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 Dr Jo Horne.
Welcome to this month’s STP memo. The start of 2022 has continued where 2021 left off, with everyone in the National School working hard to support our trainees and trainers, whilst also working on a variety of projects with our colleagues from national and regional teams.
One of my upcoming jobs is to support the Midterm Review of Progression (MRP) process and I look forward to reviewing these over the next few weeks with colleagues within the School. No doubt I will be in awe of the progress made by our STP trainees during what continues to be a busy and challenging time for us all.
I have also been exploring the NHS civility and respect programme this month and recently shared some of this work with my colleagues. Being civil and respectful to each other is incredibly important for our teams and organisations to thrive and I would recommend taking a look for yourself, starting with the following useful resources: NHS England civility and respect and Civility Saves Lives.
To maintain my own wellbeing during this busy time, I try to take a walk in nature every day and cannot help but notice the first signs of spring around the corner. New buds are appearing on the trees, snowdrops and daffodils are beginning to emerge and the days are slowly getting longer again. I am excited about what the next few months will bring, not least some warmer weather!
Information for third year trainees
Guidance on STP completion 2022
In response to the challenges posed by the very variable disruption to training caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the School has liaised with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Health Education England (HEE), trainees and training officers to ensure that completion pathways are attainable and that all trainees are treated fairly and not disadvantaged.
Following last year’s Midterm Review of Progression (MRP) and discussions with trainees and training officers, we have considered the completion requirements for those graduating in 2022.
We are aware that for many trainees access to some competencies has not been possible to date and completing these in the final year will come at the expense of the specialist training. We have considered this in our discussions around completion 2022 and have amended the process.
Click here to view our guidance on completion for the Scientist Training Programme in 2022
Information for all trainees
Healthcare Science Week
Healthcare Science Week is an annual week of celebration and awareness-raising for the many careers in healthcare science and gives us the opportunity to promote the amazing work of healthcare science professionals and highlight the difference they make to patients’ lives.
This year Healthcare Science Week will take place 14th March – 20th March.
We’d love to see what you are getting up to over the week. Please tag us on Twitter @NSHCS so we can share your work.
Healthcare Science Week: international trainees blog post
NHS Employers International and Domestic workforce supply are looking for any internationally recruited healthcare science trainees that would be willing to draft a blog or contribute a snippet for a new webpage they are building.
For the blog, the main areas to cover are:
- A bit about you (ie, how and when you joined the trust/org, area of speciality and how you would describe the role).
- Your journey so far (i.e. what was your career pathway, how have you been supported in your progression).
- What would you say or recommend to someone considering coming to work for the NHS (ie, where there any surprising challenges, or is there a key piece of advice you would give to others looking to embark in healthcare science).
The smaller snippets could look at the same areas, but will be much shorter and focusing on one aspect of your experience so far.
If you would like to contribute or have any further questions please email us at nshcs@hee.nhs.uk
Non-attendance to your Higher Education Institution
At present the government guidelines are that all education establishments in England are open for teaching and learning.
For Healthcare Science this means that the universities we partner with are working within the government guidelines and will continue to support our trainees in the delivery of our programmes. For some this may be face-to-face, blended or online delivery. Each university will advise as to how the academic programme will be delivered.
It is a requirement of the programme that trainees attend all timetabled sessions regardless of the mode of delivery. If trainees are unable to attend due to a medical condition they need to advise the university at the earliest opportunity and follow their processes for receiving an exemption to travel/attend where applicable.
Information for training officers
STP recruitment: get involved with shortlisting
As a recruitment shortlister you help us by reading applications online and scoring them using a matrix. The purpose is to decide who should go forward to interview. You will look at trainees’ responses to questions covering knowledge, commitment, scientific expertise and motivation.
The minimum experience required to be a shortlister is that you are a Clinical Scientist with post-qualification experience in the workplace (normally at least one year).
The time commitment is one day at minimum but that more time and involvement would be greatly welcomed.
Click here to read more about the role and express an interest
STP recruitment: in-service application dates
The in-service route is only open to existing NHS staff working in a recognised scientific specialty who meet the qualification requirements and have been nominated by their employer.
Applications for the in-service STP opened on 15th February and will close at 4:00pm on 19th April 2022.
Click here to find the guidance for in-service applications
Train the Trainer events
Are you interested in attending a series of Train the Trainer events?
If you have recently added your details to our waiting list there is no need for you to register. Everyone from the waiting list will be invited to one of the sessions taking place.
Click here to register your interest in attending
Planning for the new curriculum: lunchtime learning sessions
To help for you plan for a new trainee starting in September 2022 we now have a number of recordings of recent half-hour lunchtime learning sessions on the website.
Each update focuses on an area which has changed in the new curriculum:
- the new curriculum and the accreditation process
- competencies and work-based assessments, followed by an open drop-in session
- rotations
- core modules
These sessions will be supported by guidance on working with the curriculum and the accreditation process.
Click here to find recordings of the planning for the new STP 2022 curriculum sessions
Planning for the new curriculum: Clinical Engineering webinar
On 10th March 12:30 – 13:30pm we are holding a lunchtime webinar on planning for the new Clinical Engineering STP curriculum.
In this session, we’ll be talking about delivering the new Clinical Engineering curriculum, from the 1st year rotational modules to the core modules and on to the specialty modules with the academic component woven in. We are keen to form a Clinical Engineering STP trainer network so that ideas and best practice can be shared in the future.
Click here to find the event joining link
Planning for the new curriculum: progression expectations
For the new 2022 curriculum we are renewing the expectations for trainee progression through the STP.
Trainees will be expected to complete all module workplace content by the end of the phase that the module is assigned to. Planning and scheduling of work-based training will need to support trainees to achieve this progression year on year and this should be reflected in your training plan. Trainee progression will be considered on this basis for all trainees following the 2022 curriculum.
You can find more information in our guidance for working with the 2022 STP curricula.
Click here to view our guidance for working with the 2022 STP curricula
Courses and events
Training support drop-in sessions
We offer regular drop-in sessions which provide a means by which trainees and training officers can speak to members of the School directly to access their expertise and guidance.
The next drop-in session will take place on:
- Thursday 24th March 12:30-1:30pm
Click here to find out more about our drop-in sessions
STP Computing in Healthcare course
This course provides a comprehensive overview of computing in healthcare and hands-on experience of practical skills transferable back to the hospital workplace. The course will enable Medical Physics STP trainees to complete all IT-related competencies, case-based discussions (CBD) and direct observations of practical skills (DOPS) for the STP.
Event date: Tuesday 6th September 2022 from 09:00am until Friday 9th September 2022 at 17:30pm.
Venue: University of Surrey, Stag Hill Campus, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YW.
The deadline to register for this course is 30th June.
Click here to find out more about the STP Computing in Healthcare course (Expired link)
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