Post-registration Foundation Pharmacist (PRFP) 2026 'Model of Support'
Background to the ‘Model of Support’
The Post-Registration Foundation Pharmacist (PRFP) ‘Model of Support’ being delivered in collaboration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), is designed for new registrant and early career novice independent prescriber (IP) pharmacists, from September 2026. This 18-month educational offering supports prescribing pharmacists to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to competently and confidently practise across any patient facing healthcare sector in the early stage of their career.
Each pharmacist will be supported through the ‘Model of Support’ by having dedicated protected development time, opportunities to complete further education sessions, and will be guided by an appointed educational supervisor and experienced practitioners in the workplace. This collaborative approach ensures safe and effective development, particularly as the pharmacists begin their journey as newly registered independent prescribers.
Pharmacists will have the opportunity to develop a quality ePortfolio of evidence, working towards the full RPS ‘Enhanced’ credential qualification or modular-credentialing pathways. This ‘Model of Support’ will provide an opportunity for pharmacists to develop in all domains (clinical and non-clinical) of the RPS ‘Enhanced curriculum’, including:
- Person-centred care & collaboration
- Professional practice
- Leadership & Management
- Education
- Research
Credentialing offers a timely and strategic opportunity to align pharmacy workforce development with national priorities in Wales. It supports structured career progression, strengthens multidisciplinary collaboration, and reinforces the profession’s unique clinical contribution, ensuring pharmacists continue to lead in medicines expertise and patient safety across evolving healthcare systems. Learn more about the RPS Credentialing Pathway by clicking here.
HEIW are working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including higher educational institutions, to embed awareness and enthusiasm for our proposed ‘Model of Support’.
‘Model of Support’ structure
The PRFP 2026 ‘Model of Support’ runs for 18 months from September 2026 and is designed to provide structured development for new registrant and early career novice IP pharmacists.
Funded protected development time:
- Each pharmacist will receive 15 hours (2 days) of protected development time per month, supported by their employer, once they commence in September 2026.
- Educational supervisors will be funded by HEIW for 60 hours (8 days) per month from September 2026, which will ensure consistent and high-quality supervision (training will be provided prior to the start date).
During the protected development time, pharmacists will engage in a range of developmental activities including the opportunity of undertaking mentoring and shadowing with experienced practitioners, clinical assessment skills development, attending educational sessions and communities of practice linked to each of the RPS curriculum domains.
Education/Resource support:
Pharmacists, educational supervisors and workplace collaborators will be connected through a dedicated course page on Y Ty Dysgu, where they can access resources, share experiences, and build communities of practice. These networks will help pharmacists reflect on their progress, explore opportunities to build quality evidence and communicate with and learn from other peer pharmacists.
Each pharmacist will have the opportunity to complete up to 40 postgraduate credits. These modules will support meeting specific learning outcomes of the curriculum and may be mandated to include topics such as leadership, education and training, and research.
Quality Management:
To ensure consistency and high standards, HEIW have developed quality control and management standards for pharmacists, employers, and educational supervisors. In collaboration with the RPS, supervisor training and standardisation procedures will be introduced to cover all domains of the credentialing curriculum.
As this is the first cohort, HEIW will commission an external evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the ‘Model of Support’ to inform improvements and proof-of-concept for future cohorts at all levels of credentialing.
Qualifications:
Pharmacists will be awarded:
- The RPS Enhanced credential (or have successfully completed an element of the modular-credentialing pathway).
- University Postgraduate credits at Level 7.