How to be a great pre-reg tutor

A great pre-registration tutor can be the difference between inspiration and desperation. All pharmacists can remember their tutors and mentors: no other position leaves such an indelible impression of pharmacy practice on someone at the start of their career.

Yet in April a scoping study by the RPSGB found the criteria expected of tutors to be "vague and inappropriate". So what can you do to make sure your charge gets the most out of their pre-reg year?

The first step is to ensure you get the right pre-registration graduate trainee for your pharmacy before you start the year. Most pre-registration trainees are selected at interview and it's important not only to select the best candidate, but also to consider how they'll fit in with your pharmacy.

Ian Dean of C&A Brack Pharmacy, Numark's current Tutor of the Year (pictured right), says a good pre-registration student keeps a pharmacist thinking. "Good pre-regs make life easier," he says. "They keep me on my toes. It keeps me wide awake and helps with my CPD."

The next step is to cast a critical eye over your pharmacy to make sure you're fully prepped and ready to take on a trainee. Consider the environment they're entering: are you a model of best practice, or are there areas that need improvement? You'll need to be well-organised with good systems and SOPs in place. While old staff may be familiar with routines, a pre-registration trainee will be coming fresh from university with little first-hand experience of how a pharmacy operates.

It is important to brief your staff about their responsibilities to a pre-registration student before he or she arrives. They can have just as much impact on a pre-registration trainee as you will, and can be a valuable asset in helping them grow and develop. Mr Dean advises: "Use the team to encourage the pre-reg so you're not the only person they can talk to. It's a very collaborative effort."

Staffing is also an issue you should keep in mind throughout the pre-registration year. The trainee is not there to replace staff, and won't be able to develop into a professional pharmacist if they're used as temporary cover.

"Give the pre-reg enough flexibility to let the student grow," says Mr Dean. "It's important that there is not insufficient staff. [The pre-reg] is not supposed to replace someone that should really have been there in the first place."

Once you've selected your candidate and made sure your pharmacy is ready, it's time to look ahead: don't leave planning the year until the moment the pre-reg first steps through the door. The RSPGB provides tutor information and tutor workbook guides that contain essential information about what the pre-registration year will entail. The workbook also contains hypothetical scenarios that may crop up in the year, giving you the best possible chance to tackle any problems that emerge.

Make sure you know the competencies you are expected to assess and how the pre-registration pharmacist will be able to achieve them. "It's important to give structure to the scheme to make sure all competencies are covered," says Mr Dean. In other words, donÕt get ahead of yourself and get the pre-reg developing enhanced services if you haven't assessed competencies such as dispensing. That said, do try to organise any cross-sector placements or courses (such as first aid) that will be required in advance.

Make sure you are aware of the requirements expected of the pre-registration trainee. The RPSGB tutor guides contain information on which forms have to be sent to the regulator by which dates. And remember: while the pre-registration year may be for 52 weeks, the trainee has an exam to sit at the end of the run. It's crucial to give them ample time to prepare, including study materials and timed tests, so they have the best possible chance of success.

Finally, remember that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. While it's important to remember your role as an assessor and to act as a professional, Mr Dean argues that a bit of fun is a crucial ingredient to any successful team.

"Occasionally it's nice to have a bit of fun at work," he says. "We do view the fact that work shouldn't be a chore and can have a laugh about what's happened."

• be registered to practise as a pharmacist by the RPSGB
• have a minimum of three years' experience in the sector in which they work
• register their premises for pre-registration training with the RPSGB
• be able to have regular and frequent contact (more than 28 hours over at least four days per week) with the pre-registration student.

Joint tutoring is possible if you cannot meet the time requirement, but this must be agreed with the RPSGB in writing.

• is accountable to the RPSGB for training
•  is responsible for liaising with funding bodies
• must meet the criteria to be a pre-registration tutor.

The pre-registration manager and pre-registration tutor can be the same person.

The RPSGB is currently responsible for pre-registration training, including registering premises. It provides workbooks and information for tutors, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. The Society has also developed a set of tutor competencies and hypothetical scenarios, which are available on its website.

The General Pharmaceutical Council will be responsible for pharmacist education. However, there will be no changes to the pre-registration year until after a consultation on education standards. The RPSGB anticipates the next intake of pre-reg trainees will be unaffected.