The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has updated its Competency Framework for all Prescribers, which sets out what good prescribing looks like across all health professions.

After a six-week public consultation, the scope of the framework has been expanded, says the RPS. Twelve new supporting statements have been included and new information sections added. An online version of the framework is also now available along with a Welsh version, examples in practice, a presentation, help on how to evidence competency and further supporting resources.

The framework is for all regulators, professional bodies and prescribing professions to use. It is used, for example, as the competency framework for nurse prescribers.

It can be used by any prescriber at any point in their career, regardless of their professional background or setting and applies equally to independent prescribers, community practitioner nurse prescribers and supplementary prescribers.

The framework can be used as a self-assessment tool, says the RPS, to inform standards and education of health professionals, and by prescribing trainees to evidence they are delivering the competencies required of their role.

RPS lead for the Competency Framework, Regina Ahmed, said: “A common set of competencies should underpin prescribing, regardless of professional background, to enable all prescribers to practise safely and effectively.  It applies equally to independent prescribers, community practitioner nurse prescribers and supplementary prescribers.”