Fri 31st Jan 2014

11:00 – 13:00

Room 5

Westport 102

Edinburgh EH3 9DN

Present:

Heather Ambler (HA) - Clinical Physiology -Service

Christine DePlacido (CDP) - HEI rep Clinical Physiology

Robert Farley (RF) - Notes - Healthcare Science - NES

David Felix (DF) - Dental Dean - NES

Peter Johnston (PJ) Medical Directorate - NES

Linda Jones (LJ) - HEI Rep Life sciences

Lyndsay Lauder (LL)- NHS Workforce rep, GGC

Jacqui Lunday Johnston (JLJ) from 12:40 by telephone

Carlyn McNab (CMcN) - Chair

Janet Monkman (JM) - CEO Academy for Healthcare Science

Chloe Pass (CP) - Trainee rep

Steven Pye (SP) -Clinical Scientist, Physics - Service

Helen Raftopolous (HR) - Scottish Funding Council

Phil Riches (PR)- HEI rep Physical Sciences

Andy Stone (AS) - Small Groups, Clinical Perfusion

Catherine Wilson (CW) - Trainee rep

Apologies: Elaine Gribben, Richard Lerski, Karen Stewart

Notes:Rob Farley

Actions
1 / Welcome / apologies
CMcN welcomed the newly formed group to NES and outlined the purpose of the AG, which is to act as a sense check for NES Healthcare science activities. Members were invited to think beyond their immediate specialty concerns. The advisory group is an important corporate development opportunity for individuals, and instrumental to the way NES does business. Apologies noted.
2 / Minutes and TORs
Following round table introductions, CMcN led a brief review of the AG Terms of Reference. This was taken first to set the scene for the meeting, particularly given the number of new members present. RF agreed to look at the TORs as they were somewhat dated, making reference to policy and strategy that was supplanted sometime ago. / RF, look at TORs and draft revised version
RF to update group at next meeting
Minutes of previous meeting 27-06-13 were then taken with matters arising. Item 5 had an outstanding action to look at the possibility of using NES alumni to assist with future courses and programmes. This is carried forward as NES Healthcare Science programmes for 2014 are in redesign and may indeed cover this action.
Clinical Technologist actions remain open as developments around radiotherapy services nationally (subsequent to the June 2013 AG) have triggered a wider discussion about this group, which NES is sighted on.
Minor typographical errors, to be rectified. Minute accepted thereafter.
3 / Programme Director – summary 2013 (Discussion Note 1)
RF gave an overview of activity during 2013. \with regard to clinical physiologist training, RF reported challenges in getting NHS Boards to commit to trainees despite NES contributions to Year 1 support. PJ emphasised the tension between service delivery and training was not confined to healthcare science and that NES as a body had to work to convince service of its (training’s) merit
The update covered support for postgraduates (welcomed by HA) and a discussion on the term “supernumerary”. PJ and AS thought that the term was misleading and that “experiential learner” or apprentice would be more accurate. AS intimated that future supernumerary posts in perfusion would probably not be necessary. RF acknowledged the point.
RF emphasised the fragility of clinical physiology training in Scotland given the work-based approach. 2014 support would be available, subject to conversations in progress between Glasgow Caledonian university and Queen Margaret University.
Specifically RF asked how people felt about the proposed NES programme of work 2014. Broadly supportive. A short round table discussion followed on the merits of the recent national event and proposal to hold a June event in Edinburgh.
4 / 2014 Postgraduate Scientist trainees (Discussion Note 2)
RF gave an overview of the postgraduate scientist trainee landscape. This covers both supernumerary trainees and in-service NES award-holders.
The possibility of NES centralising recruitment and employment of supernumerary trainees was discussed. SP asked why this was necessary; RF indicated that there were significant delays to getting the posts advertised and there was an added benefit of such posts being seen to be truly national training posts. PJ indicated that medical specialty recruitment used a single board as a host. RF stated that we effectively did this in Scotland with Boards ‘hosting’ our trainees via service level agreements. RF cited centralised STP recruitment in England, but that service in Scotland had expressed reservations about having a trainee imposed on them. AS echoed this. JM thought that the National School for Healthcare Science could play a role in helping the Scottish recruitment process. HA touched on the experience in England with PTP placement students being imposed on service.
The question of local representation in any selection was a strongly felt sentiment.
The suggestion by RF that some in-service support could be veered to direct STP was aired briefly. There was no firm consensus: a view that rotations could be a challenge was offset by the recognition that it might be worth floating the idea to service. RF indicated that for this group we would aim to support 3 year’s academic development.
RF reported on an Academy mapping exercise about to commence to look at Scottish training arrangements and their alignment with STP / PTP. A scheme to assist in-service postgraduates bid for equivalence was also underway. / RF – further consideration of NES national cohort and report back.
RF report next time on the outcomes of these
5 / 2014 Postgraduate Trainees’ perspective (Discussion Note 3)
CP and CW tabled a paper about trainees’ experience. From their specialty experience, there was anxiety about tracking training and developing a portfolio for ACS / AHCS. There was a suggestion that NES could find a way of resolving this. RF indicated that NES tries to keep the website information upto date; there is not the capacity in the organisation to undertake detailed deanery-like functions, but that we do track training schemes annually.
CW indicated that the phasing of NES support was not aligned with portfolio submission deadlines. DF indicated that dental trainees could in exceptional circumstances have a short extension to overcome these sorts of difficulty. RF indicated that we already do this, but that the Board’s should not expect this as the norm.
CP and CW highlighted the variation in training experience across specialties. SP asked if the AHCS was accrediting departments as a training base. JM responded that this was the National School’s function in England. AS talked about his prof body role in accrediting a service.
CP and CW suggested a trainee’s forum and requested a contact list for all National Training Number Holders. RF responded that this might breach data protection rules, but that if CP and CW would like to draft a plan for a blog, then NES could invite NTN holders to contact CW and CP directly. / CP CW draft a plan for a trainees’ forum, RF then to circulate to NTN holders.
6 / 2014 Programme support from NES – Trainees in Difficulty. (Discussion Note 4)
JMcK who had given apologies tabled a short paper describing plans to offer a NES programme to address Trainees in Difficulty. The group welcomed this.
RF reported that NES would propose training dates and venues shortly for 2014 for the various programmes.
7 / Academy for Healthcare Science update
JM tabled a comprehensivehandout that summarising Academy activities since June 2013. These coverongoing HEE support, HCPC major change applications underway that will include Reconstructive Sciences. Assessors are being trained for various specialty portfolio scrutiny roles, with clinical physiology being an early implementer.
JM touched on the establishment of a new Practitioners’ Assured Voluntary Register, an associated consultation in February, and equivalence mapping commissions being undertaken both by Scotland and Wales. Around 7000 followers receive the Academy’s Vox newsletter. Work was underway to look at service quality accreditation, developing scientific leadership and the evolving governance structure at the Academy as the work plan develops.
JM acknowledged Scotland’s role in promoting the equivalence agenda and welcomed the early commission from NES.
JM reported that the Academy was planning an annual conference for later in 2014 and that a call for papers was due out. Members were invited to respond to the call when it came.
CMcN thanked JM for her update.
8 / Scottish Government Healthcare Science Developments
JLJ joined the meeting by telephone immediately following item 7.
Scottish Government workforce projections are about to be released; Boards are being asked to think about their workforce shape and configuration.
About 50% Boards have appointed or are in the process of appointing Healthcare Science Leads who will have a strategic role in supporting the forthcoming HCS Delivery Plan. There was a debate by the group about the actual AfC level offered to support this and where in the management structure the posts would sit. JLJ thought that Boards were in a position to supplement the Government’s support – this had indeed happened in one Board.
JLJ reported that the HCS Delivery Plan was due for consultation. A replacement Healthcare Science Officer would be appointed to assist this. The Plan is likely to touch on HCS contribution to Board objectives, the 20:20 workforce vision, quality improvement and items such as 7-day working.
CMcN thanks JLJ for her update.
9 / NES Communications
This item was carried forward owing to lack of time available. / RF carry forward item to next meeting
10 / Membership / composition of the Advisory Group (list attached).
No discussion on this point at this stage – taken earlier
11 / AOB
None
12 / DONM:
RF indicated likely to be Aug / Sept 2014. Venue to be advised.