Assessing Your Options Sarah May Deputy Chief Executive Institute of Biomedical Science

Factors affecting decisions and options Personal circumstances Opportunities Location Experience Seniority Attitude

Transferable knowledge and skills Specific and general science UK healthcare systems and regulation Good laboratory practice (and good clinical practice) Research principles and methodologies Quality and safety Training methods and competence assessment Management principles, communication skills Accuracy, attention to detail . . . to name but a few

Change of laboratory discipline Regulation not a barrier to change of discipline Biomedical Scientists - Specialist Portfolio can be used as a retraining qualification or as an informal training template Cytology screeners – Certificate of Achievement is generic and transferable between disciplines and confers eligibility to apply for Registered Scientist or Registered Science Technician (Science Council)

How about histology? Diploma of Expert Practice – allow approx. 2 years Non-gynaecological cytology* - written + practical exam Immunocytochemistry – written exam Histological dissection – written exam 5 mandatory modules 11 optional modules – choose at least 1 Advanced Specialist Diploma – allow 2-5 years Histological dissection (lower G.I or breast) Histopathology reporting (G.I, gynae pathology or dermatopathology)

Advanced Specialist Diploma in Histopathology Reporting Four stages, A – D Stage A - Portfolio plus written/practical examinations Stage B – Portfolio assessment only Stage C – Portfolio plus written/practical and oral examinations IBMS/RCPath ASD awarded Stage D – assessment of competence (preceptorship) RCPath/IBMS Certificate of Completion of Training awarded

Scientist Training Programme (STP) Direct entry or in-service entry On-line aptitude test Shortlisting + interview Placement offer 3 year integrated MSc programme Graduation and registration as a clinical scientist 2019 intake applications open on 15 January

STP options Life sciences, – options in blood sciences, infection sciences and genetics – biomedical science degree ideal Genomic counselling – degree with some genetics content; prev. caring role experience needed (can be voluntary) Physiological sciences – biology or human biology degree, biomedical science (probably) Ideally at least a 2:1 degree but 2:2 considered if also relevant work experience

Total career change Diagnostics industry – sales, technical evaluation, development, user support Teaching – shortage of science teachers Academia – higher education, further education Department of Health Medical Associate Professions

Medical Associate Professions (MAPS) Physicians Associates Physicians Assistants (anaesthetics) Surgical Care Practitioners Advanced Critical Care Practitioners

Physicians Associates (PAs) Medical histories and examinations Managing and diagnosing illnesses Under supervision of a doctor 2 year PGD or MSc Graduate entry, usually a biomedical science degree

Physicians Assistant (anaesthetics) Deliver anaesthesia and critical care Pre and post operative assessments Consultant anaesthetist supervision Graduate entry with biomedical or biological science degree or entry from an already registered HCPC profession

My advice . . . . . Start to plan your CPD strategically – this will help shape your updated CV Refresh your knowledge of other disciplines – visit the labs, ask for some refresher reading material, ask to spend some time there if possible. Find out what retraining support is being made available by your employer – and take it! If you’re interested in academia contact the course leader at your local HEI for a chat and a visit Physicians Associate – read about the role, > 10 universities offer a diploma course. Is your employer considering this? Have a conversation with the reps from your reagent/equipment suppliers and ask about job opportunities Be prepared to take a step down in order to take a step up

Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future Growing the workforce New graduates, return to practice, retention of current staff More medical school and undergraduate nursing places New roles and increased skill mix Beyond 2021/22 Workforce planning must better align with service delivery No change in demand growth means 190,000 new posts needed by 2027 Only an additional 72,000 staff if recruitment continues at current rate Need to balance the demand:recruitment growth ratio

To conclude Greater use of, and opportunities for, non-medical staff Opportunities for biomedical scientists within and beyond our profession Change will continue to be driven by affordability but at a faster pace and to a greater extent We will recover from this – eventually and . . . . . Consultation language with accompanying smiley happy pictures will always irritate me – but I’ll just have to get over it!