Multisector training scheme contributes to local workforce development

Background

East Sussex Multisector Pharmacist Foundation to Advanced (ESMFtA) Vocational Training Scheme (VTS), initially a regional pilot, offered structured rotational work-based training across secondary care (acute and community health service), the primary care network, care homes, mental health, and the integrated care board.

It incorporated clinical governance, research, education, leadership and prescribing skills, targeting local pharmacist workforce needs. The lead-employer scheme model blended funding from partner vacancies and non-recurring funding, with rolling recruitment into the two-year programme. 21 pharmacists participated from November 2018 to May 2024 before partner funding challenges and untenable risk to lead-employer prevented further programme expansion.

Objectives

• To measure retention and progression of multisector pharmacists relative to the local integrated care system
• To identify positive and negative programme themes
• To quantify independent prescriber annotation success amongst former multisector pharmacists.

Method

Multisector pharmacists exiting ESMFtA completed an online survey with questions tailored towards the programme using a combination of five-point Likert scale questions (strongly disagree to strongly agree) and qualitative free-text answers. Participants additionally identified up to three positive and negative aspects of the vocational training scheme, which were thematically analysed.

Independent prescriber enrolments were tallied from programme supported course application forms, and annotations were counted via the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register annotations.

Results

The questionnaire response rate was 90% (19/21). Almost 80% (15/19) multisector pharmacists confirmed a job within the local integrated care system, supported by undertaking the ESMFtA. These included substantive roles, supporting the temporary workforce and some instances of both.

Two-fifths (6/15) remained with the secondary care lead-employer:

• 67% (4/6) acute
• 33% (2/6) community health service
• 20% (3/15) mental health
• 7% (1/15) care homes
• 7% (1/15) integrated care board
• 20% (3/15) to PC primary care network.

Thematic analysis showed strong positive trends in networking and sharing of expertise including mentoring, learning and skill development, and career progression. Negatively themed trends in workload, job planning and specific rotational plan were cited less. Limitations of the study was a small programme cohort; however, the results obtained were sufficient to highlight trends.

Two-thirds (13/21) had independent prescriber course applications initiated whilst on the programme. The remaining 38% (8/21) exited the programme early.

By August 2024, 66% (14/21) of the ESMFtA cohort were GPhC annotated.

Conclusions

The multisector programme offers a high level of retention, meeting the goal to develop the local workforce, demonstrated via bespoke programme exit evaluation.

The data collated demonstrates the achievement of the programmes’ aim to develop a workforce that could work flexibly and be retained within the integrated care system, delivering optimised transfer of care for patients. Despite the closure of the programme, recommendations are to continue the development and funding of multisector training programmes and embed these into workforce plans for other pharmacy staff groups.

Multisector pharmacists were unanimous that ESMFtA was valuable in developing their knowledge and skills with a significant contribution to professional development. Challenges were identified with embedding multisector posts across sectors with the need for clear job planning to enable programme objectives to be completed and a manageable workload.

High levels of success with independent prescriber annotation enhances Designated Prescribing Practitioner capacity to support foundation pharmacist training from 2025.

Additional authors: Alice Conway, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the UKCPA or its members. We encourage readers to follow links and references to primary research papers and guidance.

Competing interest statement:

The author declares: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.