Message from your Training Programme Directors
Namir Al Hasso, Dr EMma Bowers, Dr Jo Horne, Jane Lynch and Aarti Makan
This month’s message is from Jane Lynch.
Welcome to the STP memo for July. I hope you are all well and training is progressing as expected, for both trainees and training officers.
I want to encourage you all to look after your health and wellbeing by ensuring a good work-life balance and making sure your training plan is working throughout the programme. This time of year is ideal to take stock of your progression. University assessments and exams will be over, allowing an ideal window to ensure you are up to date with your OneFile submissions.
For the majority of those coming towards the end of their first year, you will be following the new curriculum. The mid-term review of progression (MRP) will open early in 2024 for this cohort. One of the requirements is to have all rotations complete and signed off. The new curriculum was designed to be flexible, so the alternative pathways that were introduced to ensure no trainees were disadvantaged due to COVID-19-related challenges with training will no longer be required and all elements within the new curriculum will be mandatory to complete. Second year trainees will have had time to develop a good working pattern. Ensuring you are keeping up to date will prevent extra pressure in your final year.
For those who have just completed the IACC, the end is in sight. With the completion of your university work you will have time to concentrate on finishing your portfolios. As always, remember to factor in turnaround time so your training officer has time to provide feedback and sign off.
We have been experiencing some lovely sunny weather here in Manchester making it much easier to enjoy outdoor pursuits. I hope you all have some exciting plans for the summer to balance out the hard work you are putting in. As always, please contact the School if you have any queries or concerns we can help you with.
Information for year three trainees
Completion 2023 information and guidance
Key dates for completion of the STP – not including those with extensions or deferrals:
- Raise concerns/queries regarding sign off of the e-portfolio to the School – June to August
- Last date to submit an EEC application for extension of training – 23rd August
- Complete the Data Audit – August to September
- STP completion deadline (excluding those with approved extensions) – 5pm 18th September
If you have an approved extension or deferral of training then your timeline will be subject to those set out in your approval letter or confirmation email.
All the information and guidance on completing your programme can be found on our website.
Click here to find the information and guidance for STP trainees completing the programme in 2023
Information for year two trainees
Completion 2024 information and guidance
The mandatory completion requirements include:
- 100% completion of the e-portfolio
- IACC exit exam pass
- MSc in clinical science pass
You should be aiming to complete 100% of the e-portfolio and only the impact of COVID-19 on rotations will be an accepted reason not to complete the portfolio in full. A signature from a HCPC registered Clinical or Biomedical Scientist will be needed if the rotations are not completed.
As in previous years, completion of the elective module is not mandatory for completion of the programme but you should be aiming to include this in your training plan where it is possible to do so.
Further information and guidance are available on the School website. Please read this carefully and discuss your plans with your Training Officer.
Click here to find the information and guidance for STP trainees completing the programme in 2024
Information for year one trainees
Changes to the assessment of trainees on the new STP curricula – webinars
We will be running a webinar in September for trainees who began the STP programme in 2022 to introduce the changes we are making to assessment on the programme.
The webinar will cover:
- the standards we are introducing for the performance and conduct of work-based assessment
- the progress we are making with the redesign of the final assessment for 2025
- the progress we are making with a revised approach to progression review
The webinar will take place on 11 September from 1pm to 2pm. Follow the link below to register for the webinar.
A parallel webinar introducing the changes for trainers will take place on 5 September at 1pm.
Click here to register for the webinar
Individual professional development module guidance
The individual professional development is a new compulsory module for the 2022 curriculum and beyond.
Your training allowance cannot be used to cover costs associated with the independent professional development module.
While the curriculum sets out the baseline skills and knowledge you’ll need to work as a Clinical Scientist, everyone and every workplace is different. This means there might be something that you need to support your training that’s not included in the curriculum or your training plan. This module gives you an opportunity to work on an area of your practice that is just about you.
This module is very different to the others in the curriculum. The focus is on you and as there are so many options it can be difficult to know where to start. Everyone’s experience of the module will also be different so it’s tricky to compare what you’re doing to others. There’s no one right way to complete this module but there is one thing that will be the same for everyone: you’re working on your ability to reflect on your own skills and knowledge, identify where there are gaps and work on addressing those gaps. This is an important professional skill which is why we’ve introduced this module. Your learning won’t finish when you complete the STP.
So what are you going to work on? This is about you and your practice. To give you some ideas, you can find some examples curated by the National School staff on our website.
Click here to find the guidance for trainees on the individual professional development module
Information for all trainees
Outreach opportunity – university careers fairs
We attend university careers fairs up and down the country and talk to students about the STP.
We are always looking for volunteers to represent us at these events. Email us at nshcs.events@hee.nhs.uk with your specialism and training year if you would like to volunteer.
If you haven’t yet completed OneFile competencies in professional practice and clinical leadership, representing the School at an event can be used as evidence.
Click here to find details on which careers fairs we are attending
Blogs by trainees, for trainees
On our website we have a collection of blogs written by trainee healthcare scientists, who wish to share their experiences, pass on tips and advice and help to promote healthcare science.
Click here to find the series of blogs by trainees, for trainees
Virtual prenatal genetics short course
This skills-based course will equip you with the basics of prenatal genetic counselling and managing complex scenarios as well as an update on new technologies. You will also gain skills in taking a family history and assessing when a referral on to clinical genetics is indicated.
This course is designed for healthcare professionals who wish to gain an introduction to or update about prenatal genetics.
This course will take place over six half days on Zoom:
- 18 October
- 19 October
- 8 November
- 9 November
- 29 November
- 30 November
Click here to find more information about the course and how to book a place
Information for training officers
Changes to assessment on new curricula – webinars
We will be running a webinar in early September for Training Officers and trainers of STP trainees who are on the new curricula, to introduce the changes we are making to assessment on the programme.
The webinar will cover:
- the standards we are introducing for the performance and conduct of work-based assessment
- the progress we are making with the redesign of the final assessment for 2025
- the progress we are making with a revised approach to progression review
The webinar will take place on September 5 from 1pm – 2pm. Follow the link below to register for the webinar.
A parallel webinar introducing the changes for trainees will take place on September 11 at 1pm.
Click here to register for the webinar for trainers
Induction package for 2023 cohort
As part of the induction package for trainee’s starting in September 2023 we have a combination of face-to-face and online sessions.
Below are the key dates to be aware of when working on your trainees training plans:
- Friday 8 September – face-to-face induction day in central Birmingham
- Tuesday 12 September at 4:00pm – online webinar: understanding work-based assessments
- Thursday 14 September at 4:00pm – online webinar: getting to know the OneFile e-portfolio service
- Tuesday 19 September at 4:00pm – online webinar: progression expectations and reviews
- Thursday 21 September at 4:00pm – online webinar: question & answer session with panel of Training Programme Directors and Heads of Functions
The School events team will be in touch with the incoming trainees directly with registration links and information.
Next Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative meeting
Our next Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative meeting will be online on Tuesday 7 November 2023. More details, including the agenda and registration link, will be available on our website soon.
Managing your trainees
We have created a section on our website providing answers about issues ranging from study leave to funding.
This month’s featured FAQ is:
Q – Can a trainee cover weekends and out of hours shifts even though their contract states they are a supernumerary trainee?
A – We would not actively encourage trainees to participate continuously in weekend/out of hours working. However good experience may be gained from out of hours work. If they did it would be expected that they are undertaking appropriate work that would not require close supervision. Our concern would be the potential impact this might have on their training during the remainder of the working week.
Click here to find FAQs on management of trainees for STP trainers.
Missed a previous edition of the STP Monthly Memo?
We’ve published copies of the Monthly Memo for STP trainees and training officers on our website.
Click here to view previous editions of the STP Monthly Memo.