1. IBMS Registration Portfolio
Verifier Training
Alan Wainwright CSci FIBMS
Executive Head of Education

2. As a Verifier you need to:
Understand requirements for registration
Understand roles and responsibilities
Understand purpose of the registration portfolio
Establish benchmark of professional competence and confidence to practice 2

3. Consider – HCPC Statutory body for protection of patients
Set legal requirement for competence in a defined scope of practice e.g. Biomedical Scientist
State protected title
Set standards of proficiency
Approve integrated degrees
Set Standards of Education and Training
Audit compliance with CPD requirement

4. Registered Practitioners
HCPC SoP are threshold level required to practice
Practitioner defined as:
Performing a range of complex clinical/scientific/technical procedures, accountable for their own actions and for staff that they direct or supervise. Most frequently in first jobs prior to specialisation.

5. Consider – IBMS Professional Body for Biomedical Science
Define a Code of Professional Practice
Set professional standards of practice
Award professional qualifications
Accredit degrees
Define professional knowledge and skills
Promote professional education and training
Provide a CPD scheme

6. Consider - Individuals
Undergraduate
part-time
fulltime with clinical placement
fulltime without clinical placement
Postgraduate
‘Returners’
Different experiences/abilities
Varying needs

7. Education and Training
Pre-Registration
Education and Training
How?

8. Considerations For pre-registration training As a trainer
Awareness of what, why and how we do things
Seeking to understand underlying mechanisms & rationales
As a trainer
What am I trying to teach/achieve?
What are my resources?
How can I do it?
Is there a development activity (person/departmental)
How do I measure success?
Feedback

9. Biomedical Science Degree
Core Subjects
Human anatomy/physiology
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Immunology
Molecular biology/genetics
Statistics and computing
Instrumentation/Analytical Technique
Specialist Areas
Cellular pathology
Clinical Chemistry
Haematology
Transfusion Science
Medical microbiology
Immunology
Clinical Genetics
Pathophysiology
Biology of Disease
Project
Embedded Skills

10. Qualification Options
Integrated (Applied BMS and HCS)
IBMS accredited and HCPC approved routes where education and training is concurrent
Classical Route (BMS)
Accredited education & training separate
Indirect Routes (non-BMS)
Individually assessed degree
supplementary education

11. Training Delivery Six broad areas of delivery that reflect the needs
of the practitioner undergoing training.
Environment, Facilities and equipment,
Health and Safety
Workload and staffing
Quality
Education and training
Training documentation
The Biomedical Scientist January 2009 page

12. How long will training take?
Until competence is achieved and demonstrated
Active training time dependent on local arrangements
Ability of trainee
Effort needed remains the same
Be realistic! You are not creating a specialist practitioner

13. The Registration Portfolio

14. The Registration portfolio is
A compilation of documentary evidence of education and training that together demonstrate the professional conduct, attitude, knowledge and skills of an individual against the HCPC Standards of Proficiency.

15. The Registration Portfolio
Interpretation of the HCPC standards of proficiency
Generic - all trainees/all situations
It includes a Knowledge and a Competence component
Evidences that trainee has met the competences required for registration
Template for co-delivery of education and training

16. The Registration Portfolio
A tool to showcase the work of a professional whilst showing development of competence
Allows individuality of structure and personal development
A reminder of what has been done
Helpful at interviews
Source of useful information

17. HCPC Standards Expectations of a health professional
The skills required for the application of practice
Knowledge, skills and understanding

18. HCPC standards translated
BEHAVIOUR - professional individual in a multi professional environment
APPLIED SKILLS – interpretation, assessment, critical evaluation and common sense
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS – the essence of biomedical science

20. COMPETENCE
You must be able to:
Perform analyses relevant to the routine sample under investigation using prescribed protocols applicable to your work placement or field of employment.
Describe the underlying principles and limitations of the prescribed protocol relevant to the sample under investigation. (see also HCPC standard 3a.1)

21. Therefore competence is …
A general description of the behaviour or actions needed
to successfully perform within a particular [work] context
(e.g. job, group of jobs, function, etc).
Can also be thought of as:
“fitness to practice”
“fitness for purpose”

22. The signatures

23. The reflections Found at the end of each section Must be completed
May be hand written
(more personal)

24. Compilation An index/contents page
Evidence provided in a single separate folder
collect, select and reflect
Sign and date individual evidence
Sign and date Evidence of Achievement section (may be a range of trainers)
Complete reflective log
Check spelling!

25. Suggested Organisation
Divide contents into sections
personal information, certificates etc
examples of evidence
reflective statements
Indicate on each piece of evidence the standard(s) to which it relates

26. Evidence 1. In house assessments
Short answer questions set and marked by trainer
Documented observed practical assessments
Quizzes
Short presentations

27. Evidence 2. Annotated material results printouts maintenance logs
test requests
incident reports
NEQAS results
Photomicrographs
Presentations by third party

28. Evidence 3. Witness statements OR
Objective observations that relate to a specific task or action that are independently written and verified by trainer OR
Self witness statement written by trainee and signed and authorised by trainer

29. Evidence 4. Reflective logs
A brief description of a process, incident or event undertaken by or involving the trainee accompanied by the personal thoughts of what has been learned and how this might be applied in the future to their benefit and that of their service users.

30. How is Training Verified?
Completed Registration Portfolio
Independent verification
External verifiers (IBMS trained)
External verifiers (University or IBMS appointed)
Informal ‘interview’
Review of registration portfolio and evidence
Laboratory tour
Report
Award of Certificate of Competence

31. The Verification Process
Verifies there is evidence that can be mapped to each HCPC standard to verify:
there has been training to assess the application of knowledge and skill to meet standards of proficiency
competence is relevant and reproducible
Allow 3 hours in total

32. 1 - Interview with Candidate and Training Facilitator (15-20 mins)
Verifier will ask a series of questions from a script, which is submitted as part of the report
Type of hospital (DGH, teaching, etc.)
Workload
Staffing level
Training support
CPA status
External collaboration
Many of the responses will reflect candidate’s own experience
Verifier checks laboratory documentation

33. Excerpt from verifiers report

35. 2- Portfolio Verification (Max 90 mins)
Undertaken by verifier on their own
Should have a quiet room with refreshments
Systematic review of portfolio and evidence
Not an assessment of the individual but an examination of documentary evidence
Evidence should verify assessments that demonstrate the HCPC standards have been met
Check:
Competences have been signed off
Look for:
Evidence of learning and skills with application to practice
Not about evidencing a series of experiences!

37. 3 - Tour of Laboratory (30 mins)
One to one with candidate
Not an independent examination
Establish awareness of departmental function, tests and equipment
Establish understanding of personal role
Assess training culture

38. Practical demonstration is NOT required!

39. 4 - Feedback
Verifier feeds back outcome to the trainee and trainer (15-20 mins)
May seek clarification on points of evidence if needed
Report on renewal of lab training status (or not)
Report on candidate’s suitability for registration
Constructive comments provided to help candidate and lab to continue to succeed

40. Portfolio passes
All sections of the portfolio signed and dated by tutors and/or trainers
All standards supported by sufficient and relevant evidence
Minor missing evidence provided during visit
Portfolio supported by demonstration of knowledge during laboratory tour

41. Successful Outcome For the IBMS, the verifier will :
Recommend award of IBMS Certificate of Competence to the candidate Licentiate membership
Recommend Institute notifies HCPC of eligibility of candidate for registration
Complete and send report to IBMS Registration Department
Send copy to laboratory trainer

42. Portfolio referrals
Not all sections of the portfolio signed and dated by tutors and/or trainers
Absent, insufficient or irrelevant evidence for a number of standards
Deficiencies in the portfolio not adequately addressed or rectified during the laboratory tour.

43. Unsuccessful Outcomes
For unsuccessful portfolios, the verifier will:
Identify the shortfall in candidates portfolio
Agree deadline for the candidate to collect additional evidence that verifier will then review
Complete and send report to IBMS registration department
Send copy to laboratory trainer

44. Completion of Verifier Report
Sent to IBMS within 1 week of verification
Electronically, typed
Clear, legible, auditable
Personal and professional responsibility to candidate, HEI, Institute and HCPC
Keep a copy

45. Verifier Feedback Should: Provide motivation and encouragement
Be developmental not judgemental
Encourage candidate to reflect on assessment
Help candidate to improve performance
Relate to marking criteria / standards

46. Laboratory Approval for Training

47. Laboratory training status
Overall standards should be met if the lab is CPA accredited
Specific requirements can be checked off as part of the informal interview and the laboratory tour

48. Training Approval Based on revised criteria and guidelines
January laboratories notified of changes
- article in Biomedical Scientist
March return of self-assessment forms
- approval of laboratory
April Laboratory approval process updated
Registration Portfolio verification
- Full approval (Registration)

49. Responsibilities Trainers/tutors provide education and training
assess knowledge and competence
Portfolio verifier
reviews evidence, verifies training has been given and standards been met
maintains professional knowledge and competence
IBMS
Issues guidance and defines criteria for verification
Quality assures process

50. Quality Assurance
Documents/guidelines sent out to verifiers on each occasion
IBMS does not routinely provide feedback to verifiers but can on request
Verifier report can highlights issues
remedial action requested by IBMS
audited by Education & Professional Standards Committee
Laboratory report can highlight departure from guidelines
advice may be issued to individual verifier or verifiers collectively
Laboratory and verifier exchange reports to provide written feedback

51. Good Practice for Verifiers
Good communication between yourself, laboratory trainer and candidate – check their understanding
Organise paperwork BEFORE you go to verify
Put others at ease but be professional - not too laid back!
Stick to time – remember you are there to verify. There is no need for a fine toothcomb.
Give feedback to all concerned
Remember what you are there for

52. Conclusions Should be a good learning experience for everyone
Should be the basis for good professional practice
Process ensures consistency between disciplines and between laboratories
Confirms IBMS/HCPC guidelines and criteria have been applied nationally
Disseminates areas of good practice and highlights areas of unsatisfactory practice

53. Integrated Degrees Integrated degrees are not a sandwich degree
Integrated degree verification organised by university not IBMS
Actual verification process remains the same
Same documentation (report & feedback form)

54. Integrated Degrees
At time of verification student has not completed degree therefore certificate NOT issued
Upon graduation university sends student details, verification report and feedback form to IBMS
Certificate of Competence issued and details passed to HCPC

55. How to become a Verifier
Criteria:
Current Corporate member of IBMS
Currently practicing in an IBMS approved laboratory
HCPC registered
Minimum of 4 years post registration experience as a registered practitioner
Actively participating in IBMS CPD scheme
Attended IBMS ‘training’ day
Complete and application form and send to
If you are attending this day, please complete the form and send through to the office to be put on our database.