Message from your STP Training Programme Directors
Namir Al Hasso, Dr EMma Bowers, Dr Jo Horne, Jane Lynch and Aarti Makan
This month’s message is from Professor Berne Ferry, Head of the National School of Healthcare Science
Coming to the end of 2022, I want to say thank you to all STPs for your tremendously hard work and commitment during this year. From those of you newly started in year 1 to the more experienced STPs in year 3 who will be contributing at high level to service. Thank you for everything you are doing for patients who use your service, for the public and for the NHS. You are training during one of the most difficult times the NHS has ever faced and you are doing brilliantly. Please remember that we are here if you need to contact us and we will help in any way we can.
I wish all of you a very happy, peaceful Christmas and a successful 2023.
Warmest regards from me and all of us at the School.
Berne
Information for first year trainees
Online induction events
As part of the 2022 induction package for all new trainees we have been hosting a series of online webinars. These webinars provide more detailed guidance on different elements of the Scientist Training Programme. The webinars cover getting to know the OneFile e-portfolio service, understanding work-based assessments, progression through the programme and staying on track – managing your workload, your mental health and wellbeing. If you missed any of these webinars or want to watch them again they are available on our website.
Click here to watch a recording of the online induction events
Information for second year trainees
Midterm Review of Progression (MRP) – are you ready?
We conduct reviews of trainee progression as both an assurance and supportive process to make sure trainees are progressing well and that any barriers or issues are identified and can be supported. The MRP for our year 2 STPs is due to open in January 2023.
How to prepare:
- Make sure you are familiar with the progression criteria. Look on the School’s website for this information.
- Meet with your Training Officer to discuss your progress in advance and then when you are ready to submit. Complete individual forms (not a combined response), one from you, one from your Training Officer.
- Make sure your training plan is up to date and be aware of any gaps so that you can identify how you might address them. Be prepared to be flexible as training opportunities change. Try to think innovatively about how any issues might be managed.
- Make sure that the School has the most up-to-date contact information for both you and your Training Officer. If recent changes have happened make sure we are aware so we can send the relevant information at the right time.
- Look out for the email and link to your questionnaire. Further details will be sent to you shortly.
If you have any concerns about the process or your ability to participate, then please do contact us in advance at nshcs.assessment@hee.nhs.uk
Click here to view the guidance about the Midterm Review of Progression (MRP)
Information for all trainees
Reflective practice resources
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new set of reflective practice learning resources, which are available for all trainees and their training officers or supervisors to use.
Click here to find out how to access the reflective practice resources
We have organised several webinars to introduce you to the reflective practice resources available on the Learning Hub. These webinars will specifically introduce you to the purpose of the resources and how they can benefit your training. The webinars will also show you how to access and use them.
Please register for one of the following webinars if you wish to attend:
- Tuesday 7th February 2023 10.00am – 11.00am
- Wednesday 8th February 2023 4.00pm – 5.00pm
- Thursday 9th February 2023 12.00pm – 1.00pm
We welcome attendance from trainees, training officers and assessors.
Guidance for trainees about study time
Trainees need 20% of their time as protected private study time throughout the programme. It is a requirement of the programme that all trainees engage with the prescribed learning and that employers respect the trainee’s supernumerary status and ensure study time is provided.
At the beginning of the programme trainees and training officers should between them agree how sufficient time will be allocated for study bearing in mind:
- Study time should be available for completing academic work and e-portfolio activities.
- Trainees are expected to attend university where the mode of delivery and/or the curriculum require it. The amount of time required may vary across universities.
- Any time required to attend university is in addition to the 20% study time which should be protected within the training plan.
- Trainees should agree with their training officers the location of their study leave; e.g. in the workplace or working from home. This could vary from week to week.
- Trainees and training officers should discuss and agree how to manage the 20% study time, which can be taken flexibly; for example, as 1 day per week or as a block of time, if required, when preparing for exams.
Click here to find our guidance for trainees about study time
Guidance for trainees about the educational training support funding
Commissioners of the STP allocate £2,000 per trainee, each academic year, for educational training support and and pay it to individual employers. The primary purpose of this funding is to contribute to the travel and accommodation expenses that a trainee will incur as part of the academic component of the programme but it can be used for other educational purposes/opportunities. Funding cannot be utilised to fund specific elective modules or to procure IT equipment which should be provided to trainees by their employer to support any remote/home working requirements.
Click here to find our guidance for trainees about the educational training support funding
School policies
A number of new policies which directly impact on trainees have recently been approved or amended by the School. These are the policies for academic appeals, mitigating circumstances, reasonable adjustments, complaints and appeals (non-academic).
Click here to find our policies
Information for training officers
Appeal for assessors for the STP final assessment
We are looking to expand our pool of assessors for the STP final assessment ahead of the Summer 2023 IACC. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive approach to the recruitment to and assessment of the STP and would welcome applications from all appropriately qualified healthcare science specialties. This may be of particular interest if you are a recently qualified Clinical Scientist or professionally registered, with 2-3 years’ experience and looking to develop your skills and career. Training is provided ahead of the first assessment.
Click here to find out more about the requirements and how to apply
Sign up for the STP final assessment training sessions
Introduction to Assessment (Part 1 of 2)
Are you a new or inexperienced assessor or are you interested in becoming an assessor? Do you want to find out a bit more about the STP final assessment, how it is designed, about reflective writing and how it is assessed? Then this workshop is for you.
The aim of this workshop is to build on your experience of assessment and assessing and to develop your understanding of its role in the STP. By the end of the workshop you will be able to:
- critically examine your own values, beliefs and attitudes in relation to assessment
- define what is meant by the term ‘assessment’ including formative and summative assessment
- examine the purposes of assessment
- analyse the characteristics of a good assessment
- evaluate the importance of feedback for formative and summative assessment
The Introduction to Assessment (Part 1 of 2) training sessions are:
- Wednesday, 11th January 2023 12.00pm-2.00pm
- Monday, 5th June 2023 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Click here to find information and registration links for our events
Introduction to Assessment: Summative Assessment (Part 2 of 2)
This workshop follows on from the Introduction to Assessment workshop and focusses on assessing written work and interviews and discussion. This workshop has a focus on the STP final assessment, the Independent Assessment of Clinical Competence (IACC) but the techniques apply to a wide range of assessment types.
The aim of this workshop is to enable you to engage with the IACC as an effective and confident assessor. By the end of this session you will be able to:
- confidently engage in assessing summative assessments e.g. IACC
- write constructive feedback across all grade descriptors
- use effective and probing questioning techniques to elicit evidence of learning
The Introduction to Assessment: Summative Assessment (Part 2 of 2) session are:
- Wednesday, 18th January 2023 12.00pm – 2.00pm
- Wednesday, 7th June 2023 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Click here to find information and registration links for our events
Planning for the new curriculum: drop-in sessions
We are hosting more drop-in sessions for anyone who will be involved in hosting a trainee on the new STP curriculum in September 2022. The drop-in sessions will be an open Q&A forum.
Our next sessions are:
- Thursday 26th January 12pm to 1pm
- Thursday 23rd February 12pm to 1pm
- Thursday 30th March 12pm to 1pm
- Thursday 27th April 12pm to 1pm
Click here to find the drop-in session joining links
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 change specialisms after they have started the STP?
A – No, a trainee must stay with the specialism they applied for. When they accept their post they agree to undertake that training in a particular specialism for the duration of the programme. The only exceptions are for any trainees recruited to undefined medical physics and undefined clinical engineering programmes as the employer does not require the specialism to be defined until the end of the rotational phase.
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