Clinical Pharmacy (2 years) (PgDip)

How will I be taught?

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is committed to developing the knowledge and skills needed for a pharmacist to improve health outcomes and health care for patients. Top-quality teaching relies on academic and clinical expertise of pharmacy practitioners and clinicians.

You will be taught in a variety of ways.  A blended learning approach has been taken, which includes face-to-face study days, experiential learning, directed study, on-line activities and self-directed study.  The exact nature of your learning will be dependent upon the modules selected.

Attendance at study days will be dependent upon the modules chosen, but all students will attend the initial 3 day study block in September held in Birmingham, a 2 day study block at the beginning of October held in Cardiff either in year 1 or 2, and other study days either held in one of the four teaching centres (North Wales, South-East Wales, South-West Wales or Oxford) or in Cardiff, depending upon which modules are undertaken.

Throughout all modules there is a particular emphasis on identifying your own specific learning needs to direct your independent study and to ensure the module is relevant to your own practice.  Application of knowledge and skills in practice is the core of each module. 

How will I be assessed?

Assessments measure professional, academic and/or clinical practice.  Many modules include formative assessments (assessments which do not count towards the module mark) which are intended to provide you with feedback and an indication of your progress. 

Methods of summative assessment (assessments which count towards the module mark) vary depending upon the module and their specific learning outcomes. Methods include portfolios, oral presentations, objective structured clinical examination, written assignments such as posters, patient management problems, reflective assignments and analytical reviews.  Where there is an experiential practice component of the module, an assessment of your practice will be completed by an accredited tutor.  These tutors are trained, supported and guided by the University academic staff.

Attendance at Cardiff University will be required for some compulsory assessments, for example the Objective Structured Clinical Examination and the poster presentation.

We will provide you with feedback on your work in a variety of formats.  These will include oral feedback and electronic written feedback on assessed coursework.  The opportunity to understand and use feedback constructively will also be provided through meeting with your personal tutor. During your experiential practice you will be supported in your progress by an accredited tutor who will provide verbal and written feedback on your practice.

How will I be supported?

Personal Tutor

Academic support for your studies will be by your Associate Course Director, who will act in the capacity as your University personal tutor.  The personal tutor system is a vital and central part of student support within the School. The role of the personal tutor is to monitor overall academic progress and to provide pastoral support, acting where appropriate as the first point of contact and a gateway to the student support services provided by the University (including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service). They will visit you in your place of work at least three times within the timeframe of the Diploma and will be available to provide support to you through e-mail, telephone and in person.  The Programme Director is also contactable and is available to answer your questions and address any difficulties you may be having with your studies.

Resources

At the beginning of your course there is a compulsory online induction module. This will help you find your way around the University’s virtual learning environment and it will also provide general information including about the personal tutor system, and how our administration and IT teams will support you. The virtual learning environment is accessible via desktop and mobile devices, allowing you to access relevant multimedia material, presentations, workshop handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises etc from anywhere.

The University library is available year-round. Staff are available to assist you and provide support and advice. The library holds many electronic journals and books that you will be able to access to help you with your studies.

Student-Staff Panel

At the beginning of each year a Student Academic Representative is appointed for the programme from amongst the students.

Student Academic Representatives bring feedback from students on their course to regular student-staff panels, where the representatives meet with School Staff to discuss the ways in which their courses can be improved. Student Academic Representatives are also a vital part of the feedback loop, communicating the changes brought about in Student-Staff panels back to the student body.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• systematic integration and application of pharmaceutical, biomedical, clinical therapeutic knowledge and patient assessment in patient care.
• critical understanding of the communication and consultations skills frameworks and models and their appropriate application to patient and population health care.
• comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting health inequalities and social determinants of health.
• a conceptual understanding of the management and leadership of health care services and systems in the UK.
• comprehensive understanding of quality improvement and research methods used in healthcare and the ethical and organisational issues relevant to their application in practice.
• comprehensive knowledge of information, clinical and research governance in the healthcare environment.

Intellectual Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• an ability to reflect on and evaluate learning in the clinical workplace.
• application of critical evaluation and appraisal skills when making decisions, both within and beyond the scope of guidelines.
• the critical thinking, problem solving, reasoning skills needed for the effective management of medicines related problems in practice and to operate in and across a range of healthcare settings.
• development, planning, completing and communication of the results of an original quality improvement project.

Professional Practical Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• safe and effective professional practice.
• systematic understanding and application of communication and consultation skills required to contribute to the effective management of medicines related problems in practice.
• the appropriate professional behaviour and judgement in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical contexts.
•  the ability to work as an independent, reflective practitioner, who takes personal responsibility for their actions.

Transferable/Key Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• effective participation in multidisciplinary and inter-professional teams.
• effective communication of balanced and appropriate information to different audiences by oral and written means.
• a comprehensive understanding of a range of leadership principles, approaches and techniques and the ability to apply them in practice.
• digital capabilities relevant to the professional role. 
• the ability to manage the personal challenges of coping with uncertainty.