In this issue:
- A year of development
- Learning for locums
- Support for trainees
- Training for reps and committee members
- All PDA member events and courses
This year, we are pleased to announce that we have programmes available to book for the whole of 2025! PDA Education offers a range of education programmes, one-off webinars, self-directed online courses, and training for PDA Union Representatives.
All of the programmes are designed for pharmacists and are bespoke. They ensure that you are able to reflect on your current skills and what you need to know to ensure that you are confident and successful in your role.
PDA Education programmes are free to all PDA members and are a benefit of being a PDA member. If you haven’t attended one yet, make sure that 2025 is the year that you sign up! This years’ programmes include:
- Assertiveness
- Managing stress
- The assessment revision programme
- The skills of supervision
- And more!
A large number of PDA members work as locums, some full-time and others alongside other roles. We understand that without an employer, time off to train can come at double the cost, as you miss time to earn money through a shift and have to pay for the courses as well.
Therefore, this year we are providing a range of courses and events for locums that are free to access and will support you with some of the common problems faced.
These courses and events will help you to negotiate confidently, learn negotiation techniques, understand more about your rights as a self-employed worker and understand how, as a group of PDA members, you can work together to make changes to the experiences at work of all locums.
The courses and events are:
- Working safely as a locum pharmacist
- Negotiating skills for locum members
- Locum Matters
- Getting more involved in the PDA.
Tuesday 24 June, is a significant date for trainees as it is the day of the 2025 assessment. We will support all trainees to ensure that they are in the best position they can be going into the assessment.
This support includes a series of events and programmes designed to help them practice assessment questions, pick up revision tips, consider how to manage stress, and find out all that is needed to know about the process of sitting the assessment.
We understand that there are many paid-for programmes that will offer revision questions. We want to remind all trainees that the GPhC does not release past papers and the sharing of actual questions is prohibited. We would encourage all trainees to check the credentials of any private provider who is charging for resources and seek some independent verification of the quality of the materials.
We will also release regular, latest news articles that aim to inform trainees what they need to know about the process, from being fit to sit to what to do if you encounter problems on the day of the assessment.
The trainee events include:
- Assessment revision programme, with timed questions, revision tips, GPhC process advice
- Getting mentally prepared
- Live calculations event
- The assessment – all you need to know!
We have lots planned this year to support the development of our reps, committee members, and activists.
We have 25 new PDA Student Reps who are currently going through their induction training. There is also a campaigning workshop coming up to help them develop knowledge of building successful campaigns.
We have workshops coming up for our PDA Boots Reps to help them develop their health and safety rep role. We will be supporting them to further develop their team and become an even stronger force for making improvements in health, safety and, welfare for members in Boots.
Following NHS recognition for the PDA in Agenda for Change last year, we are running some induction workshops for PDA NHS Reps to help them understand their role and rights as a trade union rep. We will be running some follow-up workshops to develop reps’ confidence in taking part in negotiating meetings.
We also have opportunities for all of our reps and committee members to come together and learn in a face-to-face environment. We are running a 2-day reps’ course to look at the role and rights of a rep as well as how to use workplace policies and procedures to support members. We are running media skills courses, organising and campaigning and providing updates for our more experienced reps.
PDA Reps help members all over the country and are vital in supporting pharmacists to be more aware of who the PDA is, what it does, what support and advice is available, and how members can get involved.
Those interested can learn more about becoming a PDA Rep here.
PDA Education provides FREE training and support to PDA members. Below is a list of the upcoming opportunities and support available.
CV Writing and Interview Skills – Available until 31 December 2025. The aim of the course is to help members feel more confident when applying and interviewing for new jobs and positions.
Reps Online Induction – Available until 31 December 2025. This online training course is for new PDA Workplace Reps, regional or equality committee members and NEC members.
Assessment Revision Programme – Available until 23 June 2025. This self-directed online revision programme is for all PDA trainee members who are sitting the registration assessment.
The skills of mentoring and supervision – Available from 1 to 31 May 2025. This programme will offer you the opportunity to develop and enhance your skills in mentoring.
Developing Effective Teamwork – Available from 1 to 30 May 2025. This programme will help members deal with tricky situations more effectively.
Conversations That Count – Tuesday 6 May 2025. This online workshop is open to members of the PDA Rep community, those who are part of a PDA Network and executive committee members.
Reps Programme – PDA Reps Stage 1 – 13 to 14 May 2025. This face-to-face training course is for all PDA Reps who have completed the PDA Reps induction online.
Live the Life you Want to Lead – Wednesday 14 May 2025. This workshop was created for those of us who feel we’d like to make a change in our lives but aren’t sure where to begin.
Live Calculations Event – Thursday 15 May 2025. This PDA member-exclusive course is for all trainees that are sitting the assessment exam.
Working safely as a locum pharmacist -Tuesday 20 May 2025. This session is aimed at any PDA locum member who wants to know more about how to look after their own health and welfare.
The Assessment – All you need to know – Thursday 29 May 2025. This event will help PDA trainee members to understand the requirements of the registration assessment.
Getting Mentally Prepared – Wednesday 4 June 2025. This online webinar will help PDA trainee members to prepare for the exams and assessment.
Locum Matters – Tuesday 19 June 2025. This will be an opportunity for locums to ask Ruth Williams, PDA Senior Paralegal, any questions they may have.
PDA Reps: Recognising and tackling discrimination – 24 to 25 June 2025. This course is for all PDA Reps who have completed the PDA Reps Induction online.
Negotiating skills for locum members – Tuesday 1 July 2025. This workshop is aimed at any PDA locum member who would like to develop their negotiating skills.
Getting the best from your relationship with your supervisor (Being a mentee) – Available from 15 July to 31 August 2025. This course will explore areas such as how to build a relationship with your mentor and more.
How to thrive in your trainee year – Thursday 17 July 2025. This event brings together members that are at the beginning of their trainee year to talk about the foundation year training.
VIEW ALL COURSES AND EVENTS HERE
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