The Laboratory EscalatorA Wolverhampton Experience

Louise Nickell Education and Training Manager

Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust

Healthcare Scientist Cadet Scheme-an emerging MLA development model

Why?

Trust workforce data

-Retirement profiles

-Recruitment data for Pathology

-Recruitment difficulties across HCS (anecdotal evidence)

National recruitment difficulties

Solution- A HCS Cadet Scheme

• Write a business plan!!!

• Give it to the CEO

• Wait for him to give you loads of cash!!

CEO

“Fantastic!!!”

CEO

“Fantastic!!!”(But get the cash from elsewhere)

So…………..

Submit bid to BBC WDC

Meanwhile ………….

Start the scheme

Principles of the HCS Cadet Scheme

• Informed career choices

• Vocational training

• Academic underpinning knowledge

• Pre-degree entry qualifications

• Equality and Diversity

• Promotion of Healthcare Scientist careers

Principles of the Scheme

• Skills escalator

• Support staff (including existing support staff)

• Opportunities for young people

• Changing the age profile of departments

• Local population

• Schools liaison

What’s involved in the scheme?

Training programme over 2 years

• NVQ in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (LATA)

• BTEC in Applied Science (Medical Science)

• Rotational work placements

Anticipated result?

Map into vacancies within the Trust at some point

Results of lots of meetings

• Resurrect the BTEC in Applied Science• Change the units of the BTEC to suit the University• Entry qualifications for BMS and Clinical Physiology

degrees agreed• Pre-college entry qualification for BTEC agreed• Got everyone talking!

NVQ in LATA• Decide which units to cover

• Decide how/where to deliver those units

• What about the individual learner?

• How to convince departments to volunteer trainee assessors?

• What about departments that have no assessors?

What’s the role of an assessor?

• NVQ assessment

• Departmental placement

• ‘Buddy’ system

• Assessor group meetings (bi-monthly)

What support is available to trainee assessors?• Peripatetic assessors• Training and Development Department• Portfolio building• Internal verifier • HCS Education Group• Assessor trainer- bought in• Assessor meetings-Pastoral support

Work placement rotation

Ist placement 2nd placement 3rd placement 4th placement

Cadet 1 Micro 6 Chemistry 4 Radiology 21/22 Pharmacy 21

Cadet 2 Chemistry 4 Micro 6 Med ill 12 MPCE 23

Cadet 3 Histopathology 6 Pharmacy 21 Haematology 4 Radiology 21/22

Cadet 4 MPCE 23 Med ill 12 Cytology 6 Chemistry 4

Cadet 5 Haematology 4 Phlebotomy 12 Pharmacy 21 Cytology 6

Cadet 6 Pharmacy 21 Radiology 21/22 Chemistry 4 Histopathology 6

Cadet 7 Phlebotomy 12 MPCE 23 Micro 6 Med ill 12

Cadet 8 Radiology 21/22 Histopathology 6 Phlebotomy 12 Haematology 4

Cadet 9 Med ill 12 Cytology 6 MPCE 23 Micro 6

Cadet 10 Cytology 6 Haematology 4 Histopathology 6 Phlebotomy 12

Work placement rotation

Ist placement 2nd placement 3rd placement 4th placement

Cadet 1 Micro 6 Chemistry 4 Radiology 21/22 Pharmacy 21

Cadet 2 Chemistry 4 Micro 6 Med ill 12 MPCE 23

Cadet 3 Histopathology 6 Pharmacy 21 Haematology 4 Radiology 21/22

Cadet 4 MPCE 23 Med ill 12 Cytology 6 Chemistry 4

Cadet 5 Haematology 4 Phlebotomy 12 Pharmacy 21 Cytology 6

Cadet 6 Pharmacy 21 Radiology 21/22 Chemistry 4 Histopathology 6

Cadet 7 Phlebotomy 12 MPCE 23 Micro 6 Med ill 12

Cadet 8 Radiology 21/22 Histopathology 6 Phlebotomy 12 Haematology 4

Cadet 9 Med ill 12 Cytology 6 MPCE 23 Micro 6

Cadet 10 Cytology 6 Haematology 4 Histopathology 6 Phlebotomy 12

Work placement rotationIst placement 2nd placement 3rd placement 4th placement

Cadet 1 Micro 6 Chemistry 4 Radiology 21/22 Pharmacy 21

Cadet 2 Chemistry 4 Micro 6 Med ill 12 MPCE 23

Cadet 3 Histopathology 6 Pharmacy 21 Haematology 4 Radiology 21/22

Cadet 4 MPCE 23 Med ill 12 Cytology 6 Chemistry 4

Cadet 5 Haematology 4 Phlebotomy 12 Pharmacy 21 Cytology 6

Cadet 6 Pharmacy 21 Radiology 21/22 Chemistry 4 Histopathology 6

Cadet 7 Phlebotomy 12 MPCE 23 Micro 6 Med ill 12

Cadet 8 Radiology 21/22 Histopathology 6 Phlebotomy 12 Haematology 4

Cadet 9 Med ill 12 Cytology 6 MPCE 23 Micro 6

Cadet 10 Cytology 6 Haematology 4 Histopathology 6 Phlebotomy 12

‘Mini-placements’

• Neurophysiology

• Respiratory medicine

• Audiology

• Cardiology

Assessor training• Bought in

• Time commitment = 2 x ½ day sessions

• Then 1:1 sessions in department

• Reflection session at a later date

Project evaluation• HCS Education Group

• Post-HCS Education Group – assessor meetings

• Evaluation reports by project team

• Stakeholders review

Future work for HCS scheme• Specialist pathways (e.g. Pathology only)

• Other Trusts

• Project manager

• Financial implications

• Schools liaison/Junior scholarships/Compact agreements

Future other work

MLA development

• But which NVQ?

• NVQ 2 only

• Edexcel is the awarding body

• NHS focused

Clinical Laboratory Support

Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities• LATA (NVQ 1-4)-Revalidated new standards

• Been used for years

• City and Guilds is awarding body

HCS NVQ?

Costs of NVQ• Registration costs

• Certification costs

• Assessor time

• Assessor training (CPD?) = A1 award (+ backfill?)

Registration and certification costs

• IV for NVQ and A1 award

• Time for EV visits

Where to then for MLAs?

• Tech cert/A levels - could be concurrent?• Foundation degree –

Wolves Uni -Sept 05 HCS

UCE Health & Social care- various pathways, entry requirements: NVQ 2 or working towards 3, or

portfolio• Honours degree

Thank you