Information for all trainees
New learning module to support trainees to develop evidence for training activities
One of the most frequent requests that we receive at the School is for more guidance about how trainees can and should develop their evidence to demonstrate achievement of training activities / competencies. In response to this important need, we have recently published a new module in our catalogue of learning materials for trainers on the NHS Learning Hub, entitled ‘Developing evidence to demonstrate achievement of training activities’.
This module focuses on what makes good evidence for training activities in work-based training. The module addresses how different types of evidence can be generated in the course of work-based training and it offers guidance about the different types of evidence that can be generated for the different types of training activity (whether for an entrustable training activity, an observational training activity or a developmental training activity).
Although the module is written for trainers, trainees will find much that is of value in the module. We intend to develop a version of this guidance for trainees in the near future.
This new body of guidance is fully aligned with the new STP curricula and the NSHCS work-based assessment standards. It will provide trainers and trainees with concrete help to meet those standards.
To access the NHS Learning Hub you will need to have an account with the service. The details on how to do this can be found within the training standards pages on the School website.
Northern Ireland clinical scientist trainee network
Calling all STP trainees in Northern Ireland. We are setting up a new Northern Ireland trainee clinical scientist network open to trainee clinical scientists in Northern Ireland from all specialties. We hope that this network will provide an opportunity for trainees in Northern Ireland to meet trainees from other specialties, share ideas and support the completion of training activities.
We will be organising a number of events during the year aimed at helping trainee’s complete Professional Practice competencies as well as a STP Research Day planned for November and a few informal social events throughout the year. These will be a mix of in person and online events.
Please email northernirelandcstn@gmail.com for further information about this network.
Information for third year trainees
STP completion requirements 2024
We would like to remind all trainees who are completing the programme this year about the 2024 completion requirements. In particular, at this point in time:
- You should be at the latter stages of your training plan
- You should be submitting or have already submitted your MSc research project
- You should be preparing for your IACC interview, and
- You should have a plan for how you will achieve the completion of your e-portfolio.
For those of you who have experienced disruption to your training due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are routes to completion of your e-portfolio that will provide some flexibility.
Key dates for STP completion
This does not include those with extensions or deferrals.
- Last date to submit an EEC application for extension of training with deferral of the IACC – 5pm on Wednesday 22 May 2024
- IACC critical reflection submission deadline – 12pm on Tuesday 11 June 2024
- IACC interviews – 1 to 12 July 2024
- Raise concerns/queries to the School regarding e-portfolio sign off – June to August 2024
- Last date to submit an EEC application for extension of training to adjust completion deadline – Wednesday 21 August 2024
- Complete the Data Audit – August to September 2024
- STP completion deadline (excluding those with approved extensions) – 5pm on Monday 16 September 2024
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 for information on completing the STP in 2024
Information for training officers
School launches Sharing good practice webinar series
We are very pleased to announce the launch of the School’s new Sharing good practice webinar series. This series of webinars will seek to support healthcare scientists and healthcare science trainers in the workplace to learn from centres and colleagues that have developed good training and good clinical practice.
We can confirm the first two webinars, as follows:
AI in training and clinical practice – Tuesday 30 April 2024 – 2pm to 3pm
Please click this link for further details and how to register
Approaches to the delivery of the STP – Wednesday 22 May 2024 – 10am to 11am
Please click this link for further details and how to register
Both of the webinars will be recorded and will be available on our website.
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 via the form linked to below.
Click here to express an interest in contributing to our sharing good practice webinar series
New learning modules for trainers
We have recently published 2 new modules in our catalogue of learning materials on the NHS Learning Hub.
The ‘Personal tutoring skills and approaches’ module is part of a planned set of learning modules associated with training standard 5 ‘Know the limitations of your role and signpost to other sources of support, where appropriate’.
The ‘Motivation and learning’ module is part of a planned set of introductory learning modules which underpins all the training standards.
To access the NHS Learning Hub you will need to have an account with the service. The details on how to do this can be found within the training standards pages on the School website.
Click here to access the ‘Personal tutoring skills and approaches’ module on the Learning Hub
Click here to access the ‘Motivation and learning’ module on the Learning Hub
Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative meeting, March 2024
On Tuesday 26 March the School ran a well-attended, face-to-face Education and Training Collaborative meeting in Bristol. The day opened with a talk on the future of healthcare science by Dr Victoria Chalker, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England (NHSE). There were plenary sessions to launch the School’s new Sharing Good Practice series and featuring Professor Sheona Macleod, Director of Education and Training at NHSE speaking about the emerging NHSE educator strategy.
Pathology Portal supports the training of pathology specialties
Attendees at the School’s recent Education and Training Collaborative meeting in March were treated to an update from Professor Jo Martin about the Pathology Portal. The Pathology Portal is an innovative and growing learning resource for pathology trainees and practitioners, created in partnership with the Royal College of Pathologists and NHS England’s Technology Enhanced Learning programme.
Featuring a range of online resources for learning, healthcare training and quality assurance schemes, the portal’s resources are interactive and easy to use. It allows flexible training to plug learning gaps at a local, regional and national level.
Available in the NHS Learning Hub, the portal has been designed to facilitate the training of the existing and future healthcare workforce with content that can be tailored to individual learner needs, to cover flexible and return-to-work training, as well as competence testing. The ambition for the Pathology Portal is to create a user-led interactive learning resource platform to support learning across all pathology and related disciplines.
The portal now contains well over 5000 modules all quality assured by expert editors and international faculty.
The Pathology Portal is available on the NHS Learning Hub. People with an NHS, GOV.UK or university email address can register on the Learning Hub or login with their elearning for healthcare (elfh) Hub details.
New learning module to support trainees to develop evidence for training activities
One of the most frequent requests that we receive at the School is for more guidance about how trainees can and should develop their evidence to demonstrate achievement of training activities / competencies. In response to this important need, we have recently published a new module in our catalogue of learning materials on the NHS Learning Hub, entitled ‘Developing evidence to demonstrate achievement of training activities’.
This module focuses on what makes good evidence for training activities in work-based training. The module addresses how different types of evidence can be generated in the course of work-based training and it offers guidance about the different types of evidence that can be generated for the different types of training activity (whether for an entrustable training activity, an observational training activity or a developmental training activity).
This new body of guidance is fully aligned with the new STP curricula and the NSHCS work-based assessment standards. It will provide trainers and trainees with concrete help to meet those standards. The module is also fully aligned with the recently-published NSHCS training standards and expectations. It is part of a set of learning modules associated with training standard 1: Plan, design and assess learning and training opportunities.
To access the NHS Learning Hub you will need to have an account with the service. The details on how to do this can be found within the training standards pages on the School website.
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 – My trainee has 1 day per week allocated to study time, should this be increased when exams or assignments are due?
A – The School recommends a flexible approach to study time, with 20% overall as the recommended minimum level. There is a benefit from more study time at pressured academic periods eg before an exam, but when the academic workload is less study days may be reduced to prioritise work based training (equally important!). This is best agreed between trainee and training officer, and we encourage a collaborative approach to building a training plan that reflects this, with academic assignment dates and exams noted, and the dates for the final exit assessment, maintaining some flexibility to allow for unexpected challenges or opportunities.
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.