CPPE’s updated ‘Skill mix’ e-learning programme will help pharmacists conduct an effective skill mix review.

Pharmacy is facing some tough times, with increased demand for services and cuts to funding increasing the pressure on community pharmacy teams to deliver more for less.

The Carter and Murray reviews have recommended a shift toward more prescribing and clinical roles for pharmacy professionals and this is a prime example of how increasing skill mix can help productivity in practice. Getting skill mix right in pharmacy is therefore vital.

What is skill mix?

Skill mix can refer to the mix of posts in an establishment or the employees in a particular post. It can also cover the combination of activities and skills that comprise each role within the team.

The main aim of skill mix is to connect needs with the skills available and outcomes warranted in a particular working environment with a specific client group.

By applying skill mix in the workplace, you can ensure that resources are being used wisely and that everyone is reaching their full potential.

By stepping back and reviewing who is best placed to perform specific tasks, not only can development opportunities for the team be identified, but the best interests of patients can also be taken into account. Patients are more likely to derive benefit from a highly functioning team.

Work efficacy

To ensure that everyone in your team is working as efficiently as possible, CPPE’s updated ‘Skill mix’ e-learning programme shows how skill mix can improve your working efficacy and gives you the tools to conduct an effective skill mix review. The learning is based around interactive activities and includes audio case studies examining the practical application of skill mix.

The programme gives practical tips on how to introduce skill mix to your pharmacy team and shows you the benefits of skill mix from different points of view in hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy and general practice.

It will help you to build a strong team that works as productively as possible, making sure the right person is doing the right job at the right time.

More information at cppe.ac.uk

By applying skill mix you can ensure that resources are being used wisely