Health Education England has announced a 12-month pilot training offer for Specialist Mental Health Pharmacy.

The programme, aimed at experienced pharmacists working in Community Mental Health Teams, will be delivered this spring in partnership with NHS England, NHS Improvement and the University of Bradford. The training will include physical and mental health knowledge, skills, and assessments, and supports the journey to advanced level practice for pharmacists. This new community-based offer includes support for medicines management and improved physical health care.

The NHS Long Term Plan and People Plan states that integrated models of primary and community mental health care will support adults and older adults with severe mental illnesses. The Mental Health Implementation Plan indicates a need to increase pharmacists specialising in mental health by 280 by 2023/24 with a breakdown of 260 for severe mental illness and 20 for perinatal by 2023/24 to meet the requirements of the community-based offer.

Aurora Diaz Lopez, HEE’s National Programme Manager, said: “The NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan outlines an ambition to expand the mental health pharmacist workforce to improve the care provided to adults in the community with severe mental illness. To support the education and development of individuals working in these roles, Health Education England have commissioned a pilot 12-month training pathway with the University of Bradford. This pathway aims to develop the mental and physical health knowledge and skills of experienced pharmacists within community mental health and primary care teams nationally, enabling them to provide expert care to the patients who use their services.”