Key components of the programme
Watch the animation below, aimed at trainees, to understand the key components of the programme.
Key standards for trainers
The NSHCS training standards clearly articulate what is expected of trainers and have associated support resources that will help trainers to know how to work from best practice from the start.
The NSHCS work-based assessment standards define how work-based assessments should be conducted and the responsibilities of trainees, trainers and assessors.
The STP curriculum
The STP curriculum has been written to develop trainees’ skills and knowledge across the 3 years of training and to support trainees to progress through their training year on year. Each module in the curriculum has been assigned to a phase, and trainees should work their way through the phases of training to completion of the programme. Each module’s phase is indicated in the Curriculum Library. Trainees will be expected to complete all module workplace content by the end of the phase assigned.
Rotations are the first phase in training and must be completed in the first year. The speciality training is split into phase 2 and 3. Phase 2 can be started as soon as the trainee is ready, which may be in the first year, and ideally should be completed before beginning phase 3 of training. Phase 2 modules must be completed by the end of the second year of training. Phase 3 modules must be completed by the end of the programme.
Some modules, which we refer to as core modules, haven’t been assigned a phase of training and should be considered throughout training. These modules need to be completed by the end of the programme.
The STP review of progression
Trainees’ progress through the various phases of the programme is monitored by the review of progression process which sets trainees targets that they must achieve by the end of the first and second year of the programme. Trainees will be supported if there are circumstances which have prevented them from achieving these progression milestones.
The Final Year Assessment
The Final Year Assessment takes place in the summer of a trainee’s third year on the programme. It assesses a trainee’s readiness to practise as a newly-qualified, threshold-entry Clinical Scientist as defined by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for a Clinical Scientist.
Detailed guidance is available about the Final Year Assessment.