Whether you are returning to a familiar role or moving into a different area of practice, returning to practice can be a daunting experience. You may be already registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council but haven’t worked as a pharmacist for a time and want to return to the workplace, or you may be considering returning to or moving into a different sector of practice. We can advise you on how you can successfully meet your professional obligations, support you as you develop your role on your chosen career path while helping you focus on building your confidence as you return to practice. Our support service aims to ease stepping back into the workplace with confidence as a competent, safe, effective practitioner for the benefit of patients and the public.

What do I need to think about when returning to practice?

You will need to ensure that you are registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Since the RPSGB demerger on 27 September 2010, the non - practising pharmacist register ceased to exist and only those who are registered as a (practising) pharmacist with the GPhC are entitled to practice in the UK. Details on registration requirements are available on the GPhC website.

Once you are registered, you have a professional obligation to be competent to practice in your chosen area. A review of your current job description may be a useful way to highlight what competencies you need to focus on. If you are not currently employed, it may be worthwhile thinking about the area you plan to return to, identifying the gaps in your knowledge and devising a personal development plan that addresses these gaps. From the time of registration, you are obliged by the regulator to maintain a CPD record. When returning to practice, it is vital that you undertake CPD relevant to your intended scope of practice and complete CPD entries for each of your learning activities. Updating your knowledge of newly licensed medicines, keeping abreast of legislative changes and developments in your area of interest may be practical ways of building your CPD record at a preliminary stage. Access to the RPS online guidance, PJ online and the electronic library resources should help make this feasible.

In this section you will find information on:

• General information on return to practice
• Supporting you with return to practice
• Return to practice and CPD
• Return to practice checklist
• Case studies