Competency framework for all prescribers updated

It will benefit Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)- annotated physiotherapist prescribers and higher educational institutes providing HCPC-approved prescribing programmes.

The updated framework reflects the changes in practice that have occurred since the first edition of the framework was published in in 2016.

The updates include:

• expanding the scope of the framework
• 12 new supporting statements
• new information sections.

Prescribing is a regulated activity and prescribing physiotherapists must hold an additional annotation to demonstrate they have successfully completed an HCPC approved prescribing course. Prescribing physiotherapists must also meet HCPC additional standards of proficiency for prescribing. The RPS competency framework can be used as a self-assessment tool, to inform standards and education of health professionals and by prescribers to evidence they are delivering the competencies required of their role and can thus support members meet their regulatory obligations.

Any prescriber

The RPS sets out that the framework is for all regulators, professional bodies, education providers, prescribing professions and patients/carers to use. It can be used by any prescriber at any point in their career, regardless of their professional background.

CSP professional adviser Pip White, who was part of the RPS project team which developed the revised framework, said: 'This is a great example of an inter-professional collaborative project.

This updated competency framework provides clear detail on the knowledge and skills required by all prescribers in order to prescribe medicines safely and effectively for patients.