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 Namir Al Hasso
Welcome to the October edition of the Scientist Training Programme Monthly Memo. I hope all trainees are keeping well and maintaining a good work-life balance. We celebrate Black History Month with online events in October and the theme this year is Time for Change: Action Not Words. Health Education England and the NHS are celebrating by hosting some virtual webinars to mark this month.
After having the pleasure of meeting most of our new first-year trainees face-to-face last month, trainees can now view all the presentations from the induction event in September. We also started the online virtual induction events this month with the getting to know the OneFile e-portfolio and understanding work-based assessments session. Further sessions will follow with more details below.
The School has now published the dates for the STP exit exam, the Independent Assessment of Clinical Competence (IACC). Please familiarise yourself with the relevant dates if you are in the second or the third year of your training.
The National Education and Training Survey (NETS) will be available from the 18th of October and will remain live for 6 weeks until the 30th of November 2022. I strongly encourage all trainees (at any stage of their training journey) to participate in this survey as it is a vital tool to share your views on your training experience.
I would like to make you aware that the National School is holding the first Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative event on the 1st of November. It is open to all department Training Officers and any scientists involved in a School-related programme.
Last but not least, the School is seeking to expand the pool of our STP final exit assessors, which is an excellent opportunity for self-development and using your scientific knowledge and expertise to benefit the expansion of our future workforce.
Further details are available below for your information on any topics mentioned in the introduction. I wish you a great rest of the month.
Information for first year trainees
Online induction events
As part of the 2022 induction package for all new trainees we will also be hosting a series of online webinars. These webinars will provide more detailed guidance on different elements of the Scientist Training Programme and we encourage all new trainees to attend every session. If you are unable to attend the live session, they will all be recorded and shared on our website afterwards.
The pre-reading will be circulated closer to the time but please do keep the dates in your diaries and register your attendance.
- Progression through the programme: Wednesday 16th November at 4pm
- Staying on track – managing your workload, your mental health and wellbeing: Thursday 8th December at 4pm
Click here to register your attendance at the online induction events
We’ve already held two induction webinars, ‘Getting to know the OneFile e-portfolio service’ and ‘Understanding work-based assessments.’ If you missed either 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
Presentations from the trainee induction event
We’ve added the presentations used at this year’s Scientist Training Programme trainee induction event to our website for your information.
- Becoming a healthcare scientist – Professor Berne Ferry
- Your health and wellbeing – Dr Jo Horne
- What are we expecting from you in the next 3 months? – Dr Emma Bowers
- Final remarks and what next? – Professor Berne Ferry
Information for all trainees
Dates for the IACC 2023 and IACC 2024 are now available
The dates for the IACC 2023 and IACC 2024 are now available on the School website. There is no longer a spring assessment for the IACC 2023 or the IACC 2024. The published dates now include the deadlines for submitting reasonable adjustment requests and academic appeals.
Click here to to view the 2023 IACC dates
Click here to to view the 2024 IACC dates
Trainees resitting IACC winter diet 2022
In the last few weeks of September, we held trainee webinars covering information relating to the upcoming resits in October and November. If you have any questions concerning the resits please email the team on nshcs.assessment@hee.nhs.uk
NHS National Education and Training Survey (NETS) opens tomorrow
The NHS National Education and Training Survey will open on Tuesday 18 October and remain open for six weeks until 30 November. The NETS is the only national survey open to all undergraduate and postgraduate learners undertaking a practice placement or training post in all healthcare services across England. We expect the survey to take about 10 minutes to complete. The survey opens once each year in October and the purpose is to understand the experience of students in training.
For more information as well as help with specific queries, please see our website and FAQs or contact us at NETS@hee.nhs.uk
New South-East Trainee Network
A new regional trainee network for STP trainees has been created covering trainees within the Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent areas. We currently meet on a monthly basis at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford and hold online quarterly meetings. We recommend you join your regional trainee network and make contact with other STP trainees in your area.
Click here to find information about all our trainee networks
Information for trainees and training officers
New work-based assessment feedback form for assessors
As part of the development of the new STP curricula, we have created a new, single feedback form that assessors should use for the assessment of CBDs, DOPS and OCEs. The new form is a generic form that takes the place of the previous, separate forms for CBDs, DOPS and OCEs. We encourage all trainees and assessors – not only those on the new curricula – to use this form for all work-based observational assessments. The new form can be found within the ‘Resources’ folder in OneFile and also via the link below.
Click here to download the new work-based assessment feedback form
Read the guidance about using the Turnitin Checker in OneFile
The Turnitin similarity detection feature within OneFile has now gone live. For trainees, there are four key ‘steps’ to using the Turnitin Checker in OneFile:
- Prepare your work properly and professionally
- Only upload final versions of documents to OneFile
- ALWAYS use the Turnitin Checker on your work BEFORE you submit it to your training officer or assessor for sign off
- Review and understand the similarity reports generated for each of your files.
Click here to read the guidance for trainees about using the Turnitin Checker
Click here to read the guidance for training officers and assessors about using Turnitin Checker
Reach out for Healthcare Science widening participation programme
Reach out for Healthcare Science (ROfHCS) is a widening participation programme for year 10 students that has been funded since 2012 by HEE London. Reaching 300 school age students each year, we provide the opportunity for them to gain hands-on experience in Healthcare Science departments, during a week-long programme.
Do you know a year 10-13 student with an interest in science who wishes to support patients and their families?
Put together by Health Education England and Springpod, this free virtual work experience opportunity will give students the chance to look inside the healthcare science world and hear firsthand from scientists about their personal experiences. They will also be able to get career advice and take part in a series of activities.
Applications close on the 19th October 2022.
Click here to find full details of the experience and how to apply
Bereavement Education Conference 2022 – Exploring bereavement from a new perspective
NHS Education for Scotland are holding the third annual bereavement conference – a free, one-day virtual event for all health and social care staff. The conference is on Thursday 24th November from 09:00am — 16:00pm. A range of topics will be covered including:
- digital legacies
- anticipatory grief
- the bereavement experiences of gypsies and travellers
- supporting those affected by bereavement in prison
- the value of listening
- bereavement following substance use
- unexpected death – an Emergency Department perspective
- traumatic bereavement in children and young people
- bereavement in the workplace
Click here to register for the conference
Information for training officers
Annual monitoring return for 2022
All departments accredited on or before 31st March 2022, including via re-accreditation, are now asked to complete their annual monitoring return for 2022. Annual monitoring is a requirement of your accreditation. If you do not complete your annual monitoring, this may affect your accreditation status. It will be taken into account when allocating the training contracts for the following year, following on from the Expressions of Interest process.
Annual monitoring is done through a short and simple electronic form that, in most cases, should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. We ask for details of any changes that may influence or affect the delivery of training. Please ensure that the form is returned to us by Friday 2nd December 2022. If you have questions, please e-mail the Accreditation Team at nshcs.accreditation@hee.nhs.uk
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
Appeal for assessors 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:
- Monday, 31st October 2022 12.00pm-2.00pm
- Friday, 4th November 2022 12.00pm – 2.00pm
- 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:
- Monday, 14th November 2022 12.00pm – 2.00pm
- Friday, 18th November 2022 12.00pm – 2.00pm
- 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
Changes to the assessment of trainees on the new curricula
A series of changes are being planned to the assessment of trainees on the new STP curricula. Read about these via the link below. We will publish more information about these initiatives on this page as plans develop in the coming months.
Click here to find out more about the changes to the assessment of trainees on the new curricula
An Introduction to OneFile for training officers – webinar
On October 31 from 3PM to 4PM we will be running a webinar to introduce training officers to OneFile.
Whether you are a new or existing training officer you are very welcome to join this webinar, which will walk you through the key features and functions you need to know and use, including the new Turnitin Checker within OneFile.
Click here to register for the webinar
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 27th October 12pm to 1pm
- Thursday 1st December 12pm to 1pm
Click here to find the drop-in session joining links
Train the Trainer events
We run Train the Trainer sessions to support training officers that will be taking responsibility for an STP trainee. Attending these events is essential to your training and is part of the accreditation process. Our next series of STP Train the Trainer starts in October. You must attend all three sessions to complete Train the Trainer.
- STP Train the Trainer Webinar 1: Introducing the STP – Wednesday, 19th October 2022 10.00am – 12.30pm
- STP Train the Trainer Webinar 2: Assessing Evidence in the Workplace – Wednesday, 26th October 2022 10.00am – 12.30pm
- STP Train the Trainer Webinar 3: Training Support – Thursday, 3rd November 2022 10.00am – 12.30pm
Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative Meeting – Tuesday 1 November
The Healthcare Science Education and Training Collaborative has been setup to enable collaboration between the healthcare science work-based training centres, the relevant Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and the professional bodies, and the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) – thereby ensuring education and training within healthcare science is relevant and of high quality. We are holding our first virtual meeting on Tuesday 1st Nov from 10:00am — 16:00pm and would like to invite all STP training officers to attend.
Click here to register for the event and view the agenda
New STP in Interoperative Neuro-Monitoring in development
The School will be developing a new STP in Interoperative Neuro-Monitoring (IOMN).
We will be seeking a Lead Editor to drive the process alongside the School, curriculum writers to develop the curriculum, and reviewers to provide feedback on the draft curriculum. If you have expertise or an interest in IOMN and would like to be involved, please complete the form linked to below. Curriculum development will begin later this year with the aim for the programme to be available for September 2024. This will be confirmed nearer the time.
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 – What is the School’s policy on maternity leave?
A – It is usually down to local negotiation between the employer, commissioner and University in terms of agreeing a management plan and should be managed in accordance with local terms and conditions of employment. The School does ask to be kept informed so we know when the trainee is due to complete/rotate and the approach will vary depending on the individual circumstances and timing it occurs during their training. We would be happy to advise on a plan once drafted in terms of how that might impact on training etc and based on our wider knowledge of other experiences make recommendations on how you might manage.
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