We are aware that terminology varies between workplaces. For example, assessors may be referred to as examiners or verifiers.
Qualifications
| Essential | Desirable |
| Relevant Master’s level qualification or equivalent recognised professional qualification gained through formal training or equivalence route in the specialty you are to assess. | Formal training or qualification in assessment in post-compulsory education or training. |
Registration
| Essential | Desirable |
| Current registration with the appropriate specialist professional body. | Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Clinical Scientist in the relevant specialty, or other relevant professional regulatory register. |
Knowledge and understanding
| Essential | Desirable |
| Clear understanding of the STP curriculum and the training standard required of the candidates.
Knowledge and understanding of the STP assessments, in particular the STP final assessment. Demonstration of an understanding of assessment at postgraduate level. Knowledge of current Academy for Healthcare Science ‘Good Scientific Practice’. Knowledge of relevant codes of practice and conduct, eg Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency for Clinical Scientist (2014) |
Familiarity with other related scientific specialties.
Holding a recommended qualification for assessors. Familiarity with the Health and Care Professions Council, Standard of Education and Training on Assessment. |
Experience
| Essential | Desirable | Mitigation |
| Minimum of 18 month of practice-based experience in a healthcare setting, eg NHS.
Significant involvement in service delivery in your specialty. Significant experience in a postgraduate scientist role. Experience of undertaking scientific research at postgraduate level. Minimum of one year’s experience carrying out work-based assessment and signing off competence. Involvement of delivery of the STP in the workplace. |
Two years of practice as a scientist.
Significant involvement in service delivery, improvement and/or leadership in your specialty. Line management experience. Previous experience of supervising candidates. Experience of wider National School of Healthcare Science activities such as recruitment interviews or Training Officer role. Recent previous experience assessing healthcare science final assessments or end point assessments (eg STP, HSST, PTP or apprenticeships end point assessments at level 6 or above). |
If there is no suitably qualified assessor in the specialty, this will put the STP final assessment in the specialty at risk. However, it may be possible to remedy this by involving a qualified individual from elsewhere (e.g., a medic) or to provide additional support and training. This would have to be formalised and would be reviewed case by case. |
Training
| Essential | Desirable | Mitigation |
| Has attended the NSHCS STP initial assessor training (and commitment to do so on a regular basis).
And/ or Has attended the NSHCS STP refresher assessor training (and commitment to do so on a regular basis). Has completed and maintained their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training (certificate of mandatory training or other course taken within the previous 3 years.) |
Has attended NSHCS STP ‘Train the Trainer’ event (or has committed to do so).
Has received training (within the trust or elsewhere) in supporting workplace learners; mentoring; having difficult conversations; giving feedback. Is familiar with the NSHCS ‘Conscious inclusion’ training. |
If the applicant has not yet received the training listed, the assessor should undertake to complete it. Written evidence of the commitment should be supplied. |
Personal attributes
| Essential | Desirable |
| Well-organised, with good planning skills.
A clear communicator. Flexible. Able to provide constructive and tailored feedback. Commitment to relevant personal and professional development activities. |
Commitment to ongoing role as an STP assessor. |
Support
| Essential | Desirable |
| Released for initial and refresher assessor training.
Released to participate in the assessment of the STP Final Assessment. Time allocated to the role over and above regular duties. |
Allocated a ‘buddy’ in a similar role in another department or trust.
Mentored by a more experienced assessor. Actively supported by trust’s practice learning team Able to observe Training Officers of other STP candidates performing assessments. Able to observe STP final assessments. |