Getting started
Posts are commissioned by employers through the Local Office of Health Education England (HEE) either as a new post created specifically for the purpose of training (direct entry) or as an in-service post, through an already existing clinical scientist post.
Posts can only be commissioned within those departments that meet our accreditation requirements. Employers will be required to demonstrate to both the commissioners and us that they meet the requirements of the HEE Quality Framework and can deliver the specific requirements of the HSST. The commissioning process occurs annually usually starting in the autumn of the year preceding appointments.
Responsibilities of the employer
You must ensure the HSST trainee has a balance between providing services and providing access to educational and training opportunities. Service work undertaken should support learning opportunities, education and training opportunities, and should not be compromised by the demands of regularly carrying out routine tasks or out-of-hours cover that do not support learning and have little educational or training value.
HSST trainees are mentored or supervised by someone of consultant or equivalent standing within the employing department and with the support of others across the department and within the wider organisation. We provide HSST Train the Trainer events for those undertaking HSST supervision.
What to do if you wish to employ a trainee
You need to contact your local Health Education England (HEE) office and speak to the healthcare science lead. There may be specific conditions that your department needs to have in place before agreeing to commission a trainee post. You must also inform your lead scientist and Trust education and training lead of your plans to employ a HSST trainee.
You can find details about your local healthcare science lead below:
Name | HEE area office | Telephone |
Cate Hollinshead Alternative email: cate.hollinshead1@nhs.net |
East Midlands | 07876 790621 |
Lynsey Poole Alternative email: quality.eoe@hee.nhs.uk |
East of England | 01223 596932 |
Aarti Makan aarti.makan@hee.nhs.uk healthcarescience.london@hee.nhs.uk Please send email to both addresses |
London | 020 7127 6245 |
Marion Hogan | South East | 01865 785584 |
Christina Doncom | South West | 01454 252629 07917 214514 |
Sally Drew | North East and Yorkshire | 07920 834506 |
Maxine Kwofie Alternative email: Healthcare.Science.wm@hee.nhs.uk |
West Midlands | 0121 695 2500 |
Christine Love | Wales | 01445 848548 |
Robert Farley | Scotland | 0131 656 3230 |
Peter Barbour Professor Ian Young |
Northern Ireland |