Booklet - Association of Clinical Embryologists

Developing people for health
and healthcare
Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC)
Considering supporting a
trainee through the
Scientist Training Programme (STP)?
Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
Authors
Jennie Bell
Professional Lead - Cellular Sciences and Genetics, National School of Healthcare Science
Jane Blower
Consultant Embryologist, Leicester Fertility Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Vicky Brown
Embryologist at CARE Fertility, Manchester
Rachel Cutting
Principal Embryologist, Jessop Fertility, Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Nicola Monks
Senior Embryologist, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
What is MSC STP?
The Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) Scientist Training Programme
(STP) is now well established and effectively provides a training and
education framework across all HealthCare Science (HCS) professions.
For embryology this applies to both the private and NHS sectors. It
combines work-based training with an academic qualification (MSc)
from an accredited University.
There are 7 embryologists who have now successfully completed the
programme and 24 are currently in training.
How do trainees get a trainee position?
Entry to STP is via a national recruitment process led by the National
School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS). Candidates apply after an advert
is placed on the NHS jobs website and undergo competitive recruitment
through shortlisting and interview. Successful candidates are employed
on a 3 year fixed-term training contract of employment.
‘Candidates are
employed on a
3 year
fixed-term
training
contract of
employment’
Is it possible to train someone who already works in your
department
It is possible if you identify a suitable candidate who meets the STP entry
requirements within your organisation to support them through the
programme. These ‘in-service trainees’ still go through the interview
process to ensure they are suitable candidates and the department
must identify there is a need for the position through their workforce
planning. The NSHCS can help and advise you through this process.
How do I apply for a trainee?
Once you have identified a workforce need you should contact your
Local Education and Training Board (LETB contact details are on page 4).
An application form is completed and sent back for consideration.
The application form will detail your reasons for requesting a trainee
(workforce planning) and the details of the departments that will provide
the rotational training.
What funding is available?
If your application is successful your STP trainee will be fully funded
for 36 months. The financial support provided has two elements: a
contribution towards salary costs and a contribution towards non-salary
costs (each LETB will determine its own model of funding).
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Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
Regional contacts for Local Education and Training Boards
(LETB)
Name
Region
Contact details
Anne Gilford
West Midlands
[email protected]
Bernard Groen
North East
[email protected]
Caroline Lee
Wessex and Thames Valley
[email protected]
Cate Hollinshead
East Midlands
[email protected]
Diane Crawford
South West
[email protected]
Eddie Ramlakhan
London
[email protected]
Gary Dakin
London
[email protected]
Gillian Andrews
National NHS B&T
[email protected]
Helen Liggett
North West
[email protected]
Jane Butler
Kent Surrey and Sussex
[email protected]
Judy Croot
East of England
[email protected]
Melanie Watson
South West
[email protected]
Nicholas Fowler-Johnson
North West
[email protected]
Rajeev Sunner
West Midlands
[email protected]
Sally Drew
Yorkshire and Humber
[email protected]
Contribution to salary costs are based on Agenda for Change Band 6,
commencing at point 21 for the first academic year and progressing
through points 22 and 23 for academic years 2 and 3, respectively provided
that progress within the programme has been achieved as expected.
For in-service trainees, a contribution towards salary costs will be paid
to the employing Trust. The percentage contribution may vary between
LETBs. The contact in your regional LETB will advise on the contribution
paid.
Non-salary costs are reviewed annually but for example some LETBs
provide £2,000 support for first year trainees and £1,000 for 2nd and
3rd year trainees. This is used towards the travel and accommodation
costs associated with attendance at university to undertake the Masters
award.
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Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
What investment is required by the employer?
The head of department must ensure the candidate’s potential assessor/
supervisor(s) has the capacity and time to undertake the role. The
supervisor of the trainee must be supported and released to attend an
approved Train the Trainer programme.
Like any training programme the trainee needs support to complete
the course. This involves working through the modules and assessing
competence through various mechanisms, for example direct observation
of practice (DOPs) or case based discussions (CBDs). The online learning
and assessment tool (OLAT) is used to log all aspects of training to form
an e-portfolio.
The candidate will need time away from the unit to attend university
lectures and exams to complete the Masters part of the course. The
university currently commissioned to deliver the academic component of
the course is Manchester Metropolitan University.
‘OLAT
(online learning
and assessment
tool) is used to
log all aspects of
training to form
an e-portfolio’
How does the training programme work?
The programme is 3 years. The first year involves the trainee spending
time in rotational training. The trainee usually spends a short induction
period in your department before starting the rotational element of
training. The rotations, of up to 12 weeks each, are within genetics,
histopathology and cytology. If you do not work within a large hospital
and are finding this difficult to arrange please contact the National
School for advice as they will be able to provide contacts in your area
([email protected]).
Once the rotations are finished the trainee then remains in your
department to complete the specialist training within years 2 and 3.
What is the elective placement?
During the 3 years the trainee needs to undertake the equivalent of a
4 - 6 week elective placement. This can be taken all at once or split up
into shorter periods to suit the employer and trainee. The idea of the
placement is to facilitate a wider experience.
‘Rotations, of up
to 12 weeks each,
are within genetics,
histopathology
and cytology’
Examples of placements include:
• Visiting different hospital departments e.g. antenatal, special baby
care, neonatology and different clinics e.g. recurrent miscarriage and
general gynaecology
• Visits and placements in other NHS and Private sector clinics
• Spending time at a new unit learning how units are set up.
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Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
•
•
•
•
•
issued by individual LETBs)
Informed of successful application (commissions) by the beginning of
December 2015
Advert and application process begins January 2016
Short listing completed in February 2016
Interviews held between March and May 2016
Trainees start September 2016.
Experience of a trainer
“There was no one more sceptical about the STP scheme than me even
though I had been involved from the start with curriculum development
but being chair of ACE at the time I really thought I should commit to a
trainee from the first applications for reproductive science.
What does the research project involve?
‘All trainees need
to demonstrate
that they
have achieved
competence by
working
through the
competency log’
As part of the Masters qualification the trainee has to undertake a
research project during the 2nd and 3rd academic year. The project can
be undertaken either through a practical based project or through data
analysis. Some projects undertaken have been:
• A retrospective analysis of outcomes of over responding patients in
fresh and frozen cycles
• Hyaluronan binding score as a predictor of live birth rates - a validation
study based on frozen donor sperm
• Implementation of time-lapse technology (Embryoscope) into clinical
practice
• Optimisation of human chromosome spreads for immunocytochemical
detection of cohesion subunties and CREST centromeric proteins.
‘The trainees we
have had... have
been incredibly
useful, hard
working members
of our team...’
The interviews conducted through multiple assessment stations worked
effectively and although it was a little disconcerting not knowing who
your employee would be the interviews are designed to select high calibre
trainees. Having employed two trainees both have fitted in well with our
team.
The hardest part is understanding how it all fits together and getting to
grips with exactly what is expected of you as a trainer. I think delivery of
training is slightly easier to manage than ACE Certificate training in some
respects. The practical training is done in the same way, because you and
your team are teaching the person how to do the work of an embryologist
and to understand the underpinning knowledge. The bonus is that the
academic components are also covered and examined in depth by the
How are the trainees assessed?
All trainees need to demonstrate that they have achieved competence by
working through the competency log. The online system is a simple way
for both the trainee and trainer to record this. The theoretical component
is examined by the University. At the end of the course there is an observed
structured final assessment (a type of practical assessment based on mock
clinical scenarios) delivered by the NSHCS (supported by ACE).
What are the time scales for recruitment of a trainee in 2016?
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•
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To register interest contact your regional LETB as soon as possible
Applications completed between June and September 2015 (deadlines
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Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
certificate. Having seen one trainee through all of training and another in
her third year I can reassure from my experience this isn’t the case. The only
issue is perhaps ICSI (Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) but now the ACS
route is 3 years very few achieving HCPC registration are ICSI competent
either. I can also say with confidence that whilst the trainee is meant to
be supernumerary they do of course deliver a significant amount of service
whilst working in the lab. It of course isn’t a case of doing 10 and then
moving on to something else the trainee maintains competence whilst
learning new processes. The trainees we have had have in effect been
incredibly useful, hard working members of our team who I have to point
out are fully funded by the Local Educational Training Board (LETB). We are
very proud of our first trainee!
‘We are very
proud of our
first trainee!’
The research project as a trainer is worrying and a new concept to training
embryologists. There is nothing to fear though and if it isn’t possible to
organise a lab-based project it is possible to conduct data analysis. Our first
trainee analysed all our data with regards to elevated oestrogen levels,
OHSS rates and pregnancy rates. Her findings actually led to a change in
our clinical practice which was beneficial to both the unit and of course our
patients.
University. This certainly was a huge weight off my shoulders and produces
a more rounded trainee.
‘Assessment
methods are
either through
direct observation
of practice (DOPS);
case based
discussed (CBD)
or observing
clinical practice’
So what happens when your trainee starts? To be honest the first bit is
the hard part. The trainee has to undertake rotations through genetics,
cytology and histopathology – not the easiest task to achieve even in a
large teaching hospital so I can appreciate the concerns from the private
sector. However, we managed it although the rotation to cytology and
histology was moulded in to one 12 week placement. This worked well as
it meant both our trainees spent slightly longer in our department in their
first year. We also arranged the rotations first so that they didn’t have to
disappear again once they were settled learning with us. There was a short
disruption with regard to a 6 week elective placement but rather than have
a block of time away we organised various trips to departments such as
antenatal, neonatology, infertility clinic, and general gynaecology theatre;
an opportunity I would quite relish!
So are you persuaded? I hope so, I believe after all my initial doubts that the
scheme does produce excellent embryologists. The difficult parts we can
help with. Within this information are timescales for applications, contacts
for your region and contacts to ask for advice with regard to organising
the rotations. The National School and ACE would like to provide as much
support as possible to ensure the scheme runs smoothly so please do not
hesitate to contact them for further help and advice.”
Assessment methods are either through direct observation of practice
(DOPS); case based discussed (CBD) or observing clinical practice. The online
assessment tool whilst initially daunting I have to say is brilliant. It means
you are alerted when your trainee has done some work, you can review it
in your own time and then sit down and discuss it. In our team I tended to
do the case based discussions and the senior embryologists did the DOPS,
which worked well. I now ensure I have a catch up meeting booked every
month to check progress and set tasks.
The feeling was that when we embarked on this scheme it would be
much harder than the ACE certificate and that there were concerns that
the same level of competency wouldn’t be achieved compared to the ACE
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Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
‘I found having
the support of
other trainees
going through the
same experiences
really useful and
we have remained
in contact...’
Experience of a trainee
Frequently asked questions
“I began the STP program as part of the first cohort of reproductive trainees
in 2011. I found having the support of other trainees going through the
same experiences really useful and we have all remained in contact since
completing the STP. So as well as having that additional support throughout
the training we have also made some good friends and some useful contacts
for our future careers.
Can we train in the Private sector?
Yes; the application process is the same for a Private and for a NHS employer. Private centres can also host
trainees on rotation from other specialisms such as Genetics.
The rotations in the first year were a maximum of 3 months in each, however
could be shortened if all competencies and assessments were completed.
At times it was sometimes frustrating, as a lot of the time is spent just
observing procedures which aren’t directly or sometimes even indirectly
related to reproductive science. However overall it was an interesting
and useful experience. I especially enjoyed the genetics placement as this
had a lot of links to assisted conception and has really given me a deeper
understanding of different genetic conditions related to infertility as well
as the tests that are often performed on our patients.
I spent my elective placement in several different departments including
infertility clinic, antenatal clinic and early pregnancy assessment unit.
I found this really interesting and it really helped me to see where the
assisted conception unit fits in the wider picture of the patient’s treatment
pathway and experience. I also spent time on a neonatal ward, which really
hit home the importance of trying to avoid multiple births where possible.
These were both really useful experiences that now aid my clinical decision
making.
‘...I left my training
position feeling
confident in both
my abilities and
knowledge...’
Considering supporting a trainee through the Scientist Training Programme
The majority of my time however was spent in the clinic getting hands
on training in embryology in the same way an ACE trainee would. We
structured my training around the online portfolio (OLAT) competencies
and assessments and as soon as I was signed off on a procedure I would
be included in the rota for this. This allowed me to continue gaining
confidence and experience in all procedures throughout my training. There
is some time away from the clinic attending university or for academic
study towards the MSc however this was well matched to the work-based
training I was also receiving.
Can we train in Wales?
Yes; currently there are two STP embryology trainees in Wales. Contact your local Health Board for further
information and check out the website at http://www.weds.wales.nhs.uk/modernising-scientific-careers
Can we train in Scotland?
There are STP trainees in other specialisms in Scotland. Contact Dr Robert Farley, Programme Director, NES
Healthcare Science for further information [email protected] and check out the website at:
http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-discipline/healthcare-science/all-healthcare-science/
clinical-scientists.aspx
Can we train in Northern Ireland?
Contact Dr Mark Grattan, Belfast City Hospital for general advice about commissioning posts
[email protected]
Where can we go for more information?
NHS Careers has detailed information about the STP scheme:
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/education-and-training/nhs-scientisttraining-programme-(stp)/welcome-to-the-nhs-healthcare-scientist-training-programme-(stp)/
NHS networks has detailed information about the programmes, including the Curriculum and Learning Guide:
http://www.networks.nhs.uk/nhs-networks/msc-framework-curricula/stp
The National School of HealthCare Science has an excellent website including comprehensive FAQ’s:
http://www.nshcs.org.uk/
The Academy for Healthcare Science is the overarching body for the whole of the Healthcare Science Profession:
http://www.ahcs.ac.uk/
The Association of Clinical Embryologists
https://www.embryologists.org.uk/
Although the final exit assessment (OSFA) was daunting, I felt that we were
given a lot of information and opportunities to prepare. For example there
is an optional mock assessment from which we received feedback. I felt
it was a good way of observing how we cope under pressure and with a
variety of both clinical and non-clinical situations.
Having recently completed the STP, I left my training position feeling
confident in both my abilities and knowledge and ready to gain further
experience and build upon what I had already learnt.”
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www.embryologists.org.uk
www.hee.nhs.uk