Information for trainees
Hidden Figures by Owen Driskell, Deputy HSST Training Programme Director
We as healthcare scientists sometimes picture ourselves as the hidden figures in the health services we contribute to. One of the things that HSSTs should reflect on for their programme is how they can raise their own profile, the profile of their profession and act as leaders to raise the profile of others.
The film Hidden Figures (2016) is about the Space Programme pursued by the US through their National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the 1950s and 60s. It follows a fictional account of 3 real-life African-American female mathematicians, instrumental to the success of the space programme, getting astronauts into space and getting them safely back to earth. The title of the film references their contribution to this success being largely overlooked at the time.
In a scene from this film the main protagonist, Katherine Goble, is tasked with using her talent to check the work of others in the team. Katherine is considered not suitable to be cleared for many of the classified details and figures in the report. They are redacted by running a black marker pen over them, rendering the report impossible to follow and Katherine unable to do her task properly. However, Katherine holds the paper up to the light in the office, overcoming this obstacle and revealing the hidden figures to help her in her work. Whilst this is likely one of the fictional elements of the film, the sub-context here holds another message from the film – that even NASA scientists can fail to redact information properly if they don’t pay enough attention. That is worth us all heeding, including the highly-able trainees on our programmes.
Being able to identify and effectively redact sensitive information, including patient information, is a professional requirement for healthcare professionals especially at this level. Uploading information onto OneFile is one of those occasions where we need to exercise that judgement and those skills.
It is important that you manage the information in your portfolio carefully, deliberately and professionally as patient information found unredacted, or improperly redacted, in your portfolio could lead to automatic failure at assessment and could also be a breach of your professional practice standards.
Sometimes it can be easy to forget the metadata held in electronic documents such as word documents or image files. This metadata (for example a Word document holding the editing history of that document or an image file holding information on the layers overlaid on the image) can allow the information, thought to have been removed from view permanently, to be easily revealed, much like Katherine Goble holding the paper up to the light in Hidden Figures. Important guidance is provided on our website on how to make decisions about what needs redacting along with examples of how to go about properly redacting it.
Please take care when managing the information in your portfolio so that we can be assured the only hidden figures revealed in the context of the HSST programme are the amazing consultant clinical scientists of the future.
Read our guidance about protecting sensitive information
Resources to support you through the programme
The following resources are available to support you with progressing through the programme:
- How to guidance and videos for HSST trainees using OneFile
- Reflective practice from the Sharing Good Practice catalogue.
View presentations from current trainees and graduates of the HSST about the value of reflective practice in the context of the Consultant Clinical Scientist role. - Guidance on workplace evidence for HSST trainee
Information for trainees and supervisors
Microbiology: External Examiners wanted to examine DClinSci Thesis submissions
The University of Manchester is looking for suitable professionals to act as external examiners for DClinSci Thesis submissions in the field of Microbiology.
The University does have quite strict criteria regarding appointment of examiners. Please review this before contacting the university to ensure you meet the criteria and understand the process. If you meet the criteria and are interested in this role then please contact dclinsci@manchester.ac.uk to see what opportunities might be coming up.
The university do provide a financial recompense for the work associated with acting as an external examiner. However, there are considerable CPD and professional kudos available for those that undertake this role. Acting as an external examiner on doctoral level vivas would look good on a CV, particularly in a world where the development of academic acumen is being promoted.
Provide your thoughts on proposed changes to the Clinical Engineering STP curriculum
You have until the end of this week to provide your thoughts on the proposed updates to the Clinical Engineering STP curriculum.
This academic year the Clinical Engineering STP has undergone a periodic review. You can find out more about the curriculum review process on the school website. These changes will be introduced for September 2027 if supported by your feedback. Please feel free to share this opportunity.
Complete the Clinical Engineering survey until midnight, Friday 26 June
Applications are open for the Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship
Are you passionate about your career development and being a present parent?
Do you work in either a clinical or non-clinical role within the NHS and have children between 0 and 18 years old? The multi-award-winning FMLM accredited Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship could be for you.
It has been described as “life-changing” and “transformative”, with recent impact stats showing:
- 100% of Fellows reported a positive overall experience, with 84% describing it as highly positive and 16% as positive
- 97% of Fellows reported that the Fellowship improved their overall wellbeing
- 92% of Fellows felt more confident balancing their career with family life
- 70% of Fellows were promoted or took a significant step to a more senior role during the Fellowship
Application deadline: Tuesday 30 June 2026
Questions? Contact Hayley Alderman at: hayley.alderman@leadersplus.org
Contribute to our Sharing Good Practice webinar series
If you or your network have developed practice that you feel could be valuable to share with your peers, please express an interest in sharing your practice.
Express an interest in sharing your practice
Information for supervisors
HSST Induction 2026
We will be holding the HSST Induction Day online this year via Microsoft Teams on Monday 5 October. Timings and agenda are still to be confirmed. National School staff will also be present and involved in the face-to-face induction day at MAHSE.
Trainees joining the HSST will need to attend this key event as part of their induction to the training programme and will be invited once interviews have been completed and posts filled.
Resources to support you as a supervisor
The following resources are available to support you in the supervisor role:
- How to guidance and videos for HSST supervisors using OneFile
- Guidance for HSST supervisors
- Reflective practice from the Sharing Good Practice catalogue
View presentations from current trainees and graduates of the HSST about the value of reflective practice in the context of the Consultant Clinical Scientist role.
Annual monitoring return for accredited departments
Our annual monitoring return will commence on 31July 2026. All departments accredited on or before 31 July 2025 (including reaccredited departments) are required to complete annual monitoring as part of their accreditation. If you have been accredited or reaccredited for a specialty within the last year, you are exempt from completing the return for that specialty only.
If you are part of a consortium, hub or network that delivers HSST training, the appropriate contact will be emailed separately to complete the return on behalf of the whole consortium, hub or network.
Annual monitoring will be conducted in the form of a JISC questionnaire, which will be sent to you on 31 July 2026. The academic year you will need to report on is from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026. We will be asking for details of any changes that may have influenced or affected the delivery of training in relation to:
- staffing and organisation
- changes to training planning and the availability of resources
- engagement in ‘HSST train the Trainer’ webinar
- challenges encountered in delivering the HSST programme
- support provided for equality, diversity and inclusion
If you have not notified the school of any changes for this period or would like to notify us of a future change, please download and complete the Change Notification form, and any additional relevant forms and return to: england.nshcs.accreditation@nhs.net
Non-completion of your annual monitoring return may affect your accreditation status and future commissioning of training posts.
Missed a previous edition of the HSST Monthly Memo?
You will find previous copies of the HSST Monthly Memo on our website.