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Welcome to the support page for Practice Supervisors and Assessors involved in the Independent Prescribing Programme at the University of Brighton. This page provides essential information, guidance, and resources to help you understand your roles and responsibilities as you support our students through their prescribing practice.

At the national level, the role of supporting student prescribers is referred to as the Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP). However, at the University of Brighton, we use the terms Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor in alignment with the NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA). This ensures consistency and parity with our non-medical prescribing students, including those registered with the HCPC.

Practice Supervisor Role:

  • Ideally be a qualified prescriber for at least 1 year.
  • Provide a minimum of 70 hours of direct supervision to the student.
  • Offer guidance, support, and feedback to help students develop their prescribing competencies.

Practice Assessor Role:

  • Must have been prescribing for at least 3 years.
  • Conduct five Observed Clinical Prescribing Encounters with the student.
  • Lead the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
  • Complete the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Competency Framework Checklist with the student.
  • Perform final verification of the student’s competence and readiness for independent prescribing.

Both roles are distinct, and it is required that different individuals fulfil them to ensure objectivity and thorough assessment. Regular communication between the Supervisor and Assessor is vital in ensuring the student’s progress is well-supported.

Supervisors and Assessors are also required to complete the Practice Educator and Assessor Preparation (PEAP) programme, ensuring they are fully equipped to guide and assess students effectively.

For additional support, please refer to the following resources:

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our programme team.

Programme Lead: Andy Timlett

A.Timlett@brighton.ac.uk