1. Healthcare Science (HCS) Trailblazer Apprenticeship Programme
Professor Shelley Heard
HCS Team March 2017

2. Setting the Context of the HCS Apprenticeship Programme

3. Trailblazer Apprenticeships
2 elements to Trailblazer Apprenticeships (replaces Frameworks)
Apprenticeship Standard – defines job role at end of apprenticeship
End Point Assessment (EPA) Plan
HCS Apprenticeship Standards are written by the employer led HCS Trailblazer Group and outline the Knowledge, Skills, & Behaviours individuals require to work in a particular job role.
apprentices are assessed against the relevant Standard when an employer decides that the apprentice has achieved the Standard
the employer arranges for the apprentice to undertake the employer led EPA which has been developed by the Trailblazer Group
The EPA is conducted by an Independent Assessor; e.g. a trained assessor in the specialism who has not previously been involved with the apprentice’s training
Sector Forum Updates 2015

4. Healthcare Science (HCS) Trailblazer Group
a broad network of healthcare scientists across specialisms, providers (including independent providers), HEIs and other stakeholders was established during 2013 by Shirley Fletcher
focus groups and a virtual network worked to identify and define the roles/responsibilities for the Level (Assistant/Associate) workforce
the CSO, Professor Sue Hill, is the Chair of the Healthcare Science Trailblazer Group
initially 3 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) were submitted to BIS (now the Department of Education) for the development of three sets of standards for HCS
Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) (Level 2)
Healthcare Science Assistant (HCSA) (Level 3)
Healthcare Science Associate (Level 4)

5. Principles of developing HCS Apprenticeships
HCS Apprenticeship Standards are based on Good Scientific Practice (GSP) and reflect the skills/knowledge/behaviours /values for anyone in the HCS workforce, but “pitched” at the appropriate level/job role
as with with rest of HCS Career Pathway an underpinning qualification in HCS is required at each apprenticeship level
for the Assistant and Associate workforce, Diplomas at Level 2 and Level 4 Diploma provide the underpinning learning and specificity for the focussed knowledge, skills and competencies required in a given area/role
Level 2 and 4 diploma curricula have been a developed across the HCS specialisms by senior scientists; the Level 4 diploma will support APEL into part of the PTP BSc (Hons) in HCS
The Diploma qualifications are currently being offered by Pearson

6. Level 2 APPRENTICESHIP STANDARD FOR HEALTHCARE
SCIENCE ASSISTANTS (HCSA)
Occupational profile includes
the provision of safe, high-quality patient-centred care across all care pathways
performing a range of low risk, routine technical and scientific procedures usually within one broad area of HCS
following specific protocols and in accordance with health, safety, governance and ethical requirements. HCSAs work using standard operating procedures, initially under direct supervision but increasingly with experience, under indirect supervision.
Responsibilities and duties of the role include
awareness of the requirements of and adherence to Good Scientific Practice (GSP)
working effectively within a multi-professional team (MPT)
working within the limits of their competence
seeking help and support whenever this is required
adhering to employers’ policies and protocols to ensure safe and consistent practice within the working environments of HCS

7. Apprenticeship Standard for HCS Associates (L 4)
Occupational profile includes
supporting the work of HCS Practitioners and Clinical Scientists
in all areas of HCS
performing a wide range of high quality diagnostic, therapeutic and
routine technical and scientific procedures with minimal supervision
Responsibilities and duties of the role include
awareness of and practice in accordance with GSP and working
within the limits of their competence
adhering to employers’ policies/protocols to ensure safe,
person-centred and consistent practice in HCS working environments
activities undertaken include, e.g.
performing routine investigations
telephoning authorised results according to protocols
calibrating/maintaining devices

8. Modernising Scientific Careers: Healthcare Science (HCS) Assistant and Associate Training Programme (AATP) including Apprenticeships: Diagrammatic representation of Level 2 and Level 4 Diploma in HCS
BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Science [Minimum number of credits 40]
BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Science [Minimum number of credits 100 – 120 (TBC)
MANDATORY UNITS: Level 2 (credits 14)
Healthcare Science Services [3]
Employee Rights, Responsibilities and Personal Development in Healthcare Science [3]
Working in Partnership in Healthcare Science [3] Investigating, Treating and Managing Human Disease and Disorder [2]
Working Safely in the Healthcare Science Environment [3]
MANDATORY UNITS: Level 4 (credits TBC)
Professional Practice and Person-centred Care
Legal and ethical boundaries of practice
Health, Safety, Security and Quality
Introduction to Audit, Research, Development and Innovation
Introduction to Leadership in Healthcare Science
Teaching, Learning and Assessing Practical Skills
Supervision and Mentoring
Effective Communication in Healthcare
Technical Scientific Services
Units aligned to the Level 4 Apprenticeship Standard and Practitioner Training Programme
OPTIONAL UNITS (Level 2 = 26 credits; Level 4 credits [TBC])
Employer/learners choose relevant units*:
Professional Practice
Clinical Science
Specialist Practice areas include:
Life Sciences Blood Sciences; Cellular Science ;
(including Public Decontamination Science; Infection Sciences; Health Health & NHSBT) Reproductive Sciences; Transfusion and Transplantation Sciences
Physiological Audiology: Autonomic Science; Cardiac Sciences;
Sciences Gastrointestinal Physiology; Neurophysiology; Ophthalmic and Vision Sciences; Respiratory and Sleep Sciences; Urodynamic Science
Physical Medical Physics; Clinical Engineering; Clinical
Sciences Photography;
Clinical Health Informatics Science; Genomics; Physical Bioinformatics Sciences
Work on-going and more specialist areas of practice may be added
*Select modules appropriate to job role
Assessment Strategy: including End- Point Assessment for Apprentices
Induction
Generic Modules: Common to all divisions of Healthcare Science (HCS); the learning outcomes for these map to units within the qualifications and are assessed within the context of these.
Division/Theme-Specific Modules: Life Sciences; Physical Sciences; Physiological Sciences; Clinical Bioinformatics
Specialist Modules: Specific to a HCS specialism

9. HCS Endpoint Assessment [EPA] Plans (Levels 2 & 4)
developed by the Assessment team at the NSHCS, approved by DfE
assessed by Independent Assessors managed by an organisation on the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) Register of Apprentice Assessment Organisations (RoAAO)
undertaken after the Diploma has been completed and employer has assessed that the apprenticeship standard has been achieved
Pearson will initially provide this, but other Assessor Organisations may come forward in due course
External Quality Assurance (EQA) will be provided by the Academy for HCS (AHCS), with advice and support from the National School of HCS

10. Level 2 and 4 EPAs EPAs for both Level 2 and 4 include 3 elements
Professional Discussion (PD) - based on a local work-based record/log of practice, e.g. a Portfolio
Vocational Competence Observation (VCO) – 3 work based tasks that form part of their routine practice as a HCS Assistant in their specialism. There will be a list of specialism relevant workplace tasks
Professional Practice Test (PPT) – apprentice will review workplace based scenarios, categorise each one, rank the urgency of the scenario and describe the actions they would take in response to it

11. HCS Levels 2 – 4 Apprenticeship Programme: summary of progress to date
Level 2 – HCS Assistant
Level 2 HCS Standard for HCS Assistant [HCSA] is ready for delivery and can be accessed at:
Level 2 Diploma (Pearson) available
Level 4 – HCS Associate
Level 4 HCS Standard for HCS Associate can be accessed at
Level 4 curriculum currently under development and will be available from Sept 2017

12. Apprenticeship developments at Level 6 (PTP/BMS)
Expression of Interest (EOI) for a Level 6 HCS Standard was accepted and Standard first submitted in September 2016
covers HCS Practitioners (HCSPs), including Biomedical Scientists (BMSs) [BSc (Hons) [through a PTP or BMS degree]
based on HCPC Standards and AHCS’s Good Scientific Practice
developed following wide consultation with employers, HEIs and other stakeholders with face-to-face discussions and meetings and more than 50 written responses during the Standard’s development
after making required revisions, Standard has now been accepted:

13. The Level 6 End-point Assessment (EPA)
all apprenticeships must have an EPA - which is a holistic assessment of the Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours and Values (KSBVs) gained throughout the apprenticeship
designed to ensure that apprentices meet the rigorous apprenticeship standard for the job role which has been set by employers and are fully competent to undertaken the HCSP role
ensures that all apprentices following the same standard are assessed consistently by external and independent assessment through organisations on the Skills Funding Agency [SFA] Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations (RoAAO), including universities for degree apprenticeships

14. Developing the Level 6 HCS EPA
degree apprenticeship must test both the wider occupational competence and academic learning required
degree programme can be structured in one of two ways:
employers, universities and professional bodies co-design a fully-integrated degree course specifically for apprentices, which delivers and tests both academic learning and on-the-job training and includes the EPA as part of the degree
or - existing degree programmes deliver the academic knowledge requirements of that profession, combined with additional employer-based training to meet the Standard requirements, with a separate test of full occupational competence (EPA) at the end of the apprenticeship, i.e. a non-integrated degree

15. Benefits of an integrated degree
formal EPA Plan needs to be approved by Department of Education [DfE] (formally BIS) and published
the integrated approach:
focuses the degree on creating “job-ready” graduates, reflecting the needs of employers
introduces a quality assured, comprehensive assessment of performance
reduces the “test/assessment load” on the learner apprentice
avoids the employer paying the additional and significant costs of a separate EPA

16. Risks of non-integrated degree
DfE has indicated that there is a risk that the non-integrated programme could be more expensive for employers
employers must be made aware that for the non-integrated route, an additional cost may have to be paid by employers for the EPA (unless lower degree programme funding is negotiated), since once the levy funding cap is reached, any additional costs must be paid by the employer
DfE will accept both options but have made clear that the integrated degree is the safest and preferred option for employers, since no additional funding for the EPA will be required

17. What further needs to be done?
the Level 6 EPA has been accepted, subject to some modifications which have been submitted
could all be available for Sept 2017, but issues emerging, e.g. IBMS/HCPC approval of Life Science/BMS programme; HEI local approval processes
only apprentices undertaking the degree will need to the EPA
local employers and HEIs, need to work out how HCSP apprentices will “work and earn” – 30 hours/week in employment; 20% “off-programme and “in learning”
HEIs providing degree apprenticeships need to be on the SFA’s Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (ROATP) to receive levy funding and Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations (RoAAO)

18. HCS Apprenticeships offer great opportunities for:
Focus on ensuring that the right workforce developed now and for the future
Patients
Focuses current available resources on developing the workforce of the future
The System
Opportunity to learn/train/enter a formal career pathway
Young people/parents
Develops the workforce it needs for now and the future by “growing their own”
Employers

19. Some useful references (but fast moving area of development!!)
The Future of Apprenticeships in England: Guidance for Trailblazers - from Standards to Start. BIS. Dec 2015https://
Apprenticeship Standards (look for HCS standards under Healthcare Standards)
Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers
Apprenticeship Funding from May
For further enquires please contact Professor Shelley Heard