The Postgraduate Diploma in Psychiatric Therapeutics by Distance Learning was launched in May 2000. It is part-time and offered by Aston University. The entry qualification is the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Therapeutics from Aston University, plus regular access to in-patients with psychiatric illnesses and able to take part in multidisciplinary team meetings.
The aims are that:
The seventh intake for the Psychiatric Therapeutics Diploma will be in April 2005. The Course Tutor for both courses is Celia Feetam (e-mail for Certificate/Diploma c.l.feetam@aston.ac.uk), who also happens to the immediate-past UKPPG Chairman.
The next Certificate intake will be January 2005. As the certificate is now the Certificate in Psychiatric Therapeutics and is open to anyone who fulfills the admission criteria and you do not necessarily have to be a pharmacist.
Both courses have the full endorsement and support of the United Kingdom Psychiatric Pharmacy Group (UKPPG). Bursaries of £300 (certificate) and £600 (Diploma) may be available to successful candidates who are UKPPG members, on application to the UKPPG Committee, through the UKPPG Treasurer.
For further details, contact:
Penny Delaney,
Course Administrator,
Aston University,
Aston Triangle,
Birmingham B4 7ET
Tel: 0121 359-3611 X4751
Fax: 0121 359 4759
e-mail for Certificate/Diploma p.j.delaney@aston.ac.uk
Guidelines for Application for a Postgraduate Student Bursary from the UKPPG
A limited number of bursaries are available from the UKPPG to help finance students for the Certificate and Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy from Aston University. Applications for funding for other relevant postgraduate courses, supported by the UKPPG, will be considered but preference will be given to the Aston courses outlined.
An application form is available from any member of the UKPPG committee or it can be down-loaded from the UKPPG website.(www.ukppg.org.uk/ukppg-bursary-application.rtf)
1.
All applicants must be current members of the UKPPG and membership numbers will be requested and checked. Preference will be given to those who have been members for twelve months or longer.
2.
The following details will be requested:
·
Name, Job Title, Grade, Place of work with contact telephone number and address for correspondence.
·
Details of
present post held.
·
Course
applied for and perceived benefits of the course of study to the applicant and
their department.
·
Reasons for
the bursary application and any additional source of funding.
·
Any other
relevant supporting information.
3. Application forms should be returned to the
UKPPG treasurer
4. Applications meeting the above criteria will
be prioritised, based on application date, need etc. and considered at the next
committee meeting.
5. Applicants will be notified in writing of
the outcome. If successful, the bursary will be paid, when evidence of payment
of at least half the fees in the form of a receipt from the University, has
been forwarded to the Treasurer of the UKPPG.
6. The current bursary for the Certificate in
Psychiatric Pharmacy is £300 and for the Diploma is £600.
7. Only one bursary will be awarded per applicant
per course.
Morag Martin, UKPPG Treasurer, March 2001 3/01
Click here for the UKPPG bursary application form as a Word document, ready to fill in and send to the Treasurer.
Background to the Aston Certificate/Diploma
27 applications were received for new Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy by Distance Learning, offered from Aston University starting in January 1999. The aim of the course is to improve the student's understanding of the actions and uses of psychotropic drugs and to increase their awareness of the role of medication in the overall treatment and rehabilitation of patients with enduring mental illness. On completion of the course the student will have an increased ability to contribute to the care of psychiatric patients by evaluating the risks and benefits of medication, to monitor the outcome of treatment and to present an appraisal of the cost implications of the new therapies.
The Certificate consists of 6 modules - two are sent out each term. The printed text and associated exercises should occupy approximately 4 to 5 hours of study per week. There are two Tutor Marked Assignments per module, a multichoice questionnaire and questions surrounding a case study. At the end of the year there is an open book examination. The first is scheduled for February 2000. This will test the student's application of knowledge acquired, its application and integration as well as the use of reference sources.
With the help of Dr Sheila Handley, the course leader, and her team of psychopharmacologists at Aston we have been able to develop the syllabus to include some of the newest techniques and research methods in this specialist area of medicine and to look ahead at some of the new treatment strategies that are currently in the pipeline. Other aspects of the syllabus include the treatment of affective disorders, psychotic illness, sleep disorders and anxiety as well as the psychiatric conditions associated with the neurodegenerative disorders of old age. There will also be a section on pharmacoeconomics contributed by Professor Alain Li Wan Po who has just rejoined the department at Aston as head of postgraduate education there. This we feel will enable those who complete the course to be aware of the latest advances in neuroscience as well as having a sound clinical and economical basis for their contribution to the treatment of patients with mental illness. In addition to the team at Aston authors and editors include several well known clinical psychiatric pharmacists as well as regular publishers of scientific papers and journal articles in the specialist area of psychiatry.
This new course for Aston School of Pharmacy not only complements its other postgraduate diplomas which include a diploma in clinical pharmacy for community pharmacists but it also represents a" first" for the team there in that they have not before offered a postgraduate course entirely by distance learning. They are receiving considerable help and support in this from the department of Continuing Vocational Educational.
For specific further information about the Certificate or Diploma contact The Course Office, PG Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy, School of Life and Health Science, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET e-mail c.l.feetam@aston.ac.uk Telephone 0121-359-3611 ex 4751.
UKPPG Treasurer Celia Feetam took up post as Course Tutor at Aston University in July 1998 and is working for the University for two days a week. Aston also have a secretary in the office 5 mornings a week to manage the Helpline etc. and in her absence there will be an answerphone.
Previously obtained qualifications from an equivalent course (i.e. de Montfort) WILL be applicable as qualification for the Aston courses.
It is planned that this Diploma programme will lead to a one year research
based MSc. programme to be offered by another university with a major
commitment to psychiatry.
These new courses have the full support and endorsement of the current UKPPG Committee.
For details, please contact Celia by phone or e-mail address c.l.feetam@aston.ac.uk, or click here
As well as our UK opportunities, there is also the US Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties' Specialty Council on Psychiatric Pharmacy www.bpsweb.org.
The Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties has administered a program of advanced practice specialty certification of psychiatric pharmacists for about 4 years. To date (May 2000), over 300 pharmacists have become certified in psychiatric pharmacy - the vast majority in the US, but several in other countries. On October 7, 2000 they will be administering the BPS specialty certification and recertification exams for all our specialties: nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, pharmacotherapy, and psychiatric pharmacy.
Complete information on the BPS process is in our Candidate's Guide, posted on the BPS web site. The main contact is:
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