Modernising Scientific Careers: NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP
On this page you will find basic information about the STP for STP applicants, STP trainees and clinics who are hosting or would like to host an STP trainee. Further information about the Scientist Training Programme can be found on the National School for Healthcare Science (NSHCS) website.
If you would like someone to visit you at your unit to talk about the STP process or have any further questions please contact ARCS on arcs@profileproductions.co.uk a member of the STP working group would be willing to visit your unit to give a presentation about the training programme.
What is the STP?
– A three year, fixed term, work place based reproductive science training programme that includes completion of a part time Master’s in Clinical Science (Cellular Science) from Manchester Metropolitan University. Upon successful completion of the Masters degree, an online training portfolio and the Observed Structured Final Assessments (OSFAs) at the end of the three years, trainees will obtain a Master’s degree and a Certificate of Attainment from the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). Trainees will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) to become registered Clinical Scientists.
What are the entry requirements for STP trainees?
– A trainee will be eligible to apply for an STP position if they have or are in their final year of obtaining a 1st or 2:1 Honours Degree in a pure or applied science area relevant to Reproductive Science. Trainees with relevant 2:2 degree will be considered if they already have an MSc or PhD related to Reproductive Science. For all applicants, evidence of research experience is desirable.
What are the entry routes into the STP programme? Is there any financial support?
There are two routes into the STP programme:
Direct Entry Trainees – These applicants/trainees enter the training programme via the national recruitment process. Clinics will not know who they will be allocated until interviews are completed via the national process of recruitment. Trainees will be employed on a fixed term, three year contract salaried at AFC Band 6, they will follow the whole programme full time.
– For NHS units expressions of interest should be approved by the trust lead Healthcare Scientist and based on workforce need prior to submission of your application to the Local Education and Training Board (LETB). If your application is successful your STP trainee will be fully funded for 36 months. The financial support provided has two elements: the salary costs of the trainee and a contribution towards non-salary costs (each LETB will determine its own model of funding). Non-salary costs are reviewed annually but for example some LETBs provide £2,000 support for first year trainees and £1,000 for 2nd and 3rd year trainees. This is used towards the travel and accommodation costs associated with attendance at university to undertake the Masters award. The tuition fees for the Master’s degree is fully funded and will be paid directly to the university for your trainee.
– For private units, it is possible to access funding for direct entry and in-service trainees however you will need to contact your local LETB to determine the level of monetary support and express your interest in hosting an STP trainee.
In-Service Trainees – In service entry (or sometimes called ‘grow your own’) is where you have a salaried member of staff already in post with a substantive contract, such as a practitioner, that you want to train on to be an embryologist or andrologist. The clinic must first go through local training commissioning processes to secure a trainee position. The candidate will still need to go through the recruitment process i.e. complete an application, the aptitude tests and a non-competitive interview, however if successful the clinic knows who they are going to be getting. The trainee is employed and salaried by the employer throughout the programme, but should still be considered supernumery and released from service duties as appropriate to undertake the training. In service trainees could choose to follow the programme part- time over an extended timescale (as either the HEI or work based constricts may allow), but must complete within a maximum duration of five years.
– For NHS units a contribution towards salary costs may be paid to the employing Trust. The percentage contribution may vary between LETBs. The contact in the units regional LETB will advise on the contribution paid.
– For private units, it is possible to access funding for direct entry and in-service trainees however you will need to contact your local LETB to determine the level of monetary support and express your interest in hosting an STP trainee.
How does the training work?
STP trainees should be considered supernumerary, with the focus on the training experience rather than on being required to deliver service. The trainee will register with the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) and will be allocated a National Science Training Number (NSTN). The host clinic is responsible for organising the training for each trainee including the first year of rotations described below.
– In their first year, trainees will complete four work-based training rotations in four disciplines: Histopathology, Cytopathology, Genetics and Reproductive Science. Each rotation will be for up to 12 weeks. For the reproductive science rotation the trainee will remain in their host department, the main element of their training at this point will be diagnostic semen analysis. The other rotations may require trainees to travel to other parts of the country in order for them to complete the associated competencies for the rotations. Rotational competencies will make up part of the trainees online portfolio.
– In their second and third year the trainee remains in their host department for further specialist training as an embryologist. Work-based training competencies will be undertaken and assessed as part of an online portfolio.
– During the course of their second & third year each trainee must undertake elective training which must be in a setting different from the usual training environment. The elective period must be agreed with the host department and may comprise a single period of 4- 6 weeks or a series of shorter periods. Again an online portfolio will be used to assess elective competencies.
Alongside each of these elements the trainee will be required to undertake a part-time Masters whose modules directly link to each element of the rotations and specialist training in embryology. A major component of the STP MSc is the completion of a research project. The subject of the project will be decided by the work bases supervisor and it should be at the level and depth of masters level. The project will be split between the second and third year of study.
How much time will the trainee need during the working week to complete the Masters elements of the STP training and online portfolio of competencies and assessment?
The NSHCS recommends that while the trainee is in the workplace approximately 80% of their time is spent on work based training and approximately 20% of time is spent on academic work. This equates to approximately one study day a week. The study day does not have to be the same day every week, this can be worked around both the needs of the trainee, the clinic workload and trainers.
Additional time away from the unit is required for the delivery of the Masters. Trainees will be based in Manchester for 6 weeks in the first year and 3 weeks in the second and third years. During the initial 6 weeks trainees will cover units relating to each rotation as well as units entitled Integrating Science and Professional Practice. In year two and three the trainee will undertake units that match the level of the work based training as well as complete a research project. The subject of the project will be decided by the work based supervisor.
Can trainees be put on the weekend and out of hours on-call rota?
The NSHCS states that they “…would not actively encourage trainees to participate continuously in weekend/out of hours working, however good experience may be gained from out of hours work.” The NSHCS goes on to say that “The concern would be the potential impact this might have on the training during the remainder of the working week.”
Who can train STP trainees?
Each trainee is allocated a clinical training officer at their host clinic who will oversee his/her training – the training officer can be a head of department, a senior member of staff or training coordinator. The training officer will often be involved in organising the training for each trainee however may not necessarily be doing the hands on practical training in the laboratory. In these cases the training officer will be responsible for identifying an appropriate supervisor. As a minimum the practical training must be completed by a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist. Where possible anyone involved in the training of an STP trainee should go to a Train the Trainer event. Alternatively a representative from each clinic can attend and then provide cascade training locally.
The training officer or nominated supervisor will be involved in providing support and guidance to the trainee, provide timetables of training where necessary, ensure that the work based assessments/competencies and the masters research project are understood and that its outcomes for individual trainees is documented through the use of the online portfolio system, they will ensure that clinical practice is well supervised for the safety of patients and the trainee so that the acquisition of clinical competence is facilitated and ensure that other contributors to the assessment process are fully aware of the requirements and the use of the onlineportfolio. Resources such as template training plans and end of month review templates as well as more detailed information about training roles can be found on the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) “Accreditation for Work Based Providers” webpage. The NSHCS has also developed a “Helpbook for Training Centres”.
How do I apply to get an STP position?
If you are thinking of employing an STP you need to contact your local Health Education England office and speak to the healthcare science lead. The National School of Healthcare Science website has a list of all the relevant contacts: List of Local HealthCare Science Leads.
An application for accreditation as a training centre and a capacity assessment for STP trainees must be made to the NSHCS. The self-assessment for work-based placement providers for accreditation as a training centre can also be found on the NSHCS website Self-Assessment for Workbased Placement Providers. The assessment form allows the NSHCS to evaluate the capability of the clinic as a training provider through a series of questions. Relevant evidence is required to be embedded into the self-assessment form.
Where can I access the curriculum for the Masters Degree?
The full Clinical Science Masters Degree curriculum can be found on the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) website Clinical Science Curriculum. The reproductive science specialist training falls into the Cellular Sciences theme, therefore use the Cellular Science links on the NSHCS website.
Where can I access a list of competencies the trainee will have to complete during training?
The full work based learning guide which details the competencies that trainees are required to complete can be found on the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) website Work-Based Learning Guide. The reproductive science specialist training falls into the Cellular Sciences theme, therefore use the Cellular Science links on the NSHCS website.
– Section 3 of the guide provides a full list of competencies for the rotational aspect of the training in year 1.
– Section 4 of the guide provides a full list of competencies for the professional practice aspect of the training.
– Section 5 of the guide provides a full list of competencies for the elective component of the training.
– Section 8 of the guide provides a full list of competencies for the trainees specialist training in years 2 and 3.
For examples of STP research projects, STP experiences and further STP experiences please click here.
