Academy for Healthcare Science June 2017 Update David Bennett Director of Quality Academy for Healthcare Science 9th June 2017

This is what we do

AHCS Quality Assurance Framework PTP & PTP Equivalence STP Equivalence AHCS Quality Assurance Framework Regulation Accreditation

Healthcare Science Practitioners Academy commissioned by HEE to run a Register for Healthcare Science Practitioners not covered by statutory regulation Practitioners completing an accredited PTP course (curricula reviewed in 2016) are eligible to apply to join the Academy’s Accredited Register [Equivalence route also available] Practitioners completing an HCPC-approved PTP course in Life Sciences are eligible to apply for statutory regulation as Biomedical Scientists

AHCS Regulation Council statement   The Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) BSc Hons. in Clinical Physiology has been accredited as meeting PTP standards of education, training and learning outcomes. In future, on successful completion of the course, individuals will be eligible to apply to join the Academy’s accredited PTP register. GCU conducted an internal programme review in June 2015. The recent NSHCS accreditation was on the basis of the degree as it exists after that review, which was what aligned it more fully to the PTP (following a detailed mapping exercise). Therefore students starting in the September 2015 cohort and subsequently are fully aligned and on successful completion of their course are eligible for the AHCS Certificate of Attainment (cohorts 2009 to 2014 should follow the Equivalence route). The differences are not major but they are reasonably significant in that the 2015 review introduced the rotational element to year one, giving students a wider view of healthcare science. The Academy is content to adopt a similar approach towards any programme accredited by the NSHCS in this way.

Apprenticeships PTP Special Interest Group meeting took place on Monday 3rd April 2017 The level-6 Apprenticeship will be a new route to PTP register HCS Apprenticeship Standards for levels 2 and 4 previously published. The Academy will provide External Quality Assurance for the End-Point Assessment

Apprenticeships by Level Level 6: Up to 20 universities may run a level-6 apprenticeships (starting Sep 2017). This is a 3-year course. Level 4: This is a 2-year course. Academy External Quality Assurance of the End Point Assessment (EQA of the EPA) Level 2: Academy EQA of the EPA. Apprenticeships by Level

STP Equivalence (Scientist Training Programme) Individuals completing an STP course or completing STP Equivalence through the Academy are eligible to apply for Statutory Regulation as Clinical Scientists The Academy has trained Lay Assessors who participate in all its Equivalence assessments

STP CoE External Examiner’s Report ‘The External Examiner is satisfied that the AHCS Equivalence process (STP level) remains robust, fair to applicants and reaches the requisite standard for regulation as a Clinical Scientist. The AHCS is to be congratulated on improving the professionalism and efficiency of the application process during the year.’ Graham H Beastall, 31 January 2017

Academy Equivalence Review in progress Equivalence News Academy Equivalence Review in progress Being undertaken by the AHCS Regulation Council Chair and AHCS Adviser Aim is to improve user experience, improve efficiency and reduce costs Academy Professional Leads are helping to shape the new policy Major Change submission to HCPC

Higher Specialist Scientist Register (HSSR) Route onto AHCS HSSR via Equivalence – applicants demonstrate that their previous training, qualifications and experience reflect the outcomes of Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST).  Since the relatively new HSST programme takes five years to complete, in the immediate future Equivalence is the only route onto the HSSR. 14 people now on HSS Register Work in progress to open the system up to further groups

Regulation: Patient and public safety The Academy aims to support patient safety by: - setting standards providing assurance to employers and the public promoting professional recognition & ensuring that fitness to practise is managed.

New expanded AHCS Regulatory Framework Regulation News New expanded AHCS Regulatory Framework Expansion in the Academy’s Accredited Register in 2017 Critical mass will reduce costs Medical Illustrators incorporated Under development: - Credentialing; Apprenticeships Register/Directory

The Professional Standards Authority Annual budget of c. £3.5m; 30 staff Accountable to the UK Parliament; government-funded Scrutiny Annual performance review of the regulatory bodies Registers Nine statutory regulators: Health and Care Professions Council, General Chiropractic Council, General Dental Council, General Medical Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland Thirteen ‘voluntary’ registers

One Voice Issues/initiatives that bring Healthcare Scientists together: Good Science Science Careers in Schools Scientific Workforce Planning (AHCS response to Scottish Government Discussion Document made this week) Education Scientists on Boards AHCS Congress And joining forces with other professions on issues such as: Innovation in Primary Care Obesity EU Medical Devices Legislation Free publishing for papers/free access to papers Better R&D legislation for medical devices/innovation

Response to the Scotland National Health and Social Care Workforce Planning consultation 1. Professional bodies were encouraged to respond 2. Excerpts from the Academy’s response: The broad proposals for workforce planning roles at national, regional and local levels are entirely appropriate. The Academy supports the intention to move away from silo planning. In this respect a more multi-professional approach will have a positive impact that ties in with Scotland’s ‘shared services’ agenda. A single agreed harmonised system across Health and Social Care sectors would be more accurate and more cost-effective. Employers have previously expressed strong support for adopting such an approach. Process or structural changes that would support collaborative working on recruitment: The needs of the service are constantly evolving so it is important to consider carefully the future roles of scientists and support staff and the likely changes that will come about for a variety of reasons: changing demographics, new technology, shifts to more personalised medicine, etc. Consideration for having healthcare scientists in leadership roles and leading clinical services should be central to future workforce planning so that all the potential resources are utilised effectively. 

Good Scientific Practice AHCS Standards of Proficiency (SOPs) set out the minimum standard that a person must meet in order to register with the AHCS. These SOPs have been cross-referenced with the HCPC Standards of Proficiency. They cover the five domains of Good Scientific Practice

AHCS Review of GSP in 2017: Domains 1. Professional Practice 2. Scientific Practice 3. Clinical Practice 4. Research and development 5. Clinical Leadership

Montgomery Judgement The new test Clinicians now have a duty to take reasonable care to ensure that the patient is aware of any material risks involved in: Not only any recommended treatment, (investigation) But also of any reasonable alternative or variant treatments (investigations). https://www.supremecourt.uk/decided-cases/docs/UKSC_2013_0136_Judgment.pdf (Para 87)

AHCS Education, Training and Professional Standards Committee Independent Chair Lay representatives contribute to all the work of the Committee, including Patient and Public issues Close working relationship with the AHCS Regulation Council ETPSC is responsible for Standards and Quality Assurance Meets on a quarterly basis, NES rep. invited

The HCS Quality Assurance Framework Quality Assurance is one of the Academy’s six Strategic Objectives The Academy’s provides support and assurance for education and training across healthcare science via its QA Framework The 3 Levels of Quality Assurance: roles and responsibilities Level 1: Quality Assurance, carried out by the Academy Level 2: Quality Management (NSHCS, NES) Level 3: Quality Control, carried out by education and training providers in conjunction with employers.

Standards that the Academy endorses (1) Standards of Education and Training (SETs) ensure not only: fitness for practise, but also fitness for purpose Professional Standards for the healthcare science workforce exist in the form of: Good Scientific Practice ‘Modernising Scientific Careers’ curricula embed Good Scientific Practice into all MSC healthcare science courses Curriculum Development Standards

Standards that the Academy endorses (2) The Academy’s SOPs (Standards of Proficiency) set out the minimum standard that a person must meet in order to register with the AHCS for the first time. The Academy’s SOPs are available at: http://www.ahcs.ac.uk/wordpress/wp- content/uploads/2014/07/AHCS_StandardsofProficiency.pdf  

NSHCS Self-assessment for work-based placement providers This self-assessment is the first step in the process for approval of departments to train healthcare science trainees under MSC training schemes. All departments providing work based training for the healthcare science training programmes are required to complete a self-assessment. The immediate outcomes may be a) accreditation; b) accreditation with conditions; or c) referral for panel visit.  For helpful advice on providing high quality training for healthcare scientists, please see the NSHCS publication ‘Helpbook for Training Centres’, available on the NSHCS website.

Assessment against Quality Standards Departments are asked to self-assess on a four-point scale from ‘not met’ to ‘exceeded’. ‘Not met’ or ‘Working toward’ the standard? Need to identify actions to demonstrate how it is intended to achieve the standard in the future. Exceeded the standard by developing an area of best practice? Request to share best practice made

NSHCS Accreditation: Workplace Training Standards The Academy carried out a QA review in December 2016 In the Academy’s view, good progress is being made In future, NSHCS will be placing even greater emphasis on workplace accreditation. This is an approach that HEE endorses.

Keeping in Touch AHCS website www.ahcs.ac.uk Major review in progress: June & July 2017 (to improve navigation and usability) Vox newsletter Facebook/ LinkedIn