Training & development

Community pharmacy is changing and in the future pharmacists’ medical expertise will be crucial in delivering NHS England’s Long-Term Plan. All pharmacy team members will have opportunities to update their skills to help them provide the services the NHS needs.

A number of national (and local) organisations develop and design learning resources and campaigns for pharmacy professionals at all stages of their career to help improve performance, boost productivity and keep community pharmacists, and their staff teams, abreast of industry developments as they happen.

Your LPCs (and CPE) also deliver practical, up-to-the-minute learning on topical issues that can be applied straight away, usually by webinar. See our ‘events’.


Our CPSS newsletter is sent directly to all community pharmacists on our mailing list. Sign up to our mailing list here to hear about local and national training events.


These sections are refreshed often so keep checking back regularly

Training by provider

Click on a heading below for more information.

Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE)

CPPEs purpose is to help you fulfil your potential and they offer a range of creative learning opportunities to do just that. Training opportunities include training for services provision, which may be linked in with other information about service delivery such as health checks or sexual health services or NHS priorities.

CPPE offer a number of training types for more information visit their website here.


More information


NHS Workforce, Training and Education (NHS WT&E)

NHS Workforce, Training and Education (NHS WT&E) exists for one reason only: to support the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvement to the patients and public of England.

Working across the south east, they ensure that the workforce of today and tomorrow has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place. Read more


More information


Pharmacy integration fund (PhIF)

The Pharmacy Integration Fund – set aside by the government in 2016 is to be invested over five years to transform how pharmacy will operate in the NHS.


More information

Organised by Community Pharmacy Surrey & Sussex (on behalf of the LPCs)

Training by topic

Flu Vaccination - training requirements and resources

Community pharmacy contractors are required to demonstrate that all staff providing the service in their pharmacy have the skills needed to do so.

All pharmacy staff involved in the provision of the Flu Vaccination Service should receive appropriate training relevant to the role they will undertake.

Vaccination training

National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners sets the standards and lists the essential topics which should be incorporated into immunisation training for registered healthcare practitioners.

Pharmacists and other vaccinators who are delivering the flu vaccine must have completed practical training in vaccination that meets these requirements.

From the 2022/23, pharmacists and other vaccinators only need to attend face-to-face training for both injection technique and basic life support training periodically.

Contractors and vaccinators will now need to consider when it would be appropriate to attend refresher training or if ongoing competence of an individual vaccinator can be evidenced, without the need for face-to-face training.

An individual’s continued competence may be influenced by their prior experience vaccinating patients, including the overall number of vaccines administered and the regularity with which they administer vaccines.

It is recommended that vaccinators should keep a portfolio of completed competency checklists, knowledge test score sheets, reflective logs, completion of e-learning course certificates and certificates of attendance at immunisation training courses and updates. This will provide vaccinators evidence of completion of training and achievement of competence to both current and future employers.

Vaccinators are expected to undertake annual update training, to ensure their knowledge stays up to date with changes in practice and guidance. This may involve self-directed learning, using relevant references sources, such as the Green Book, online learning, or the annual flu letter.

The Flu vaccinator competency assessment tool, is used as a self-assessment tool, an assessment tool for use with a supervisor or both depending on the previous experience of the vaccinator.

The LPC are not offering face to face training, however there are a number of organisations offering training and support for the provision of flu vaccination services.  

A list of providers can be found here on the CPE website (under Training Providers).

 

For more information

Contact us at lpc@communitypharmacyss.co.uk

PQS 2024/25

Please find the link here to CPE briefing on training requirements.

Public health

The public health agenda is embedded in pharmacy, yet topics such as emergency contraception or stop smoking support are as prevalent as ever. As well as public health workshops, pharmacies should use this section to access a wide range of resources to assure and maintain competence, all underpinned by the Declaration of Competence system.

    • CPPE training website
    • Review you Local Essential Guide here for information on training requirements for specific locally commissioned services.


Continued professional development

Click on a heading below for more information

Learning pathways for pharmacists and registered technicians at different stages in their career
Pharmacy technicians

Pharmacy technicians are GPhC registered key members of the pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams who play an integral role in helping patients to get the most out of their medicines. Pharmacy technicians can develop a rewarding and skilled career throughout a variety of different avenues and platforms.

To find out more click here.

Association of Pharmacy Technicians United Kingdom (APTUK) is the national professional leadership body for pharmacy technicians working in all pharmacy sectors across all countries in the UK: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales more info can be found here.


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