www.sciencecouncil.org professional registers for the technical community heated east of england...

www.sciencecouncil.org

Professional Registers for the Technical Community

HEaTED East of England Network

21 May 2013

Ali Orr, Registrar

About the Science Council

• Umbrella organisation that brings together learned societies and professional bodies across science and its applications

• established by Royal Charter in 2003 with the objects of advancing science and its applications for public benefit

Our strategic aims

The Science Council will:

• serve society and the economy by enhancing the professionalism of the science workforce and building trust and confidence in science

• provide a voice on policy issues affecting the science community, fostering debate and the exchange of ideas

• support its member bodies to be more effective in meeting the needs of the science community

Professional registration:

What it means and how it can help

www.sciencecouncil.org

New Registers - vision and values

Two new registers – Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) and Registered Scientist (RSci) alongside Chartered Scientist (CSci)

•Create professional pathways within science

•Make progression a reality

•Entry levels and endpoints will vary

•Raise standards and aspirations

•Ensure fair access to the profession

Professional Registration explained

• Registration is an independent peer review process linked to employer needs

• Standards set by umbrella licensing bodies (e.g. Science Council, Engineering Council)

• Applied by professional bodies under licence

• Technician Council ensures equivalence between registers (EngTech, RSciTech, ICTTech…)

Professional Registration explained

• Applicant joins a professional body relevant to their area of study or career aspirations

• Professional Bodies assess underpinning knowledge, competency, and commitment to professional ethics, conduct and CPD

• Vocational qualifications can go a long way to meeting the standards for registration, but competency and professionalism are developed through experience in the workplace

Professional pathwaysthrough registration

QCF level 3Advanced ApprenticeshipA-Level, NVQ3

QCF level 5HND, FdSc,some Higher Apprenticeships

QCF level 7MSc, MSci etc

CPD standardsCode of conductCompetency areasall common across the registers

The value to individuals

• Registration captures what you already know and do – not a case of re-training

• Demonstrate you also maintain the knowledge and competence you’ve developed over many years

• recognition for the role you're in now, as well as a framework to support your future career development

The value to individuals

• Demonstrate your professionalism to employers, colleagues and clients

• Registration is transferable across sectors – also good for your mobility

• Become part of a broader community of scientists working across a huge range of sectors and disciplines

www.sciencecouncil.org

The value to employers

• Recruiting the best – registration encapsulates the combination of knowledge, technical and broader skills sought after by employers

• Retaining the best – keep your staff motivated and up to date through access to CPD and recognising what they’ve learnt

• Being the best – showcase your talent, demonstrate your commitment to fair access, an expectation of high levels of professionalism and a statement that you move with the times

Registration in detail

Registration in detail - RSciTech

• Underpinning knowledge to QCF level 3• Competence in five key areas:• A: Application of knowledge and understanding• B: Personal responsibility• C: Interpersonal skills• D: Professional practice• E: Professional standards

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) assessed on an ongoing basis

• Commitment to established codes of conduct

A: Application of knowledge and understanding

Identify and use relevant scientific understanding, methods and skills to complete tasks and address well defined problems

• A1: apply knowledge of underlying concepts and principles

• A2: review and select appropriate scientific techniques, procedures and methods to undertake tasks

• A3: interpret and evaluate data and make sound judgments in relation to scientific concepts

B: Personal responsibility

Exercise personal responsibility in planning and implementing tasks according to prescribed protocols

• B1: work consistently and effectively with minimal supervision to appropriate standards and protocols

• B2: manage and apply safe working practices• B3: accept responsibility for the quality of work of self

and others• B4: take responsibility for completing tasks and

procedures as well as using judgement within defined parameters

C: Interpersonal skills

Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills

• C1: demonstrate effective and appropriate communication skills

• C2: demonstrate interpersonal and behavioural skills• C3: demonstrate an ability to work effectively with others

D: Professional practice

Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods according to protocol

• D1: recognise problems and apply appropriate scientific methods to identify causes and achieve solutions

• D2: identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks

• D3: participate in continuous performance improvement

E: Professional standards

Demonstrate a personal commitment to professional standards

• E1: comply with relevant codes of conduct and practice• E2: maintain and enhance competence in own area of

practice within structured and managed environment

Registration: CPD requirements

To maintain their registration, registrants must:• Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record

of their CPD activities;• Demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of

learning activities relevant to current or future practice;

• Seek to ensure that their CPD has benefited the quality of their practice;

• Seek to ensure that their CPD has benefited the users of their work;

• Present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD on request

CPD: learning activities

• Work based learning (e.g. supervising staff / students, reflective practice)

• Professional activity (e.g. involvement in a professional body, mentoring)

• Formal / Educational (e.g. writing papers, further education)

• Self-directed learning (e.g. reading journals)• Other (e.g. voluntary work, public service)

Professional Bodies in Science

The Science Council has 40 member bodies of which 28 are currently licensed to award Chartered Scientist (CSci) status. Eight bodies have been selected to pilot the RSciTech and RSci registers:

• Association for Science Education• Institute of Biomedical Science• Institute of Food Science and Technology• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine• Institute of Science and Technology• Institution of Chemical Engineers• Royal Society of Chemistry• Society of Biology

October 2011: David Willetts announces the introduction of the registers

May 2012: RSciTech launch at Gatsby Technicians Conference

Professional pathwaysthrough registration

QCF level 3Advanced ApprenticeshipA-Level, NVQ3

QCF level 5HND, FdSc,some Higher Apprenticeships

QCF level 7MSc, MSci etc

CPD standardsCode of conductCompetency areasall common across the registers

www.sciencecouncil.org

Further information

Contact:

Ali Orr

Registrar

a.orr@sciencecouncil.org

020 3434 2022

Web links:

www.sciencecouncil.org

www.professionalregisters.org