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Requesting a reasonable adjustment in the GPhC registration assessment for sittings in 2020

Guidance and application form

ContentsGuidanc

e

Part 1

Introduction....................................................................................1

The registration assessment............................................................1

What are reasonable adjustments?.................................................1

The Equality Act..............................................................................2

Examples of types of adjustments that could be requested.............2

Part 2

Requesting a reasonable adjustment...............................................3

What supporting evidence do I need to provide?.............................3

Reviewing your request...................................................................6

Part 3

When to apply for a reasonable adjustment....................................6

Late submissions.............................................................................7

Previous requests for adjustments..................................................7

Where to send your request............................................................8

Appeals...........................................................................................9

Application form.....................................................................................1

Section 1 – to be completed by the candidate.........................................2

Section 2 – supporting evidence provided by qualified professional(s)....5


Guidance for requesting a reasonable adjustment in the GPhC registration assessment

Part 1

Introduction

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity, being inclusive and ensuring that our equality duties are met. This applies in all our work as a health professions regulator, a public service provider and an employer.

By making sure equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of all we do, the resources we invest in services will benefit everyone who uses or needs them. This means we will improve our effectiveness and efficiency as a regulator. We will continue to encourage a higher profile for equality and diversity in our role as a regulator, public service provider and employer.

The registration assessment

The GPhC runs a national registration assessment which is undertaken by pre-registration trainee pharmacists who:

have successfully passed an accredited Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree or overseas pharmacists’ assessment programme (OSPAP), and

satisfactorily completed the required period of pre-registration training; or are EEA-qualified pharmacists taking the assessment as part of their route to registration

To be able to register as a pharmacist, pre-registration trainees must pass the assessment, and meet all the other registration criteria.

The main aim of the assessment is to make sure that pre-registration trainee pharmacists demonstrate an understanding of how to apply knowledge appropriately and in a timely manner when making professional judgements in pharmacy practice contexts. It also makes sure that candidates have the numeracy skills they need to practise as a pharmacist.

What are reasonable adjustments?

The Equality Act 2010 makes a distinction between competence standards on the one hand, and the means of assessing them on the other. The normal duty to make reasonable adjustments applies to the process of assessing a competence standard, but not to the question of whether the standard can be applied – that is, to the question of whether or not a person has a particular level of competence or ability. This means that we can make adjustments to the arrangements, but not to the standard of the assessment.

It would be appropriate to grant ‘reasonable adjustments’ to candidates who would be at a disadvantage in sitting the assessment because of health issues, disabilities, specific learning needs or


https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/registration

other specific needs. Each request is be assessed to make sure that the adjustment is appropriate and proportionate to the candidate’s needs.

The Equality Act

These are adjustments that cover the nine ‘protected characteristics’, as defined by the Equality Act 2010. The nine characteristics are currently:

Age Marriage and civil partnerships Religion or beliefSex Pregnancy and maternity Gender reassignmentDisability Race Sexual orientation

It may be necessary to adapt or change the environment of the assessment sitting for a candidate who has a specific need, whether it is permanent or temporary. The purpose of reasonable adjustments is to ensure that candidates are not disadvantaged due to a protected characteristic or specific need.

Examples of types of adjustments that could be requested

Examples of reasonable adjustments that may be granted to remove a disadvantage due to a specific need include:

extra time assessment papers and/or answer sheets printed on coloured paper and/or in an enlarged

format (A3) resource packs printed in an enlarged format (A3) booklet special equipment or furniture permission to bring specific items in to the assessment, such as tinted reading overlays or a

magnifier specific seating arrangements within the assessment centre

This list does not cover everything, and if you have any questions about specific requirements please telephone the GPhC contact centre for advice.

Examples of adjustments that cannot be granted include:

additional rest breaks or stopped clocks doing the assessment in extra sittings – for example, over two days changes to the nature or content of the assessment – for example, changes to the style of the

assessment, or the number of questions altering the content of the assessment papers – for example, changing the type size, type colour,

type face or line spacing resource packs printed on coloured paper providing assessment papers in a language other than English extra time to accommodate candidates whose first language is not English


Requests for additional timeThe standard amount of additional time provided to candidates with specific needs is 25%. Should you have a need for an enhanced amount of time above 25%, you must clearly explain in your application how much additional time you are requesting and why an enhanced amount of time is necessary. Granting of an enhanced amount of additional time is at the discretion of the adjustment panel who will make its decision based on the information you have provided in your application and the supporting information provided by the appropriately qualified professional.

Requests to use specific items

If you wish to request to use an item that is not included on the permitted items list please give full details of the item in your application form and explain why it will help to remove a disadvantage due to a specific need.

Part 2

Requesting a reasonable adjustment

When requesting an adjustment, you must fully complete an Application form to request a reasonable adjustment in the GPhC registration assessment – for sittings in 2020.

You must: provide the requested information about yourself, your specific need(s), and the adjustment(s)

that you are requesting in section 1.

provide supporting evidence from an appropriately qualified professional in the format specified.

What supporting evidence do I need to provide?

The type of evidence that you need to provide to support your request will depend on the nature of the condition or specific need that you feel will cause you a disadvantage during the assessment. The information below will help you determine which type of evidence is accepted:

Condition or specific need Evidence type

Specific learning need (including dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia)

A

Dyspraxia B

Any other condition or specific need not mentioned above C

If your request relates to more than one condition or specific need, you will need to provide the required evidence for both conditions. If for example, you were requesting adjustments due to dyslexia


and anxiety, you would need to provide both a report of a detailed diagnostic assessment in relation to dyslexia (Evidence type A) and a statement of evidence (Evidence type C) in relation to anxiety.

Evidence type A – You must provide a report of a detailed diagnostic assessment of specific learning needs issued on or after your 16th birthday.

The report of a diagnostic assessment of specific learning needs must detail how the specific learning difficulty impacts you. The assessment must have been carried out by:

a specialist teacher holding a current practising certificate in assessing specific learning difficulties, issued by their relevant professional association, or

a psychologist holding a current practising certificate issued by their relevant professional association

A diagnostic assessment is a detailed and comprehensive assessment to identify special learning needs and is the official way in which specific learning needs such as dyslexia are identified and evidenced. The following dyslexia organisations provide further detail which may be of help:

British Dyslexia Associationhttps://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/services/assessments

Dyslexia Foundationwww.dyslexia-help.org/article/screenings-assessments

University needs assessments or screening reports are not sufficient as evidence for adjustment requests

Evidence type B – You must provide both a statement of evidence form (section 2 of application) and a report of a diagnostic assessment or occupational therapists’ report issued on or after your 14th birthday.

Evidence type B requires you to submit evidence of your diagnosis in the form of a statement of evidence, along with a report detailing the impact of the diagnosis.

This report must be dated on or after your 14th birthday and be provided by:

a specialist teacher holding a current practising certificate in assessing specific learning difficulties, issued by their relevant professional association,

a psychologist holding a current practising certificate issued by their relevant professional association, or

an occupational therapist

Evidence type C – You must provide a statement of evidence form (section 2 of application)


http://www.dyslexia-help.org/article/screenings-assessments

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/services/assessments

Evidence types B and C require you to submit a statement of evidence form (section 2 of the application form) completed by an appropriately qualified professional. If you have referred to more than one condition or specific need that falls under evidence type B or C you will need to submit a separate statement of evidence for each condition.

Who should complete my statement of evidence form?

A healthcare professional who is involved in your care in relation to the specific need or condition that you have described. It may be appropriate for the same professional to complete more than one statement of evidence form if they are involved in your care for more than one condition – such as your GP.

Important: There should be no potential or actual conflicts of interest that could bring into question the professional judgment of the qualified person in supporting your request. For example, they may not be family member, friend or any other person with whom you have a personal relationship

Your pre-registration tutor or any other pharmacy professional will not be eligible to sign the declaration, unless they are involved directly in your care, and evidence of this must be provided.

Important: Do not enter any information yourself into the statement of evidence form or alter any of the information that has been provided by the professional.

Please note: you do not need to submit a statement of evidence if your request relates solely to specific learning needs. You must instead provide a report of a full diagnostic assessment as supporting evidence (Evidence type A).

Mental health conditions (including anxiety and depression)Adjustments for mental health conditions will only be granted when the condition is classed as a disability as per the Equality Act 2010. This is defined as a mental impairment that has a substantial long term (i.e. more than 12 months) effect on your normal day to day activities.

If your request relates to a mental health condition, the adjustments panel will wish to see evidence from an appropriately qualified professional (within a statement of evidence form) to confirm:

that you have been formally diagnosed with the condition by an appropriately qualified professional

that the condition has lasted, or is likely to last, for 12 months or more the impact of the condition on your day to day life, and the likely impact on you in the

assessment.

The adjustments panel may use its discretion to grant adjustments in exceptional circumstances where the evidence does not meet all the above requirements but is sufficient to support the request.

Reviewing your requestRequests for adjustment are considered by the GPhC’s adjustments panel. This panel is made up of members of the board of assessors and reasonable adjustment advisors. It makes decisions based on


the information provided by individual candidate and decides whether the reasonable adjustment should be granted, if it is practicable to do so.

For the adjustments panel to make fair and consistent decisions about granting reasonable adjustments, they need to have full information available to them. It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide all the information required and by the specified deadline to allow the panel to make an informed decision.

Part 3

When to apply for a reasonable adjustment

To ensure that your request is considered by the adjustments panel you must apply by the deadline date. The deadline dates to make an application for reasonable adjustment for sittings in 2020 are:

27 March 2020 (requests relating to June 2020 sitting)

3 August 2020 (requests relating to September 2020 sitting)

The deadlines relating to 2020 sittings of the assessment can also be found on our key dates timeline.

Important: Allow yourself plenty of time to seek supporting evidence from a relevant qualified professional, particularly if your request relates to more than one condition or specific need.

The reason we ask candidates to apply by a specific date is to make sure that all requests and their supporting evidence are ready for when the adjustment panel sits and makes its decisions. There are an increasing number of requests for adjustments every year, and so we must make sure that there is enough time to prepare documentation, and for the panel to review carefully each application. All details provided on the application form will be reviewed by the panel, however all identifiable information about each candidate will be removed. This is to make sure that all decisions are fair, and consistent, and to eliminate any bias in the decision-making process.

Once the panel has made its decisions, candidates will be notified and the GPhC team responsible for allocating candidates to a centre will make the arrangements needed to accommodate the adjustments. These arrangements take time, and as we have many candidates sitting the assessment each year we need to make sure that all arrangements are in place so that we do not disadvantage anyone. After the date of the panel meeting and as the sitting date approaches there is limited time and scope for us to put into place any additional adjustments, regardless of exceptional circumstances.

If your request for adjustment is not granted by the panel, you must decide whether, without the adjustment, you are fit to sit. Being fit to sit means that you know of no reason why your performance would be adversely affected during the assessment. If you decide that you are not fit to sit the assessment, you should consider withdrawing from the assessment in line with section 5 of the registration assessment regulations.


http://www.pharmacyregulation.org/content/key-dates-pharmacist-pre-registration-scheme

Late submissions

If you have not submitted a request by the deadline you must complete an application form to request consideration of a late submission in which you must provide details of the reason for the delay and why this was beyond your control. You must provide appropriate supporting evidence from an appropriately qualified professional to support the reason for the delay, and any relevant information in relation to the circumstance(s), the duration and the impact.

The late submission form and evidence must be submitted in addition to your Request for a reasonable adjustment application form.

Late applications will only be considered when:

there was an unforeseeable, unavoidable circumstance(s) beyond your control that meant you were mentally or physically incapable of submitting your application to request a reasonable adjustment by the deadline, and/or;

the circumstances or condition stated in the reason for the adjustment request could not have been known to you before the deadline, and;

it is agreed that there are valid and evidenced reasons why you did not submit prior to the deadline, and;

there is sufficient time remaining before the sitting to accommodate the specific adjustment

Please note that lack of awareness of the adjustments process and deadline will not be accepted as a reason for late submission of an adjustment request.

Important: If your late request cannot be accommodated, or it is agreed that there are insufficient valid and evidenced reasons to consider your late request, you must decide if you are fit to sit without the adjustment(s). If you are not fit to sit without the adjustment(s), then you should consider withdrawing from the assessment and making an application to sit in the next sitting, if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Previous requests for adjustments

We do not automatically transfer requests for reasonable adjustments from one sitting to the next. You must therefore submit a separate application with supporting evidence for adjustments for each sitting that you wish to request an adjustment. This applies even if you withdrew from a previous sitting.

As not all conditions and specific needs are permanent we ask candidates to request an adjustment for each individual sitting. For example, a candidate may have been pregnant in a previous sitting and requested a particular chair in which to sit the assessment. This may not apply for the next assessment.

Important: The deadline date to apply for an adjustment for the September sitting falls shortly after the release of results for the June sitting. If you are unsuccessful in your attempt at the June sitting and wish to sit again in September, please be prepared to submit your application to us promptly so that it is received by the deadline date.


https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/content/request-consideration-late-adjustment-request-sittings-2020


Where to send your request

Details of how, and where, to submit your request can be found in the application form. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application is sent to us in the correct format, to the correct email address, and by the deadline date for the particular sitting.

If you are requesting an adjustment for a sitting in 2020 you must use the application form marked ‘for sittings in 2020’. If you use a previous version of the form your application will be returned.

If you do not receive a personal email acknowledgement from us within five working days of submitting your request this may mean that we have not received your application, and therefore you must contact us at [email protected]. Please note it is your responsibility to ensure that we have received your application by the specified deadline.

If you think you may have difficulty sending these documents, filling in the form or submitting evidence, you must call the GPhC contact centre for advice on 0203 713 8000.

There is further information relating to reasonable adjustments in the registration assessment regulations.

Receiving a decision of your request

You will receive the outcome of your request by email. You should receive the outcome by:

8 May 2020 (requests relating to the June 2020 sitting)

9 September 2020 (requests relating to the September 2020 sitting)

If you have not received an outcome of your request by the relevant date above, please contact us by email at [email protected].

Please note that if your request is rejected or partially granted, you will receive your outcome in good time to submit an appeal, should you have grounds to do so.


mailto:[email protected]

https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/document/registration-assessment-regulations-for-sittings-in-2020.pdf

https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/document/registration-assessment-regulations-for-sittings-in-2020.pdf


Appeals

Grounds for appeal

If your request for a reasonable adjustment is not granted you may appeal this decision. The following are grounds for an appeal to be upheld:

a. there is a reasonable ground to believe that there was a procedural error that affected the outcome of the decision;

b. there is credible evidence that could not have been obtained or known to the candidate at the time of the application, that would have an important influence on the decision.

The following are not grounds for an appeal to be upheld:

a. there is new evidence that you could have obtained, or were aware of, at the time the application was made;

b. there is a new reason for a request for a reasonable adjustment that you were not aware of at the time the application was made.

If you have a new reason to make a request for a reasonable adjustment, you should submit a new application form to request a reasonable adjustment accompanied by an application form to request consideration of a late submission.

If you do not meet the threshold for the grounds of appeal set out above, you may wish to seek advice, legal or otherwise, to explore your options.

In order to submit an appeal you must complete an application form for an appeal against a decision made by the adjustments panel and submit this with appropriate evidence.

Evidence for an appeal

Appeals must be supported by evidence from an appropriately qualified professional such as a doctor, another healthcare or educational professional, or another appropriately qualified person.

If you are appealing on the grounds that there was a procedural error, you should obtain a statement, email or letter from a member of the GPhC’s staff that explains how the procedural error occurred, wherever possible. This letter or statement must set out how the error affected the outcome of the decision.

If you are appealing on the grounds that there is valid evidence that could not have been obtained or known at the time of the application, you will need to provide a letter or statement that confirms why the new evidence was not available earlier. This letter or statement must explain how the new evidence would have an important influence on the decision. You will also need to provide the new evidence, which must meet the requirements for requesting a reasonable adjustment.




https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/content/appeal-against-decision-made-adjustments-panel-sittings-2020


Appeal deadline

The Registrar will hear the appeal, but you must make sure you appeal by the deadline date. The deadline dates to appeal a decision made by the adjustment panel are:

18 May 2020 (requests relating to June 2020 sitting)

11 September 2020 (requests relating to September 2020 sitting)

Where to send your appeal

Details of how, and where, to submit your appeal can be found within the application form for an appeal against a decision made by the adjustments panel. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application is sent to us in the correct format, to the correct email address, and by the deadline date for the particular sitting.




Application form to request a reasonable adjustment in the GPhC Registration assessment – for sittings in 2020This application form must only be used when you want to submit a request for a reasonable adjustment in the registration assessment.

Application checklist

Before submitting your application to us please check that you have:

☐ read the corresponding guidance for requesting a reasonable adjustment in the registration assessment

☐ fully completed section 1 of this form

☐ provided a statement of evidence form for each condition or specific need that you have referred to within section 1.5 that has been completed by an appropriately qualified professional (not required for requests solely relating to specific learning needs)

☐ provided a report of a diagnostic assessment (this only applies to requests relating to specific learning needs and other specified conditions)

If you are submitting a late application, please confirm that you are also submitting:

☐ A fully completed application form to request consideration of a late submission

Submitting your application

You may choose to fill out the form electronically or to print it and enter the information it by hand. If you choose to complete it by hand, please make sure that you write clearly so that the information can be read in full by the Adjustments panel.

You must submit your application and supporting evidence by email to: [email protected]

Your application must be in either MS Word or .pdf file format as a single document. You are responsible for making sure all pages are clearly scanned or copied.

If you have any questions about making your request, submitting your request by email, or if you have problems filling in this form or submitting evidence, please phone the GPhC contact centre on 0203 713 8000. One of our advisors will be happy to help you.




Section 1 – to be completed by the candidate

Your personal details

1.1 First name(s)

1.2 Last name

1.3 Pre-registration training number

1.4 Assessment sitting date to which this request relates June 2020

September 2020

We will use this information to track your application for an adjustment. The adjustments panel will use the information on the following pages to assess your application, but they will not see your name, pre-registration number or any other personal details, and we will make the form anonymous. This is to make sure that all decisions are fair, and consistent, and to eliminate any bias in the decision-making process.

For further information regarding the GPhC’s privacy policy, please see the following link: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/privacy-policy


https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/privacy-policy

Your request 1.5 Reason for request – please tell us why you feel you may be disadvantaged during the

assessment. You will need to provide evidence from a qualified professional in relation to each condition or specific need you refer to below.

If your request is about a health condition, please explain how your condition is managed (for example treatment plans, medication).

If you are a qualified professional completing a statement of evidence form, please sign here to confirm you have read the information provided by the candidate.

1.6 Details of the adjustment(s) you are requesting

Please list the specific adjustment(s) that you are requesting.

If you are requesting extra time please specify the amount.



1.7 How will the adjustment(s) you have requested prevent you from being disadvantaged during the assessment?

For example, how will an adjustment of extra time prevent a disadvantage due to dyslexia?


Candidate declaration

1.8 I have read and understand the guidance for requesting a reasonable adjustment in the☐registration assessment.

1.9 The information I have given in this form has been provided to help the GPhC’s ☐ adjustments panel decide whether the adjustment I have requested is reasonable. I understand and accept that this information may also be used in the future to decide on an application for entry to the register or to assess my fitness to practise, and that the GPhC may ask for updated information at any such time for these purposes. To my knowledge, the information I have given is accurate and complete and has been submitted in good faith.

Signature Date

Please note that we do not accept electronic or typed signatures.


Section 2 – supporting evidence provided by qualified professional(s)The supporting evidence you need to provide to accompany your request will depend on the condition(s) or specific need(s) that you have told us about in section 1.5. Please see part 2 of the Guidance for information on the type of evidence that will be accepted.

Evidence type A – You must provide a report of a detailed diagnostic assessment of specific learning needs issued on or after your 16th birthday.

Evidence type B – You must provide both a statement of evidence form and a report of a diagnostic assessment or occupational therapists’ report issued on or after your 14th birthday.

Evidence type C – You must provide a statement of evidence form

If your condition or specific need falls under evidence type B or C you will need to provide a separate statement of evidence form for each condition or specific need that you have referred to in section 1.5. Each statement must be provided by an appropriately qualified professional involved in your care, in relation to the condition for which you are requesting an adjustment. It may be appropriate for the same professional to complete more than one statement of evidence form.

The statement of evidence form can be found on the following pages. Please print additional copies of the form as necessary.

For ease, you may also wish to print a copy of the registration assessment specification to provide to the professional(s).


Statement of evidence by qualified professional

To the qualified professional:This individual is applying to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the statutory regulator for pharmacy in Great Britain, for a reasonable adjustment to request changes to the process of sitting the GPhC Registration Assessment (exam). They need evidence from a relevant professional to support their request.If you are a qualified professional involved in this individual’s care and are able to provide evidence to support this individual’s request, we would appreciate if you could please provide the information requested below, crossing through any boxes that you have left blank. Before completing this form please refer to:

GPhC Registration assessment specification The information provided by this individual in sections 1.5 – 1.7 (and sign in the boxes

provided to confirm that you have read the information)

Individual’s specific diagnosis(one condition per form only)

Date of diagnosis

Qualification of professional who made original diagnosis

Is the condition of an ongoing or temporary nature?

If a recent diagnosis, is the condition likely to last for 12 months or more?

Impact of the condition on the individual, and how the condition is likely to affect them during the GPhC Registration Assessment.


Any further comments about this individual’s condition, symptoms, or the specific adjustment(s) they have requested.

DeclarationI have read the information provided by this individual in sections 1.5 – 1.7 and have signed in the relevant sections on these pages to confirm that this is the case. ☐I confirm that the information I have provided above is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and has been provided in my capacity as an appropriately qualified professional involved in this individual’s care in relation to the specific condition described. ☐

I have read, and understand, the registration assessment specification and can confirm that I support the individual’s specific adjustment(s) requested in section 1.6 in relation to this condition in the context of sitting the GPhC registration assessment. ☐Full name

Profession/Job title/ Qualifications

Regulatory body

Registration number

Signature Date


https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/document/registration-assessment-specification-for-sittings-in-2020.pdf

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