1. Academy for Healthcare Science
London PTP Network
Academy for Healthcare Science
Patricia le Rolland, Chair of the Regulation Council
Beth Dodson, Development Co-ordinator
13 February 2017

2. About the AHCS Leadership One Voice Communication Quality Improvement
Education
Regulation

3. More about the AHCS
Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) policy-makers, professional bodies and the four UK countries saw the need for an Academy for healthcare science like the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for doctors
The Academy was commissioned by Health Education England to provide a Register for Healthcare Science Practitioners not covered by statutory regulation
The Academy register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) (who also oversee the 9 statutory regulators)
Practitioners (PTP graduands) and Higher Specialist Scientists (HSS) who have completed an AHCS approved programme or equivalence are eligible to apply to join the Academy’s Accredited Register

4. What Else The Academy is a not for profit organisation
The Academy is not a professional body but works with professional bodies to raise the profile of the profession and the issues it faces
The Academy is not a huge organisation but has a network that can reach across the diverse groups and 80,000+ healthcare science staff
It has a small team of staff who interact with the hundreds of professionals and lay people and volunteers who help to deliver the work

5. Why do we need an appropriately regulated workforce?
Regulation of professionals aims to protect patients and is increasingly viewed as essential by patients, carers, employers, providers and commissioners.
Through registration, an individual shows commitment to upholding high professional standards and to keeping their knowledge, skills and experience up-to-date through ongoing professional development.
If individuals fail to uphold standards and protect patients and show that they are not Fit to Practise then they can have their Registration status restricted or removed.
Think about Mid Staffs, Keogh Report……..

6. Types of registration No register No regulation
Basic safety checks for employment – Vetting and Barring
Directories
Professional body registration – a 20th century model?
Credentialing (whose type?) registers
Voluntary registers
Accredited voluntary registers
Statutory registers – presently professional basis – likely to change nb DH consultation

7. Assurance The Government said in its response to the
House of Commons Select Committee Report of Session 2014/15:
Accountability hearing with the Health and Care Professions Council
“The Academy for Healthcare Science Voluntary Register
offers assurance that is appropriate and proportionate to the risks presented to public safety”

8. Regulation Council
The Academy set up an arms-length independent body to oversee its registers – the Regulation Council
Core objectives are to reduce risks to patients and to protect the public
Determines all decisions of fitness to practise for the healthcare science workforce on the Academy’s Register
Investigates fitness to practise complaints and may impose sanctions

9. Regulation Council
Works with the National School for Healthcare Science (and through them, with higher education institutions)
This ensures that the education programmes meet the required content, standards and outcomes
This means that the healthcare science workforce can apply to register with either the AHCS Regulation Council or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC is just for specialisms that are statutorily regulated)

10. The Benefits of an AHCS Register
AHCS holds a PSA-accredited Register, co-ordinated across all of healthcare science not covered by Statutory Regulation, and an Equivalence programme for degree level and above
Registration of professional healthcare scientists protects patients, and demonstrates commitment to high standards and quality
Registrants demonstrate they are keeping their knowledge, skills and experience up-to-date through ongoing professional development
Continuous registration is increasingly viewed as essential by employers, providers, commissioners and patients
Registration is a desirable addition to a professional portfolio it shows your commitment to protecting patients and the public through professional standards

11. Three routes to the Practitioner Register
Successfully complete a BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science degree (known as a Practitioner Training Programme (PTP)) at an AHCS approved higher education institution
Successfully complete the AHCS PTP Equivalence process
Successfully complete the Certificate of Competence process with the AHCS
Registration offer: £5 for the first year, £50 pa thereafter

12. Equivalence – challenge yourself in the future?
Achieving the AHCS Certificate of Equivalence demonstrates that skills, knowledge and experience meet the learning outcomes of the relevant specialist healthcare science programme
Equivalent to (but no more than) trainees on the formal training course … but can be finished within just a few months (if you work hard)
AHCS also offers two other routes to Registration via Equivalence for those who:
want to be able to apply for Clinical Scientist status (a HCPC protected title) STPE
and for very senior scientists HSSE, huge interest in this for clinical scientists
AHCS equivalence applicant numbers are doubling year-on-year

13. More about Equivalence
Promotes fairness and equity
Based around the high level standards of Good Scientific Practice (GSP)
Evidence is mapped to the five Domains – Professional Practice, Clinical Practice, Scientific Practice, Research/Innovation and Clinical Leadership
Assessment decisions are based on the evidence submitted mapped to GSP in the context of the relevant MSC programme outcomes
Assessed by the relevant specialist and lay trained assessors

14. How can I progress? Read the guidance carefully, study GSP and FAQs
Review the relevant programme outcomes and curriculum
Ask a mentor, coach, line manager, or someone who has experience already, for advice and support.
Think about what learning opportunities happen every day, and use reflection.
Submit the correct evidence and information to avoid delay!
Find out about top up training and CPD opportunities
Think about stretching yourself – STPE … HSSE in the future

15. Where is the information I need?