Postgraduate Award in Professional Development Independent and Supplementary Prescribing

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.

• For further details about the course content and qualifications needed, see the Nursing and Midwifery Council Standards for Prescribing (2018) and RPS Competency Framework for DPPs (2019)

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)

• For further details about the course content and qualifications needed, see the Health & Care Professions Council website and RPS Competency Framework for DPPs (2019)

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?

If you work in a GP or self employed private practice you will acquire approval from the ICB NMP lead.

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 be able to evidence that they have completed a Health Assessment module or if they have significant clinical expertise recognition of prior learning and capability can be verified by the Practice Assessor or Practice Educator.

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 (2024).

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 (2021)

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.