AHCS UPDATE – HEALTHCARE SCIENCE SHARE AND LEARN NETWORK Academy for Healthcare Science February 2015

Bringing the profession together, informing the wider health system

The Academy for Healthcare Science is run by the profession, for the profession, with the profession. Our work is governed by a Board with representatives from across healthcare science, informed by a Council made up of representatives from healthcare science professional bodies. The Professional Scientific Leadership Committee reports to the Council of Professional Bodies and is a key stakeholder group providing scientific professional expertise, and scientific advice and knowledge. One Voice 3

The Inaugural Congress of AHCS was held from 8-9 December The Congress was supported by all of the four UK countries. Delegates from England, Scotland and Wales both attended and presented at the event. 120 delegates attended the Congress on 08/12/2014 and 113 on 09/12/2014. The theme of the Congress Passionate for patients, passionate about science highlighted the key activities of the Academy:  promoting the reputation of healthcare scientists as they deliver modern, technologically enabled healthcare  delivering regulation to protect patients and enhance the status of healthcare scientists  achieving recognition for healthcare science and scientists across the healthcare landscape. One Voice – AHCS Congress 4

Evaluation: Hearing what goes on in other disciplines has inspired me in my own work and makes me proud to be a healthcare scientist. The first time ALL healthcare science disciplines have met together. A useful forum for shared learning and inspiration for future development and research. Excellent networking. The Congress selected representatives of our profession at the height of excellence and was a fantastic showcase for how healthcare science can transform people’s lives. The Congress was fantastic. A great location with a very positive vibe. It was so encouraging to associate with other scientists from such a broad range of sub disciplines.

On 04/11/2014, PSLC hosted a think tank with a group of senior scientists, chairs of NHS Trusts and representatives of recruitment organisations to explore the potential roles of healthcare scientists in executive and governance positions on the Boards of Trusts, other healthcare organisations and organisations in the not for profit and commercial sectors. Where do healthcare scientists add value?  their scientific training gives them a unique understanding of risk and risk management  they have skills in evidence based decision making  they have forensic analytical skills and can interpret data easily  they can work with detail and have honed organisational skills  they have good problem solving skills, making them good at scrutiny and challenge  they are strategic thinkers and as scientists, have experience of professional leadership  they understand how research impacts on innovation and how innovation drives sustainability and ongoing business success. One Voice – releasing the potential

Bringing the profession together, informing the wider health system

The new education and training routes introduced through Modernising Scientific Careers are changing the arrangements for registration across the various career levels of healthcare science. The Academy has long held the view that the best way to protect patients, the public and the interests of the NHS is for all groups within healthcare science to be covered by statutory regulation. The PSA (Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care) requires governance of the AHCS Register to be at arms-length and with a clear lay majority, so the AHCS Regulation Council makes its decisions independently The Academy believes that its register, accredited by the PSA and co- ordinated across all of healthcare science, is an important step towards achieving this aim in the long-term. How Healthcare Science regulation is changing

Independent Interim Chair (Professor Ed Peile, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education, University of Warwick) Responsible for Standards of Education and Training and for Standards of Curriculum Development Has a close working relationship with the AHCS Regulation Council Responsible for quality assurance - receives quarterly monitoring reports AHCS Education, Training and Professional Standards Committee

Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) At this level, all individuals should be have statutory registration with the HCPC as Clinical Scientists. The Academy will open a new part of its accredited register for those people completing HSST through training or equivalence. Clinical scientists (STP) Individuals completing a Scientist Training Programme course, or completing STP Equivalence through the Academy, are eligible to apply for statutory regulation as Clinical Scientists. Healthcare science practitioners (PTP) The AHCS runs a PSA-accredited Register for Healthcare Science Practitioners not covered by statutory regulation. Practitioners who have completed an HCPC-approved PTP course in Life Sciences are eligible to apply for Statutory Regulation as Biomedical Scientists. Assistants, assistant practitioners and associate practitioners These groups will be covered by a directory or register, for example by voluntary registration through the Academy. Precise details of the arrangements are still being developed. Registering the healthcare science workforce

Equivalence Equivalence is an integral part of the Modernising Scientific Careers framework. The national consultation on the MSC proposals in 2008 identified strong support for a system of equivalence that recognises educational qualifications, and accreditation of prior experiential learning and developed skills and is applicable to all levels and stages of the MSC Career Framework.

Equivalence – supports routes to registration Those who have worked in healthcare or science in the UK, EU or overseas seeking recognition and clarification of their place on the MSC Career Framework STP – registration with HCPC as Clinical Scientist PTP – registration with AHCS voluntary register for practitioners

Where can I apply for Equivalence?

Assistants, assistant practitioners and associate practitioners This education and training programme is currently in development The development of the voluntary register and the routes onto the register are in development but will follow the AHCS principles of equity and transparency and be subject to the same governance processes Standards of education and training will be developed, agreed and approved through existing processes Registering this workforce – lessons from the STP programme - assessment of knowledge - assessment of skills – workplace based training

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