Certificate III and IV in Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support: Draft 1 Consultation Open

Background

The aim of the proposed updates is to ensure that the Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support sector is supported by a highly skilled workforce. Hospital pharmacy assistants and technicians require access to appropriate skills and knowledge in order to meet the current and future needs of the Australian health care system.

The following key areas have been considered and the following modifications made during the Training Package update process:

Current structure

o The current structure and packaging of the qualifications now includes core Units, electives and an elective specialisation.

Content

o The Training Package content now includes pharmaceutical science and knowledge relating to an understanding of drugs, chemistry, biology and pharmacology
o Human resources knowledge in the Training Package is now contextualised to the Hospital sector
o Work Health and Safety (WHS) knowledge is now tailored specifically to the Hospital Pharmacy environment
o Communication and teamwork Units are now also contextualised to the sector.

Simultaneous updates

o Both qualifications are being updated simultaneously to ensure consistency in the update process and to further ensure that final outcomes are suitable and fit for purpose.

Specialist area

o The updated Training Package will include the option of a streamed elective related to the specialised pharmacy area of Compounding.

To inform the update of the packaging rules of the two Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support qualifications, the update of nine existing Hospital Pharmacy Units of Competency, and the development of eleven new Hospital Pharmacy Units of Competency, a Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of stakeholders and subject matter experts from across Australia has been formed. Formation of the TAC has informed the identification and validation of the exact nature of the skills needs and knowledge requirements in the industry and the respective Training Package Product update requirements.

As a result, the following changes have been proposed:

• Packaging rules for both Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support qualifications have been revised to include Units of Competency relevant to the role of the pharmacy assistant/technician.
• The Certificate III in Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support has been updated and will comprise the following core Units of Competency:

o BSBFLM309 Support continuous improvement systems and processes
o BSBMED305 Apply the principles of confidentiality, privacy and security within the medical environment
o BSBWOR301 Organise personal work priorities and development
o CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
o CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
o HLTAAP001 Recognise healthy body systems
o HLTCCD003 Medical terminology in health care
o HLTPHA010 Maintain pharmaceutical imprest stock
o HLTPHA011 Pack pharmaceutical products
o HLTPHA012 Assist with dispensing of prescriptions and medication orders
o HLTPHA013 Order, maintain and distribute pharmaceutical stock
o HLTPHA019 Coordinate communication processes in a hospital pharmacy setting
o HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care.

• Given the specialised nature of the job role and the need for fundamental skills and knowledge, there are no electives in the Certificate III qualification.
• The Certificate IV in Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support has been updated to include fifteen core and five elective Units of Competency, to be selected from the following groups:

o Group A – Certificate III Units (maximum three)
o Group B – Compounding specialisation
o Group C – Other electives.

• The following existing nine Hospital Pharmacy Units of Competency have been updated:

o HLTPHA001 Maintain pharmaceutical imprest stock
o HLTPHA002 Pack pharmaceutical products
o HLTPHA003 Assist with dispensing of prescriptions and medication orders
o HLTPHA004 Order, maintain and distribute pharmaceutical stock
o HLTPHA005 Conduct small scale compounding and labelling of pharmaceutical products
o HLTPHA006 Provide assistance in dispensary administration
o HLTPHA007 Conduct small scale compounding and labelling of aseptic pharmaceutical products
o HLTPHA008 Support pharmacist communication with clients and other health professionals
o HLTPHA009 Support pharmacists in the collection and presentation of workplace data and information.


• Eleven new Units of Competency have been developed to cover the following specialist areas:

o HLTPHA019 Coordinate communication processes in a hospital pharmacy setting
o HLTPHA020 Identify and apply biological and physiological principles to provide pharmaceutical support
o HLTPHA021 Apply understanding of medicine use to assist patients in using medicines effectively
o HLTPHA022 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders to dispense medication to patients
o HLTPHA023 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat cardio-respiratory disorders to dispense medication to patients
o HLTPHA024 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat central nervous system disorders to dispense analgesic medication to patients
o HLTPHA025 Conduct a continuing education session for peers on infections, immunological products and vaccines
o HLTPHA026 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat endocrine and genitourinary disorders to dispense medication to patients
o HLTPHA027 Conduct a continuing education session for peers on malignant disease, immunosuppressive and musculoskeletal medicines
o HLTPHA028 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat eye, ear, nose and dermatological disorders to dispense medication to patients
o HLTPHA029 Conduct a continuing education session for peers on chemical principles as they apply to pharmacy activity.

To take forward Training Package Product development work, the Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support TAC and the Technicians Support Services IRC will subsequently review and confirm the changes required for the development of Draft 2, based on feedback received from the first round of consultation.

Project Governance

The Technicians Support Services IRC is comprised of a number of key expert stakeholders within the industry, as follows:



The Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support TAC is comprised of a number of key subject matter expert stakeholders within the industry, as follows:





Project Status – Draft 1 Consultation

Consultation on Draft 1 will start on Monday, 24 February and close at 5.00 pm on Friday, 03 April 2020.

The Draft 1 consultation period will seek feedback on two qualifications and twenty Units of Competency:

• HLT37120 Certificate III in Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support
  
• HLT47120 Certificate IV in Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support
• HLTPHA010 Maintain pharmaceutical imprest stock
  
• HLTPHA011 Pack pharmaceutical products
  
• HLTPHA012 Assist with dispensing of prescriptions and medication orders
  
• HLTPHA013 Order, maintain and distribute pharmaceutical stock
  
• HLTPHA014 Conduct small scale compounding and labelling of pharmaceutical products
  
• HLTPHA015 Provide assistance in dispensary administration
  
• HLTPHA016 Conduct small scale compounding and labelling of pharmaceutical products
  
• HLTPHA017 Support pharmacist’s communication with patients and other health professionals
  
• HLTPHA018 Support pharmacists in the collection and presentation of workplace data and information
  
• HLTPHA019 Coordinate communication processes in a hospital pharmacy setting
  
• HLTPHA020 Identify and apply biological and physiological principles to provide pharmaceutical support
  
• HLTPHA021 Apply understanding of medicine use to assist patients in using medicines effectively
  
• HLTPHA022 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders to dispense medication to patients
  
• HLTPHA023 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat cardio-respiratory disorders to dispense medication to patients
  
• HLTPHA024 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat central nervous system disorders to dispense analgesic medication to patients
  
• HLTPHA025 Conduct a continuing education session for peers on infections, immunological products and vaccines
  
• HLTPHA026 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat endocrine and genitourinary disorders to dispense medication to patients
  
• HLTPHA027 Conduct a continuing education session for peers on malignant disease, immunosuppressive and musculoskeletal medicines
  
• HLTPHA028 Apply knowledge of medicines used to treat eye, ear, nose and dermatological disorders to dispense medication to patients
• HLTPHA029 Conduct a continuing education session for peers on chemical principles, as they apply to pharmacy activity.

Please click here to access Draft 1 documents, including a Consultation Guide and provide feedback.

Consultation Activities

A series of face-to-face workshops will be held across all states and territories, along with webinars and access to the SkillsIQ Online Feedback Forum page. Please click on the links below to register for a workshop or webinar.

Workshops:

City                   Date                                             Time
Melbourne       Thursday, 5 March 2020           9.00am–11:30am
Perth                 Tuesday, 10 March 2020           9.00am–11:30am
Adelaide            Wednesday, 11 March 2020    9.30am–12:00pm
Canberra           Thursday, 12 March 2020        9.30am–12:00pm
Brisbane            Friday, 13 March 2020              9.00am–11:30am
Darwin               Thursday, 19 March 2020        9.00am–11:30am
Sydney               Friday, 20 March 2020              9.30am–12:00pm
Hobart               Tuesday, 31 March 2020          9.00am–11:30am

Webinars:

Date                                                           Time
Webinar 1: Tuesday, 3 March 2020       10.00am–11:30am
Webinar 2: Tuesday, 24 March 2020     2.00pm–3:30pm



Project Timings



Following the close of the consultation period, feedback received will be collated and evaluated. This feedback will inform the development of Draft 2, which will be made publicly available for validation prior to the submission for endorsement.



Further Information

For further information, please contact Devika Mudaliar at devika.mudaliar@skillsiq.com.au or via phone at (02) 9392 8100.