Role analysis of preregistration pharmacists – feasibility study and creation of a professional attributes framework

Role or job analysis is a systematic process for collecting and analysing information and providing objective impartial evidence to inform selection processes. An effective selection system requires a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the relevant knowledge, skills, competencies, values and other professional attributes/characteristics necessary for that role. This analysis underpins and guides the design and development of effective selection tools to support the appointment of the most suitable applicants. A role analysis should be comprehensive and whenever possible, findings should be strengthened through triangulation. Role analysis is important in protecting employers against legal challenge to their recruitment practices.

Within England at present, preregistration pharmacists are predominantly employed in either community (approximately 65%) or hospital (35%) pharmacy. Employers use a range of different recruitment and selection practices to appoint preregistration pharmacists. Some have already undertaken a role analysis which has been used to inform the development of selection tools. Others use face to face interviews based on a local job description in line with HR requirements.

All preregistration pharmacists must achieve the same performance standards and pass a regulatory registration examination during their training programme. This directs much of their syllabus and training. However the facet of personal attributes required for the role is not explicit and may vary either by definition or importance dependent on employer or sector of practice. For this reason it will be important to collate a broad spectrum of views and evidence that span geography, sector and employer.

This project aims to define what those professional attributes are and whether a core set can be determined across the profession. The intention is that these findings feed into a second phase to design effective selection tools to support the recruitment process.

Health Education England’s (HEE) Values Based Recruitment programme clearly specifies that all NHS trainees and staff should be recruited for values. This project needs to align with these principles and inform their implementation in relation to preregistration pharmacist posts.

This project is part of the HEE Pharmacist Education and Training Reforms programme and is part of the Recruitment and Selection work stream. In parallel with this project there is a separate piece of work to align processes for the recruitment of HEE managed preregistration pharmacists with a view to this being managed in future as part of the wider medical and dental recruitment scheme programme.