Core Competency Framework

What is a Competency Framework?

Competencies refer to the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that an individual develops through education, training and work experience. When combined, these competencies form a competency framework. This framework provides a blueprint for describing the competencies and behaviours of pharmacists in their daily practice.

The Core Competency Framework for Pharmacists in Ireland

The Core Competency Framework for pharmacists aims to reflect the practice of pharmacists in the early stages of their career, ie, 0-3 years registered. It is intended that the framework would also be used to provide structure and guidance for continuing professional development (CPD) over the changing demands of a pharmacist's career.

The framework is divided into six domains of practice and identifies a number of competencies expected of a pharmacist in each domain. A number of behavioural statements are given for each competen Core Competency Framework cy to demonstrate how individuals who have that competency will be behaving in practice.

What is the Core Competency Framework used for?

It is used for a number of purposes, including:

Assisting pharmacists to self-assess their abilities against the competency standards relevant to their role to determine areas in which further development is needed.
Development of programmes by academic institutions; informing the educational standards for accreditation by the PSI of pharmacy degree programmes.
Providing a platform for the development of specialisation and advanced practice within pharmacy.
Providing a public statement of the professional role of a pharmacist.

The Irish Institute of Pharmacy and Continued Professional Development

The Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) is the body established by the PSI to oversee the management and delivery of the mandatory system of CPD for pharmacists in Ireland and to promote excellence in patient care and professional standards.

The IIOP will be the main support for pharmacists and their engagement with the Core Competency Framework as the CPD model is rolled out.

Review of the Core Competency Framework(2019/2020)

Expand all

Click for information
In August 2019, the PSI commenced a review of the Core Competency Framework. This review included:
- a series of early engagement meetings with key stakeholders to gather views and experiences of using the Core Competency Framework for the purposes outlined above,
- an examination and benchmarking exercise of international developments in competency frameworks to identify areas that could potentially be adopted in the national context and be included in a revised Core Competency Framework, and
- a targeted consultation with registered pharmacists and various other stakeholders to ascertain views and comments on the current Core Competency Framework. The targeted consultation process was informed by the findings of the early engagement meetings.
This report provides a summary of the feedback received during the review process and includes a response from the PSI. The report recommends:
- The Core Competency Framework remain unchanged at present
- The PSI explore and consult with stakeholders on:
-the possible introduction of a Core Competency Framework that allows pharmacists to demonstrate different levels of competence;
-the applicability of the Core Competency Framework to all pharmacist roles;
-the inclusion, use and purpose of the behaviours in the Core Competency Framework; and
-the findings of the benchmarking exercise.
- The PSI consider how to provide clarification on the use of the Core Competency Framework for CPD purposes, to highlight that pharmacists must only demonstrate competence in those competencies relevant to their role.
The report and its recommendations were approved by the PSI Council at its meeting on 8 October 2020. It is proposed that on-going review of the Core Competency Framework will continue in 2021, in consultation with our various stakeholders.