Product Approval Accreditation Programme (PAAP)

Programme Details

Duration

12 months

Programme Director(s)

Costs

Non-PWDS Affiliated Trust
£450
PWDS Affiliated Trust
£295

Funded Places

South West: 12

Programme Introduction

Product Approval Accreditation Programme is a national training course that has been developed to deliver a functional and high-quality training and assessment programme for individuals who carry out the task of “product approval” for aseptic products, prepared within hospital pharmacies under section 10 exemption from the Medicines Act 1968.

The programme addresses the training requirements of both pharmacists and suitably trained and experienced, registered pharmacy technicians. As a result, the accreditation must be applied alongside an operating framework that ensures that pharmacist supervision and other governance and safety requirements are fulfilled.

Entry Criteria

The following prerequistes must be met before application

The programme is open to applicants from across the United Kingdom.

Entry Criteria for Participating Sites

Note that for pharmacists to go forward in the training and assessment programme there are no site specific criteria as participation is encouraged from all Aseptic Services units. For a unit wishing to go forward with Accredited Pharmacy Technician Product Approvers then the following will apply:

  • The site is able and willing to operate the required pharmacist supervision model
  • The site has a commitment from the Chief Pharmacist and Accountable Pharmacist to approve and support trainees to undertake training
  • The Accountable Pharmacist must have sufficient experience and understanding of the legal issues and the model for supervision

The site is approved by their Regional QA specialist / EL Auditor who will consider the following criteria:

  •  All relevant SOPs are in place and all worksheets approved by the Accountable Pharmacist
  • Risk Management arrangements are satisfactory including robust change control processes
  • Suitable staff training programmes and resources are available
  • Clinical checking by accredited pharmacists and prescription verification is carried out by Authorised Pharmacists1
  • A robust in-house system of dealing with errors including monitoring, reporting, managing and trending of errors is in place and the reviewing of data from the National Error Reporting Scheme. Sites should report to the National Error Reporting Scheme.There must be data to support the baseline error rate. Error rates must be part of the acceptance criteria for the Change Control when introducing the change to allow accredited pharmacy technicians to carry out final product approval
  • Robust Quality Management Systems, including deviations and untoward events reporting and investigation are in place
  • The management structure is compliant with the nationally agreed definition of supervision.

Entry Criteria for Pharmacists

The following criteria will apply:

  • The pharmacist is allocated to an aseptic unit for a suitable minimum period of time sufficient to complete the programme (3 months).
  • The individual should be committed to the process

Entry Criteria for Pharmacy Technicians

The following will apply:

  • The registered pharmacy technician is allocated to an aseptic unit for a suitable minimum period of time sufficient to complete the programme (3 months).
  • They should have least 2 years full-time or 3 years rotational aseptic experience and be accredited in line with the national framework, to perform pre & in-process checks in aseptic preparation*.
  • The individual should be committed to the process.

Accountable Pharmacist Approval

Each trainee must be approved by the Accountable Pharmacist ahead of registration onto the programme.

Who can be the Educational Supervisor?

The Educational Supervisor can be:

  • The Accountable Pharmacist or an experienced and designated authorised pharmacist based in the trainee’s unit

OR;

  • An experienced accredited product approver

Educational supervisors must be approved by the Chief Pharmacist and Accountable Pharmacist.

It is recommended that the educational supervisor is someone who has the opportunity to meet regularly with the trainee to discuss progress and give feedback.

* For those very experienced pharmacy technicians that do not hold a Nationally Recognised  PIPC accreditation but have undergone in-house training and are performing the role on a regular basis, there is currently a two year transition period (May 2021 till May 2023) where prior learning and previous checking experience may be taken into account as a route of entry onto the programme. Currently Provisional Extension to the End of Mar 2024

The ‘Transitional Period for the Recognition of Prior Learning and Previous Checking Experience for Registration onto the Programme (May 2021 till May 2023)Guidance for Pharmacy Technicians’ document outlines the requirements for pharmacy technicians that have not undertaken a nationally recognised PIPC accreditation. A link to this document can be found in the Useful Links sections of this page.

Programme Features

  • Site approval by regional QA Officer (necessary for pharmacy technician applicants only, see further entry requirements below)
  • Trainee pre-course assessment (to be completed prior to attendance at induction)
  • Local viva voce carried out by the Accountable Pharmacist
  • Self-assessment
  • Written assessment of knowledge
  • Completion of pre-induction activities
  • Online induction (full day)
  • Period of work based evidence collection and portfolio build
  • Trainee post course summative assessment
  • Summative practical assessment
  • External regional panel viva voce
  • Written assessment of knowledge

Programme Description

Scope of the framework

This programme applies to section 10 aseptic services final product approval, including cytotoxic, biopharmaceuticals, parenteral nutrition and CIVAs products

Intrathecal products can be included as long as the final product approver is trained, competent and named on the intrathecal register for this task.

With suitable additional training this can be extended to cover final product approval of Clinical Trials under Paragraph 37 of the Clinical Trials Regulations where the medicines used are licensed products (but not for novel IMPs).

Subject to suitable training and understanding of the status and requirements to the release of outsourced named-patient ready-to-administer products.

Products made in anticipation of a prescription cannot be released until matched with a verified prescription

Exclusions from the process

The process applies to aseptically prepared pharmaceuticals only and with the following exemptions:

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Products made under MS or MIA (IMP) licences
  • One-off products made without a fully approved worksheet
  • Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products

Method of Delivery

Self directed learning, Online Induction

Method of Assessment

Pre-induction assessment / evidence collection and competency based assessments / e-portfolio regional assessment / local exam and knowledge based assessment / online panel assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about this Programme

General FAQs

Answers to most common applications for each stage of the Programme process can be found on our dedicated Frequently Asked Questions page and is usually the quickest and easiest way to resolve most enquiries.

Please ensure you check this page before submitting a contact enquiry. 

Contact

Programme Director

For general enquiries or in case of Programme Director absence:

Email: pwds@uhbw.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0117 342 6677

Enrolment

Step One

Application for the PAAP programme

Please click the application button below to apply for the PAAP Programme. Once you have received your acceptance email and login details for the programme please apply for an online induction date that is most suitable for you. Please note: you must have completed all of the pre-induction activities and assessment prior to attendance at induction.

Step Two

Application for Virtual PAAP Induction

Please only apply for online induction if you have received confirmation that you have been accepted onto the PAAP programme. The online induction will enable trainees to attend the day remotely via virtual classroom. Details of how to access the event will be sent out to you once your application has been processed.
  • PAAP - Induction - May 14, 2024 - 9:45 am - 4:45 pm
  • PAAP - Induction - July 15, 2024 - 9:45 am - 4:45 pm
  • PAAP - Induction - September 16, 2024 - 9:45 am - 4:45 pm
  • PAAP - Induction - November 11, 2024 - 9:45 am - 4:45 pm

You must be enrolled on this programme to apply for this step

Step Three

Application for Local Summative Assessment Pack and Online Panel interview

Once you have completed your evidence collection and your e-portfolio you will need to apply for your local summative assessment pack and online panel assessment below.

You must be enrolled on this programme to apply for this step

Programme Resources

You must be logged in and enrolled on this course to view this content.

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