Message from your HSST Training Programme Director
Dr Lisa Ayers and Dr Owen Driskell
This month’s introduction is from Dr Lisa Ayers.
Welcome to the September HSST Monthly Memo and a special welcome to our new cohort of HSSTs joining the programme. We look forward to meeting you and your supervisors at the HSST Induction in Manchester on the 12th October, our first face to face HSST Induction in 3 years. Hopefully this memo will be a valuable source of information for you during your programme, highlighting opportunities and providing key information on the programme itself.
One such opportunity for Life Science HSSTs this month is the RCPath Trainees Research Medal Awards, which are open to Healthcare Scientists, with applications open until 21st October.
Information for trainees
Volunteer to support induction day
We are looking for current HSST volunteers to present at the HSST Induction 2022 event. The event will take place on Wednesday 12th October 10am-5pm at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel.
The volunteer role we are still recruiting for is as a presenter. During the day we are planning to break out into the individual themes and give information on developing effective training plans and the experiences of those on HSST. We are looking for 2 HSSTs from each theme to present in these sessions and answer questions from the new cohort.
This is a fantastic opportunity for HSSTs to present at this national event, to meet the new HSSTs joining the programme and to obtain evidence towards your HSST Standards of Proficiency.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided and your travel expenses covered by the School.
If you would like to volunteer for a role at induction this year please email us at nshcs.events@hee.nhs.uk
Annual review of progression
The Annual Review of Progression 2022 (ARP) for trainees on the HSST programme will open on Thursday 13th October at 9am and close at 5pm on Monday 14th November 2022 at 5pm. HSST trainees in their final year of training will be asked to anticipate their ‘readiness to exit’ the HSST programme.
As part of the process, all trainees and supervisors are required to complete an individual, separate online evaluation form pertaining to the trainee’s progress appropriate to the trainee’s stage on programme. Access to the applicable trainee or supervisor online form will only be made available on Thursday 13th October and not before. Outcomes from the review will be released to trainees and their workplace supervisors during week commencing 2nd January 2023.
Participation is a mandatory requirement for all HSST trainees in training years 2 – 5 and their workplace supervisors. Failure to participate puts future funding, accreditation and participation for trainee and/or department on the programme at risk. We intend it to be a supportive and facilitative process so that we can assist with any barriers to progression and maximise your opportunity to be successful.
The impact of COVID-19 on training will be taken into consideration. Those who are on COVID-19 interruption are expected to participate. Those who are out of training due to exceptional circumstances or statutory leave will be reviewed at the next ARP once they return to training.
If you think you are unable to participate in ARP this year, please contact the School to confirm the reason for this by 7 October 2022.
We look forward to receiving feedback on your progress.
Click here to find more information about the ARP
Similarity detection in the e-portfolio
At the end of September, we intend to introduce a new similarity detection feature within OneFile. This is an integration of OneFile and Turnitin, which many of you will be familiar with from your work at universities. The feature will simply allow you to see a ‘similarity score’ for any document you upload into OneFile. Turnitin will compare your documents to every other document uploaded by trainees to OneFile and to huge datasets of academic and scientific literature. We will introduce this feature as a tool to support you to produce good quality, professional work and not as a heavy or over-simplistic monitoring of your work. In practice, you will simply be encouraged to check your work’s similarities with other work before you submit it. We will provide clear guidance about the best ways to use this feature before it goes live.
RCPath launch of the Trainees’ Research Medal Awards
RCPath are pleased to announce the launch of the Trainees’ Research Medal Awards for 2022.
The Trainees’ Research Medals are awarded annually for outstanding research work undertaken by pathologists or scientists in training. The specialties for which the medal is awarded are:
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Medical Microbiology and Virology
- Cellular Pathology
- Haematology
- Smaller specialties: Immunology, Allergy, Toxicology, Veterinary Pathology, Embryology and any other specialties that fall within the training schemes of the Royal College of Pathologists.
The deadline for submission is 21 October 2022.
Click here to find further details on the eligibility criteria, submission process and application form
Information for supervisors
Invitation to attend induction day
We are delighted to be in a position to invite all incoming trainees and their supervisors to the induction day event next month.
The Higher Specialist Scientist Training Programme Induction Day is on Wednesday 12th October at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester. Registration and networking will be open from 10am with the event starting at 10:30am. The event is expected to close at approximately 5pm. Click here to find the full agenda for the day.
This event is free to attend with refreshments and lunch provided.
If you would like to attend please register by Wednesday 28th September.
Click here to register as a HSST supervisor attending induction day (expired link)
Call for recruitment of IAPS examiners
The Higher Specialist Science Training programme is a key programme for supporting the growing establishment of consultant level healthcare scientist practice for the NHS.
Affirmation of this level of practice is an integral part of the HSST. Candidates on the HSST who are not obtaining the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) as part of their programme do an Independent Assessment of Professional Skills (IAPS). These are candidates in the bioinformatics, physical and physiological sciences.
Are you from these disciplines and interested in assessing at this higher level? We are looking for professionals of consultant level to examine HSST candidates. We are currently looking for IAPS examiners for the following disciplines: Audiology, Cardiac Science, Clinical Bioinformatics Genomics, Imaging Physics, Neurophysiology, Radiotherapy Physics and Vascular Science. But if you are from any other HSST discipline from the bioinformatics, physical and physiological sciences this call is also for you as your turn will come.
What we are looking for in the IAPS examiners:
- An HCPC registered healthcare scientist or a specialist on the General Medical Council specialty register or other relevant professional regulatory register
- A member of their professional body, in good standing in the profession and can demonstrate substantial consultant level experience or equivalent
- Able to demonstrate awareness of the training standard required of the candidates
- Able to provide evidence to confirm that their employer and/or departmental colleagues agree to the examiner taking up this role and will facilitate the commitment required
- Able to demonstrate current and relevant professional development activities
- Required to demonstrate that they have maintained their Equality and Diversity training (certificate of mandatory training or other course taken within the last 3 years)
- Those recently retired individuals who are within 2 years of retirement may also be considered if they are able to provide evidence of maintaining their speciality knowledge up to date.
Training is provided (next IAPS training for new Examiners is Monday 10th October 1pm – 3pm) and the next round of IAPS is happening in the weeks Monday 21st November 2022 to Friday 2nd December 2022.
Contributing to this assessment is a contribution to a growing establishment of consultant level healthcare scientist practice for the NHS for the benefit of NHS services and patients.
If you are interested, then please get in touch with the School nshcs.assessment@hee.nhs.uk. If you know someone who would fit the description, then we ask that you encourage them to get in touch.
Train the Trainer events
The next HSST Train the Trainer Webinar is on Tuesday, 18th Oct 2022 @ 10:00am.
If you are unable to attend you can request the recording of the webinar and complete an evaluation which will also lead to gaining certification.
Click here to find out more about the event and how to register
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