Notes of the NES Healthcare Science Advisory Group

Date: Thursday 27th June 2013

Time: 11am - 1pm

Venue: Department of Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University
/

Present:

LW Linda Walsh (Chair / HE/Glasgow Caledonian University)

HR Helen Raftopolous (Scottish Funding Council)

DK Dave Keating (deputising for Dick Lerski – Scottish Forum for Healthcare Science)

SP Steve Pye (Physical Sci - Clinical Physics)

DS David Stirling (Scottish Government HCSO)

LY Lindsay Yuile (Physical Sci -Clinical Technologists)

JM Janet Monkham (Academy for Healthcare Science)

CM Carlyn McNab (FE / Stow College)

JB Jean Bell (Life Sci – Ninewells)

JL Jacqui Lunday (Scottish Government – Chief Health Professions Officer)

EG Elaine Gribben (Clinical Physiology / HE / Glasgow Caledonian university)

AC Adrian Carrager (Clinical Physiology – Audiology / Ayrshire & Arran HB)

Rob Farley (NES Healthcare Science Programme Director)

Invitee: JMcK John McKinlay (NES Training Development Support Unit)

Notes: Rob Farley

Apologies

Derek Phillips – Workforce

David Lurie – Physical sciences HE

Christine Deplacido - Clinical Physiology (Audiology) HE

Dick Lerski (Scottish Forum for Healthcare Science – D Keating deputised).

David Felix (NES Dental Dean)

1 / Welcome and Apologies
LW welcomed all and in particular JM for the Academy for Healthcare Science, that has joined the NES Advisory Group and JMcK as guest speaker.
Apologies – noted above.
2 / Minutes of previous meeting – 3rd Dec 2012
Minutes 3 Dec 2012
Accepted without revision. No matters arising not covered in today’s meeting.
3 / HCS Programme Director’s update (Paper: Discussion Note 1)
RF tabled an update on 6 month activities. Report covered programmatic work, bursary support for postgraduate scientist trainees and upcoming events – including the AHCS engagement on 28th June (following this meeting)
RF highlighted funding position to HCS work stream; non-recurrent funding has, to date been exhausted and any 2013 support we have been able to give has come from clinical scientist attrition of supernumerary schemes.
RF reported that conversations with the Government were in progress to try and resolve this situation. / ACTION
4 / Postgraduate Scientist Trainees (Paper: Discussion Note 2)
RF tabled a summary of the current postgraduate scientist cohort, following recent awards to 26 applicants for bursary support; 40 applicants had applied to the 2013 round.
The total cohort stands at 167, with revision down at the end of 2013 as completers leave our register.
RF thought that the standard of application was lower this year, with less commitment to Common Core List (CCL) development. LW thought that the Common Core List could be promoted on her own programme but recognised that applicants had applied to a variety of programmes. JL suggested that the added value of winning a National Training Number could be explored. DS suggested an employer perspective on the cohort might be helpful and noted that self-funders - who do not have a National training Number- remain an issue. JM thought the AHCS might have a potential role in promoting the cohort to employers in Scotland.
JB suggested that an explanation of the Common Core List could be woven into the NES Early Career programme and the Train the trainer programmes
LY asked whether there had been any assessor training in scrutinising the applications. RF responded that guidance had been circulated, it was published on the web and made clear to applicants.
DS noted the poor attention to the guidance. He wondered about unregistered staff (e.g. MLA grades with degrees) accessing postgraduate support. RF responded the NES scheme was for registered postgraduate staff, and that articulation for MLAs was not covered by this initiative.
DS also cited challenges of postgraduate staff seeking more that one year’s support. RF acknowledged the issues, but reminded the group that the scheme was entirely dependent on Clinical Scientist trainee attrition, so was in effect predictable only for that financial year.
JL suggested that, as for AHP Fellowships, some sort of obligation to report to NES on completion of the award should be made the norm. JL thought that an appreciative enquiry model would be helpful. RF responded that a survey of National training Number holders had been completed recently (posted on the web). RF expected to run a 2014 scheme and that this was likely to be available to eligible post registration staff, including Technologists. / RF promote added value of national training number / explore –resolve issue of self-funders / unsuccessful applicants
5 / Return on Investment (Paper: Discussion Note 3)
NES Programmes and Courses DN-3
JMcK gave an update on NES programmatic support for Healthcare Science (Early career, Train-the-Trainer and Refreshing Leadership). JMcK introduced the idea of NES alumni / fellows who could assist with future courses and programmes as exemplars.
LY thought this was a good idea, but had anxieties about time to do so. JL thought that this could engage people in the “bigger picture” for example the forthcoming Delivery Plan. JMck Thought a follow-up conversation with interested parties would be useful. JL and JM both cited use of e-learning / virtual approaches to overcome the time / commitment issues raised earlier. JMcK thought the key issue was maintaining enthusiasm for the programmes and injecting some freshness into them.
JB noted that in her department, Early Career and TtT alumni were used as mentors to Biomedical Science students on placement.
JMcK asked about additional programmes delivered perhaps via satellite courses, perhaps covering – interviewing skills, problem solving, Personal development review skills, facilitating skills. RF wondered whether some of these short courses we already available.
AC thought that ability to present scientific data could form the basis of a really useful course. JMcK wondered if this could be styled as an advanced presentation skills course. DS suggested budgeting / financial skills course would be helpful, but perhaps shared with other professional groups.
JMcK indicated that NES offered a multi disciplinary patient safety course, recently offered to HCS staff via the NES Portal booking system. / ACTION
RF / JMcK explore further possibility of alumni / fellow’s contribution to future programmes.
6 / Clinical Technologist Training DN-4
LY and SP tabled a paper outlining a request for support for a Technologist co-ordinator. LY outlined the known numbers in training, although this was not a complete national picture. SP thought training arrangements across the 7 scopes of technologist practise were patchy and wanted to avoid locking into a single training pathway. Both LY and SP suggested that an equivalence route via AHCS for technologists would be helpful; RF clarified the historical position in Scotland for JM in regards to technologist grades joining service from industry.
RF agreed to contact heads of service to complete the national picture. JL cautioned that lobbying of individual specialism was not helpful if it excluded a more generic skill set. SP Clarified the purposed of the paper, which was to elicit support for all scopes of practise. There was an exchange of views as to the merits of degree-level entry for the technologist group. SP thought it appropriate with top-up available for those without a pre-existing degree. EG reminded colleagues that “top-up” was available at GCU and, as previously explored, it would work for clinical technologists. RF suggested that colleagues with an interest in the area could discuss further with GCU.
LW thanked SP and LY for their contribution. / RF to write to HoDs to take forward survey.
SP / LY engage with GCU.
7 / Academy for Healthcare Science update
LW welcomed JM to the meeting and confirmed that, following the last visit of the Academy, agreement had been reached to invite an Academy rep onto the NES Advisory Group.
JM outlined the development of the Academy since its last visit to Scotland in June 2012. A new executive team has been established with a focus on partnership working with existing structures and professional groups.
Academy communications and website have been developed over the last 12 months and there has been some emergent work on applications processes to the various academy awards.
JM acknowledged the challenge of financial flows to the Academy, and anticipated that matters would become more settled as accredited registers and equivalence process come in stream.
JM presented her ambitions for the AHCS rather than its mission, and emphasised the opportunities to give scientific leadership and speak with one-voice.
The format and type of membership has still to be determined; a number of models are being explored.
To date, the AHCS’s priorities have been around securing the registration of the original Genetics Pilot trainees and starting detailed work on equivalence processes. The involvement of Lay Assessors is also a key piece of work. Governance processes across all ACHCS business have more-or-less been harmonised with HCPC requirements; JM reminded colleagues that the AHCS’s intent was to secure statutory regulation of HCS groups.
JM informed the group that AHCS no longer operated from a London HQ, but at present was a virtual organisation with back-office support from a service provider in Lichfield.
LW thanks JM for her presentation. The group agreed to defer questions as a follow-on meeting with the Academy was due in the afternoon as a rehearsal for 28th June.
8 / Scottish Government Healthcare Science developments
DS outlined progress with the forthcoming consultation on the Government’s Delivery Plan for Healthcare Science. DS described the appointment of policy leads for HCS into the Government, and local NHS Board leads on a sessional basis.
The Delivery Plan’s 3 month consultation was expected later in the summer, with a launch towards the end of 2013.
9 / Communications
RF confirmed a Summer newsletter has been circulated recently.
10 / Membership / Composition of the Advisory Group
LW led a conversation regarding membership of the NES HCS Advisory Group.
LW advised that this was her last A.G. as chair as she will demit. The chair, drawn from the existing group is Carlyn McNab, with Adrian Carragher as Deputy Chair. The term of a number of members is now complete.
RF was tasked with writing to all to confirm their availability to end 2013 (as agreed at the last advisory group) and to begin the process of seeking replacements. RF advised that in line with existing NES arrangements, a call would be made to service highlighting the specific vacancies and inviting applicants. NES would select.
DS suggested that this would be an opportunity to widen membership to include a rep from the National HCS Leads. RF agreed this was a good idea and will progress. / ACTION
RF contact members demitting / widen membership
11 / AOB
None
12 / Date of next meeting
LW advised this would be in early Dec 2013. RF to advise / RF to progress DONM

2