Cluster page — medicines optimisation
Governance and supervision for MO
Governance is the differentiator
The MO discipline that separates mature from immature PCNs
Most PCNs can describe their MO interventions in some form. The PCNs that consistently pass ICB DES assurance and CQC inspection without findings are the ones that have invested in the governance and supervision layer underneath: named Lead Pharmacist with documented supervision schedule, individual scope of practice for every ARRS pharmacist and technician, QA sampling cycle, SEA programme and prescribing safety culture audit.
This page describes the evidence pack ICBs and CQC actually look for. It is the same evidence pack BCS supplies as standard for every client PCN — because supervision is a workforce-continuity guarantee, not paperwork.
Evidence pack
What ICBs and CQC ask to see
- Named Lead Pharmacist with role description and supervision schedule
- Individual scope of practice on file for every ARRS pharmacist and technician
- Designated supervisor on record for each post-holder
- Weekly/fortnightly clinical supervision log per pharmacist
- Monthly/quarterly QA sampling output (blinded consultation/prescribing review)
- Indemnity confirmation (NHS Resolution CNSGP for ARRS roles)
- SEA log and themed annual review
- Prescribing safety culture audit (annual)
- CPD log per post-holder aligned to GPhC standards
Supervision benchmarks
What good supervision frequency looks like
Frequently asked questions
Governance & supervision — FAQs
What governance does the PCN DES require for MO?+
Named Lead Pharmacist, designated supervisor for every ARRS pharmacist and technician, documented scope of practice, weekly/fortnightly clinical supervision, QA sampling of consultations and prescribing, SEA participation, indemnity confirmation (NHS Resolution CNSGP for ARRS), and quarterly ICB MO return.
What does CQC look for on MO?+
Evidence that prescribing safety alerts are closed, HRD monitoring is current, repeat prescribing has a documented SOP, SEA is functioning, and roles have scope of practice and supervision. CQC inspection of GP practices increasingly tests these directly.
How frequent should clinical supervision be?+
Weekly for newly qualified or newly in-post pharmacists; fortnightly or monthly for experienced post-holders. Supervision is a structured, recorded clinical conversation — not a line management catch-up.
What is QA sampling?+
Periodic blinded review of a sample of the pharmacist's consultations, prescribing decisions and SEAs by a senior pharmacist (Lead or external) to assure clinical quality. Recommended monthly for the first 6 months in post, quarterly thereafter.
Talk to our Service Development team
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