As a trainee on the Scientist Training Programme (STP) you will be employed in a scientific department, normally in the NHS (or in some cases by an NHS private partner or a private healthcare provider), for a 3 year training period. During this time, you will complete:
- a part-time master’s degree (fully funded)
- a programme of workplace training, using an online e-portfolio
- a final assessment
The training post is salaried at NHS Agenda for Change Band 6. On graduating, you would be eligible for statutory Clinical Scientist registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and would be able to apply for Clinical Scientist roles in the Health Service.
The curriculum for the programme is comprised of a series of core and scientific modules. Each of these modules is made up of 2 parts:
- academic learning delivered and assessed in the university
- work-based learning and training where you develop and apply your academic and clinical knowledge and skills in the NHS workplace
The academic part of the programme
The accompanying master’s degree is theme based with specialist and generic modules eg. a MSc in Blood Science with a specialty in Clinical Biochemistry.
The generic elements include items such as:
- professionalism
- patient and carer perspectives
- ethics
- communication skills
- a research project
Flexible and remote working/study
The Scientist Training Programme is a full-time programme, and by applying for and accepting a training position, you are committing to being present at the workplace in person for the entire duration of the course. This will help you to develop professional behaviours, team working, and gain experience in an NHS environment as well as being available to facilitate training and learning.
Flexible or remote working requests would have to be discussed with the employer after an offer has been accepted. The decision is solely at the discretion of the employing Trust and their local HR policy and is no way guaranteed to be approved.
Additionally, you would be expected to attend the Higher Education Institute (HEI) in person and only attend remotely if this option is provided by, or approved directly by the HEI.