Message from your Training Programme Directors
Dr Lisa Ayers and Dr Owen Driskell
Your message this month is from Dr Lisa Ayers.
Welcome to the June Monthly Memo and a huge thank you to you all for welcoming me into the role of Interim Head of the National School of Healthcare Science. It is an exciting opportunity to work across the breadth of healthcare science training and education programmes, something I have been passionate about for my whole career in the NHS.
It has been a changing time for us, but I want to reassure that due to the amazing teams at the National School of Healthcare Science, we are still here for you and it is very much business as usual. The recruitment and assessment season is upon us. Thank you to all of you who contribute to these complex processes and make it possible to bring trainees into the programmes and assist them to complete at the other end. The numbers of these trainees has grown rapidly over the past few years and everyone has adapted to support this growth, demonstrating how recognised and valued this workforce has become. I look forward to working closely with all of you over the coming months to ensure this continued success.
A couple of memos ago I flagged an opportunity to join the LeaderPlus NHS Fellowship and the programme has now opened applications with a deadline of 11th July. It is designed to support parents of young children working in the NHS to progress at work into senior leadership positions whilst also balancing commitments as a parent. I have definitely benefited from this programme over the last 6 months, giving me the confidence to apply for this interim post. One of the best elements has been an amazing network of peers across the NHS in similar circumstances, who I know will remain a supportive group going into the future.
Information for all trainees
New FRCPath Part 2 Clinical Immunology exam prep course
University Hospitals Plymouth and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals have teamed-up to offer a new 2-3 day training course specifically targeting those Clinical Scientist and SpR trainees who are actively preparing for the Clinical Immunology FRCPath part 2 exam and viva.
Course details
- 6-8 candidates
- 2 days with optional mock written exam on day 3
- Residential course in Plymouth (although long term we intend to alternate with Sheffield)
- Open to Clinical Scientists and Medical trainees in recognition that each group can learn a lot from each other. We will aim for a balanced cohort where possible.
- Focus on interactive, example-driven sessions covering a range of topics relevant to both the written paper and the viva, presented in a friendly and informal teaching environment
- Topics will be focused around the written paper sections and will include EQA interpretation, IQC familiarisation and interpretation, incident reporting, validation and verification, flow cytometry workshop, Uncommon Auts, Pitfalls of Protein Chemistry
- We recognise that skill sets are different between Clinical scientist and medical trainees and will offer sessions that cater to both specifically, such as a case presentation and viva-style practice.
- Exam technique will also be addressed in every session
The first course is something of a trial and as such will be subsidised. Candidates will be responsible for their own travel expenses but course fee and accommodation will be covered. We have 3 places left for the course 9-11th August 2023. Prospective candidates can discuss this upcoming course, and register for attendance by contacting the organisers directly by email (kristenlilly@nhs.net or lucy.leeman@nhs.net).
Information for supervisors
New training for trainers package
Earlier this year we contacted all trainers in the workplace to announce the launch of our new package of training for trainers. This new package has been developed after extensive feedback from trainers working in all our of programmes.
The new training offer will include a suite of guidance and learning resources.
Click here to read the full statement announcing our new package of training for trainers
Next Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative meeting
Our next Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative meeting will be online on Tuesday 7th November.
More details, including the agenda and registration link, will be available on our website soon.
Missed a previous edition of the HSST Monthly Memo?
We’ve published copies of the Monthly Memo for HSST trainees and training officers on our website.
Click here to view previous editions of the HSST Monthly Memo.