Boots considers selecting pre-regs through national scheme
Boots has met with Health Education England (HEE) to discuss plans to centrally allocate its pre-registration placements from 2017, C+D has learned.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) called for community pharmacy employers to express their interest in the scheme, on behalf of HEE last week (August 17).
A spokesperson for Boots told C+D yesterday (August 22) that while it is “too early” to say whether it will definitely take part in the scheme, it had “been involved in meetings” with HEE about the proposals.
PSNC said that taking part in the centrally allocated system will be mandatory for hospital pharmacy pre-registration positions, but "optional" for those in community pharmacy.
Employers who express an interest in the scheme will not be “held” to a commitment to take part, PSNC stressed. But by understanding how many employers are interested in the scheme, HEE will be able to “undertake planning using estimated numbers”, it said.
HEE told C+D today that the new system will come into effect in 2017, to allocate pre-reg placements that start in August 2018.
"The scheme is currently planned to run in England only. Scotland has its own national scheme which it will continue. Wales have not yet made a decision how they will recruit in 2017," the spokesperson added.
PSNC also pointed out that employers taking part in the scheme must comply with the General Pharmaceutical Council’s initial standards on education and training, the regulator’s guidance for pharmacist tutors and HEE’s education quality framework..
Community pharmacy employers interested in taking part should complete an expression of interest form on PSNC’s website.
How will the new pre-registration placement system work?
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Students will register for the scheme in June and July 2017, where they will be able to see information employers have posted about each pre-reg placement.
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Students will submit their application forms in August 2017, where they will choose their preference for placements – based on location and sector.
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They will then be offered a placement from their list of preferred options, following a selection process, which PSNC said employers hope will incorporate situational judgement tests and multiple mini-interviews.
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PSNC said there will be a provision for students to still get a placement even if they have not secured any of their preferred options, but stressed that this should be avoided "if possible".
Will you register your interest for the scheme?