Message from your HSST Training Programme Director
Dr Lisa Ayers
Welcome to the May HSST Monthly Memo.
May is an exciting month for HSST, with activities from from Train the Trainer to Lay Presentations to IAPS assessments taking place, covering those at the start through to the end of the programme. As an increasing number of HSSTs are reaching completion of their programme we have recorded a podcast to highlight the completion process and offer some tips for successful completion. Whatever stage you are at within your programme it is worth a listen to help you plan towards the important milestones.
Information for trainees
Completion podcast
This podcast features Louise Ayers, Head of Programme Support at the School and Lisa Ayers, Training Programme Director for the HSST.
Lisa and Louise talk about the elements and activities that HSST trainees should be aware of and working towards in order to complete the programme.
Click here to listen to this podcast and make sure you are on track for completing the HSST
Haematology Clinical Science FRCPath exam preparation study half-day
This is the second meeting of the Haematology Clinical Science FRCPath exam preparation study day.
Date: Tuesday 24 May
Time: 14:00 – 16:30
Venue: Zoom online
The day will have two purposes:
- To encourage networking and collaborative working between higher specialist scientists training towards FRCPath examinations
- To provide better guidance of the academic standards required for the trainee and for their workplace educational supervisor
Click here to register for the online event for higher specialist scientists working towards the FRCPath examination
RCPath representatives on Trainees’ Advisory Committee vacancies
RCPath are looking for enthusiastic trainees to join the Trainees’ Advisory Committee.
The committee covers all specialties and all College regions. Representatives on the TAC are responsible for raising issues on behalf of trainees in their specialty. The committee representatives are also active members of the College’s specialty committees, participating in discussions and informing the committee of the views of specialty trainees.
Why should I apply?
Make a difference – work with other trainees in your specialty, network with your peers, get involved with the College’s work and support your professional development.
What TAC roles are available?
- Clinical Science Representative
- Cytopathology Representative
- Research Representative
- Transfusion Representative
- Toxicology Representative
- Veterinary Microbiology Pathology Representative
- Veterinary Clinical Pathology Representative
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 17th June.
Click here to find further details about the role and how to apply
Supporting and supervising neurodiverse trainees – call for trainers, trainees and graduates to support development of educational resources
The School is working with The Professional Development Team, Health Education England (HEE) London who are producing video resources for trainers who are supporting neurodivergent trainees, in particular trainees with dyslexia, ASD and ADHD. This is part of a broader piece of work within HEE to develop educational resources for both learners and trainers to support this emerging and very important need.
We would like to hear from any trainers who are currently supporting trainees with any of the above and who would like to talk on video about the following:
- Your experience of supervising a neurodivergent trainee?
- What worked well / helped in your approach to ensure that you got the best out of your trainee?
- What was less useful? Challenges?
- Tips/advice for other trainers
- Resources and other agencies you turned to.
We would also like to hear from any trainees current or alumni who would like to share their experience of what it is like to live and work with a neurodiverse condition. In particular we would like to explore:
- What makes you neurodiverse? Explain briefly about the condition and how it affects you.
- Have you ever felt embarrassed or unsafe about declaring your ND? What would make you feel more comfortable?
- What has been your experience and how has it impacted your training (both positively and negatively)?
- What helped? What other strategies/adjustments etc could have helped?
- How does your supervisor support you?
How would the filming work on the day? The filming would take place via MS Teams and we would require approx. 45 minutes of your time. Where will the video be published? The video will be placed on the National HEE website and will be freely available on the internet. Should you prefer to remain anonymous it will be possible to do an audio recording only and/or use an actor’s voice – and your details will not be revealed.
If you have any questions and would like to talk in advance, please do not hesitate to contact Louise Ayers, Head of Programme Support, or Katherine Bayley at nshcs@hee.nhs.uk
Information for supervisors
Train the Trainer events
Are you interested in attending a series of Train the Trainer events?
If you have recently added your details to our waiting list there is no need for you to register. Everyone from the waiting list will be invited to one of the sessions taking place.
Click here to register your interest in attending
Call for Microbiology HSST Mentors
As a HSST host department you have a responsibility to provide a mentor for your HSST trainee. We understand that it can be challenging to find an appropriate mentor within the Trust, especially if you are looking for a mentor within the same speciality.
The School and the ACB Microbiology Professional Committee are proposing to facilitate a matching scheme for mentors and mentees, which will be open to HSSTs in all years and all HSST Training Officers.
The mentor should be an individual with Consultant or similar senior status, who could be from outside the department or from another organisation, to act as a professional mentor for the trainee. The mentor should provide advice and guidance on professional development but would not be involved in day-to-day delivery of training.
To participate in this network please contact microbiologycom@acb.org.uk
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