplementary prescribing – the tripartite roles and responsibilities, the development of a clinical management plan and monitoring and review

The skills of literature searching, using and evaluating sources, critical thinking, critical analysis, critical reading of texts and the influence of local, national and professional policy will provide a constant backdrop to all course content.

FAQs

What is the difference between V150 and V300 (MACP4007 Independent and Supplementary Prescribing)?

V150 – The V150 is the community practitioner qualification to prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary (NPF) specifically for non-specialist practitioners working in the community.  It is the equivalent of the V100, which Specialist Practitioners undertake during their District Nurse or Health Visitor qualification. The NPF includes skin care products, wound dressings, continence products and catheters and limited analgesics.  We do not offer this NMC approved course at the University of Worcester. We do not offer this NMC approved course at the University of Worcester.

V300 – Is the qualification for nurses, midwives and some Allied Health Professionals (Podiatrists, Physiotherapists, Paramedics, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, and Therapeutic Radiographers) to prescribe within their area of competence from the full British National Formulary (BNF).

Who is my Non-Medical Prescribing Lead and why do I have to have their approval?

Every NHS Trust has a statutory requirement to have a Non-Medical Prescribing Lead. We must have their approval to ensure that the Trust is in agreement that your role has a place for prescribing and it is covered within your job description. For nurses your NMP Lead will act as the nominated person in practice to ensure effective practice learning for prescribing students; offering support to you as a prescribing student and there to address concerns which your Practice Assessor and/or Practice Supervisor may not be able to answer.

Why do we need to complete all these forms?

The NMP role is a particularly responsible one that the NMC/HCPC require the University to give evidence of the proposed NMP’s good character, ability to undertake the course and subsequently prescribe safely and effectively.

What awards could I study for?

MACP4007 can be used as part of the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice or as a stand-alone course. If you will be undertaking MACP4007 as part of the MSc, the MSc programme leader, or the MACP admissions tutor, Emma Innes, will review your form as admissions tutor to ensure that you meet the entry criteria.

Why do I need to have studied at level 6 or have evidence of being capable of studying at level 7 for the Prescribing Course?

The NMP module is divided into 2 sections – practice and academic study in a relatively short period of time, and to ensure the students have the best chance of success we ask for evidence of experience in both areas.

My role includes regular health assessments is this enough to meet the requirements?

Prescribing is not undertaken in isolation. Part of the process for a prescribing episode must be undertaking a holistic health assessment.

Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of an appropriate health assessment module (MACP4002)  aligned with the capabilities set out within the Multiprofessional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (Health Education England, 2017) before enrolling on the course.

I cannot get on a health assessment course prior to the module commencing – can I undertake it after?

As stated in the above section applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of an appropriate health assessment module (MACP4002)  aligned with the capabilities set out within the Multiprofessional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (Health Education England, 2017) before enrolling on the course.

What is the difference between a Practice Assessor, Practice Supervisor, Practice Educator and a Designated Prescribing Practitioner?

In line with the new NMC Standards for Supervision and Assessment (2018), all nurses and midwives have to be supervised and assessed in a practice placement by a Practice Assessor (PA) and Practice Supervisor (PS). Although in prescribing this is usually the Students’ workplace, where it is still a requirement to have a PA and PS. This has replaced the previous system of a Designated Medical Practitioner for NMC registrants.

More information on the roles of the PA and PS can be found in the NMC Standards for Education and Training (2018).

All HCPC registrants require a Practice Educator to supervise and assess their clinical competency in line with the HCPC Standards for Education and Training (2017)

The umbrella term for all these roles for the PS/PA/PE is DPP and further information can be found here: RPS Competency Framework for DPPs (2019)

 

Nurses and Midwives

Practice Supervisor (PS)

  • An appropriate NMC registered nurses, midwives, or other registered health and social care professionals and an experienced prescriber with suitable equivalent qualification.
  • A minimum of 72 hours clinically supervised hours equally shared between PS and PA and other appropriate healthcare professionals as agreed between Student and PA.
  • The PS and the PA can only be the same person in exceptional circumstances and this should be agreed by your NMP Lead and the UW Course Lead.

  • The PS supervises and supports the prescribing student during clinically supervised hours to work towards the achievement of the proficiencies and course outcomes for practice learning and contributes towards the assessment for progression undertaken with the PA.

Practice Assessor (PA)

  • A registered healthcare professional and an experienced prescriber with suitable equivalent qualification.
  • A minimum of 72 hours clinically supervised hours equally shared between PS and PA and other appropriate healthcare professionals as agreed between Student and PA.
  • The PS and the PA can only be the same person in exceptionalcircumstances and this should be agreed by your NMP Lead and the UW Course Lead.
  • The PA conduct assessments to confirm the prescribing students’ achievement of proficiencies and course outcomes for practice learning. The assessment decisions by PAs are informed by feedback sought and received from PSs.

Allied Health Professionals

  • An appropriately qualified and experienced prescriber
  • A minimum of 72 hours clinically supervised hours.
  • Clinically supervised time can be spent with other appropriate health care professionals as agreed with your PE.

The PE supervises, supports, and assesses the prescribing student to work towards progression and achievement of the proficiencies and course outcomes for learning in practice.

What is a partner organisation?

With regards to collecting insurance documentation, our partner organisations are as follows: Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Healthcare NHS Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  If you are employed by an organisation other than those listed, we will require a copy of your employer’s Public and Employer Liability Insurance certificate.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

A blended learning approach is utilised. Active learning is facilitated through discussion and analysis of cases, policies and examples from the health and social care sector. Therefore, participation is encouraged and required throughout. Individualised learning is promoted by applying learning outcomes and content to the students’ particular speciality and scope of practice, with subsequent discussion to compare and contrast interprofessional learning experiences.

Contact Time

The course typically includes a balance of theory and practice learning with a minimum of 72 hours taught content and a minimum 72 hours of clinically supervised practice learning, relevant to the student’s current professional working area over two terms. The taught component will be in 6 x 2-day blocks within the first term with independent study, including online learning component, throughout the duration of the course. The clinically supervised hours should be arranged by the student in negotiation with the Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor over the duration of the course.

Duration

Over 6 months either as part of the Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice or as a standalone course.

Timetables

All prescribing courses share some teaching sessions to stimulate an interdisciplinary learning arena. This will include nurses and allied health professionals dependent on the semester and the demand from applicants for the modules to run. The current module semester dates can be found here.

Assessment

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of submission.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Careers

Careers

The Independent and Supplementary Prescribing courses opens up autonomous practice to the experienced clinician.  The Advanced Practice role is at the heart of the modernisation agenda for the NHS to increase capacity, make effective use of the skilled clinicians working in the acute and community sectors and to improve patient outcomes.

Costs

Fees and funding

Course Fees

For MACP4007 (Level 7) MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice modules the 2024 fee for UK students is £1,500.

For full details of all tuition fees, please visit our course fees page.

Postgraduate loans

The Government will provide a loan of up to £11,836 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2022 per eligible student for postgraduate Masters study. It will be at your own discretion whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs.

For more details visit our postgraduate loans page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

How to apply