What are the responsibilities of the supervisor and employer?
The workplace supervisor
Ideally, the workplace supervisor should be of Consultant grade or equivalent, hold a postgraduate qualification and have enthusiasm for the training and developing scientists. Workplace supervisors should have the time and resources allocated to them in their job plan and they should do the following:
- Attend a HSST Trainee Induction and Network Day with their trainee, which is hosted by the School.
- Workplace Supervisors should know when trainee will need to be at university, what they will be studying when, and what their key deadlines are. It can be useful to establish contact with the university. Your trainee is the best person to help you to establish who the University contacts are. This contact can enable you to check their academic progress regularly. It is important that the workplace supervisor understands the academic process for Doctoral degrees.
- Workplace Supervisors need to familiarise themselves with the curriculum (via the School’s Curriculum Library) and the HSST Standards of Proficiency, so you know what your trainee will need to achieve.
- It is important for Workplace Supervisors to have good communication skills, approachability in this training role.
- Keep everyone informed, notify NSHCS and MAHSE if your trainee will be absent from training e.g. maternity leave/long-term sick leave.
- Identify a research project early in the programme, including who will supervise.
- Look for opportunities to share supervision and learning.
The employer
Employers should provide practical experience to allow the achievement and maintenance of scientific, clinical and professional development. There should be opportunities and support for trainees to develop clinical, practical skills and professional capabilities. Trainees should have the opportunities for inter-professional multidisciplinary working.
How should I support my trainee’s training throughout the 5 years?
As a workplace Supervisor you should:
- get to know your trainee well so that you can provide professional and pastoral support, and recognise when your trainee is under pressure and stress
- meet with your trainee regularly, have 1:2:1’s to discuss progress and feedback to develop your trainee. Communication and collaboration is key
- review the training plan regularly, this can be recorded on OneFile
- participate in the annual review of progression
- host and attend regional HSST moderation assessment days. These can be trust led or regional events organised by the HSSTs using the Trainee Networks. These support trainees and supervisors to share best practice and understand the right level of evidence
What are the expectations of HSST trainees?
Ensure your trainee completes all employer mandatory training and induction, together with the School’s HSST trainee induction and network day. The types of duties that you can expect a HSST trainee to undertake are:
- routine clinical and/or diagnostic services
- interpretation of test results, reporting and authorisation of results
- researching, developing and validating new methods of diagnosis
- line management of other team members
- advice that improves patient care and outcome
- advising on purchase and use of commercial products/equipment – Procurement
- regional and national involvement in the profession via Professional Bodies and NSHCS
- personal programme of self-study and professional growth with guidance from workplace supervisor