The LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy (D Psychiatric Pharmacy) is a specialized qualification designed for pharmacy and healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their expertise, advance their careers, and expand their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This comprehensive programme equips learners with the advanced knowledge and practical skills required to manage the pharmaceutical care of patients with psychiatric and mental health conditions.
Learners undertaking this diploma will explore a wide range of topics including psychopharmacology, assessment and monitoring of psychiatric medications, patient-centred care, and the management of complex cases. The course emphasises evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making, enabling learners to optimise treatment outcomes and improve the overall wellbeing of individuals living with mental health challenges.
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy are required to uphold the highest standards of training. This includes employing competent and qualified staff, providing access to current learning materials and resources, and creating a supportive environment that fosters learner success. By maintaining these rigorous standards, centres ensure learners gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for professional excellence in psychiatric pharmacy.
Whether you are a practicing pharmacist, a clinical healthcare professional, or an individual committed to specializing in psychiatric pharmacy, this diploma offers a recognized pathway to advanced professional development. Enrolment provides learners with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make a meaningful impact in mental health care while progressing their careers in this highly specialized and rewarding field.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy (D Psychiatric Pharmacy)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
120
GLH
480
Qualification #
LICQ2201200
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy (D Psychiatric Pharmacy) , applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2201200-1 |
Advanced Psychopharmacology |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2201200-2 |
Assessment and Management of Psychiatric Conditions |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2201200-3 |
Patient-Centred Psychiatric Care |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2201200-4 |
Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards in Psychiatric Pharmacy |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2201200-5 |
Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Psychiatric Pharmacy |
20 |
80 |
|
LICQ2201200-6 |
Leadership and Quality Assurance in Psychiatric Services |
20 |
80 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Advanced Psychopharmacology
Learners will be able to:
- Analyse the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychiatric medications.
- Evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, and anxiolytics.
- Identify potential drug-drug and drug-disease interactions in psychiatric patients.
- Apply principles of personalised medicine in psychiatric pharmacotherapy.
- Critically appraise emerging research in psychopharmacology to inform clinical practice.
Unit 2: Assessment and Management of Psychiatric Conditions
Learners will be able to:
- Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments of patients with mental health disorders.
- Develop evidence-based treatment plans tailored to individual patient needs.
- Monitor patient responses to therapy and adjust treatment strategies appropriately.
- Apply clinical guidelines to optimise psychiatric care and outcomes.
- Integrate multidisciplinary approaches in the management of psychiatric conditions.
Unit 3: Patient-Centred Psychiatric Care
Learners will be able to:
- Implement holistic, patient-centred approaches in psychiatric care.
- Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams.
- Provide counselling and education to improve medication adherence and engagement.
- Address the psychosocial, emotional, and functional needs of mental health patients.
- Support recovery-oriented care and enhance overall patient wellbeing.
Unit 4: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards in Psychiatric Pharmacy
Learners will be able to:
- Apply ethical principles to decision-making in psychiatric pharmacy practice.
- Demonstrate understanding of legal frameworks governing mental health care and pharmacy practice.
- Maintain professional standards, confidentiality, and informed consent.
- Identify and manage ethical dilemmas in psychiatric treatment and care.
- Evaluate organisational policies to ensure compliance with professional regulations.
Unit 5: Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Psychiatric Pharmacy
Learners will be able to:
- Critically appraise psychiatric research and clinical literature.
- Apply evidence-based guidelines to optimise psychiatric care.
- Design and conduct audits or small-scale research projects in psychiatric pharmacy.
- Analyse and interpret clinical data to improve patient outcomes.
- Integrate research findings into professional decision-making and practice.
Unit 6: Leadership and Quality Assurance in Psychiatric Services
Learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate leadership and management skills within psychiatric pharmacy teams.
- Implement quality assurance and audit processes to enhance service delivery.
- Develop strategies to improve patient safety and treatment effectiveness.
- Evaluate organisational performance and recommend improvements in psychiatric services.
- Promote a culture of continuous professional development and best practice in psychiatric pharmacy.
This advanced qualification is ideal for:
- Pharmacy Professionals seeking to specialize in psychiatric pharmacy and enhance their career prospects.
- Clinical Pharmacists aiming to improve medication management for patients with mental health conditions.
- Healthcare Practitioners involved in prescribing, dispensing, or monitoring psychiatric medications.
- Mental Health Nurses and Support Staff looking to expand their knowledge of psychiatric pharmacotherapy and patient care.
- Pharmacy Team Leaders and Managers seeking to develop leadership skills and implement quality assurance in psychiatric services.
- Professionals Committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) who wish to gain internationally recognized expertise in psychiatric pharmacy.
- Healthcare Organisations and Centres aiming to upskill staff in advanced psychiatric pharmaceutical care and ensure compliance with professional standards.
To ensure high-quality delivery and learner success, centres offering the LICQual Level 6 Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy must meet the following requirements:
- Qualified and Competent Staff: Centres must employ trainers and assessors with relevant qualifications, professional experience in psychiatry or pharmacy, and expertise in mental health care.
- Access to Learning Resources: Centres should provide learners with up-to-date textbooks, journals, digital resources, and practical tools to support advanced psychiatric pharmacy training.
- Training Facilities: Centres must have adequate classroom or virtual learning environments equipped with modern technology to facilitate interactive teaching, assessments, and learner engagement.
- Assessment and Evaluation Systems: Centres should implement robust systems to monitor learner progress, conduct assessments, and provide constructive feedback in line with international standards.
- Compliance with Professional Standards: Centres must adhere to ethical, legal, and professional regulations, ensuring learners are trained according to best practices in psychiatric pharmacy.
- Support for Learners: Centres should offer mentoring, guidance, and additional learning support to help learners successfully complete the course and apply their knowledge in professional practice.
- Commitment to CPD: Centres must encourage a culture of continuing professional development, motivating learners to regularly update their skills and knowledge.
- Quality Assurance: Centres must implement internal quality assurance systems to continuously review and improve training delivery, assessment, and learner outcomes.
By fulfilling these requirements, centres ensure that learners receive a high-quality, internationally recognized qualification that prepares them for advanced roles in psychiatric pharmacy.
Assessment and Verification
All units within this qualification are subject to internal assessment by the approved centre and external verification by LICQual. The qualification follows a criterion-referenced assessment approach, ensuring that learners meet all specified learning outcomes.
To achieve a ‘Pass’ in any unit, learners must provide valid, sufficient, and authentic evidence demonstrating their attainment of all learning outcomes and compliance with the prescribed assessment criteria. The Assessor is responsible for evaluating the evidence and determining whether the learner has successfully met the required standards.
Assessors must maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail, documenting the basis for their assessment decisions to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance with quality assurance requirements.
