Virtual Discussion Group Facilitators

Published: 03/07/25

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are continuing to plan for the 2025-26 cohort of trainee pharmacists who start training in July 2025 and are looking to identify potential pharmacists who wish to support the delivery of our curriculum as a virtual discussion group facilitator. 

---

Online virtual discussion groups (VDGs): facilitators would be responsible for facilitating eight online VDG sessions spread over the course of the training year. Each 2.5-hour session focuses on a clinical or professional topic where trainee pharmacists have undertaken pre-work prior to the session which they then discuss with the group. There is no need to be a specialist in any particular topic as full facilitator notes are available to support you in facilitating the session. Facilitators who are unable to commit to the full series of eight VDGs can co-facilitate a group, usually leading four sessions each. VDG delivery occurs in set weeks although VDG Facilitators can decide which half-day session in the set week best fits their schedule:

• VDG 1 (Infection) during week of 22nd - 26th September 2025

• VDG 2 (Cardiovascular) during week of 1st - 5th December 2025

• VDG 3 (Unscheduled Care) during week of 5th - 9th January 2026

• VDG 4 (Calcs 1) during week of 26th - 30th January 2026

• VDG 5 (Endocrine) during week of 9th - 13th February 2026

• VDG 6 (Paediatrics) during week of 9th - 14th March 2026

• VDG 7 (Calcs 2) during week of 30th March - 3rd April 2026

• VDG 8 (CNS) during week of 20th - 24th April 2026

Wherever possible, VDG Facilitators are invited to also support the in-person induction session for trainee pharmacists. This acts as an opportunity to become familiar with the programme and meet your group in person at the start of the year. Induction dates are planned for August 2025:

• Aberdeen: 12th August 2025

• Glasgow: 5th, 7th and 11th August 2025

• Edinburgh: 14th August 2025

We welcome and encourage expressions of interest from pharmacists at any stage of their career, however, there are important eligibility criteria which reflect the new GPhC IET standards.

This includes:

• Prior experience of supervising or supporting trainee pharmacists undertaking their Foundation Training Year (FTY)

• An understanding of the current GPhC IET standards and format of the FTY

• Currently working in clinical practice (with VDG Facilitators also being a pharmacist independent prescriber using their qualification in practice)

• Availability to be released from work, through agreement with their employer or able to support sessions in their own time for recompense

If you are interested, we would be grateful if you could complete the MS Form via the link below by 11th July 2025:

MS form to express interest in supporting FTY curriculum delivery in 2025-26

We are keen to support the involvement of as many facilitators as possible. If you want to speak with a member of the NES FTY team to discuss this further, please contact us to arrange a call via the NES FTY Mailbox: nes.ftypharmacy@nhs.scot.

---