- Please click for JBL updates
- Archive forum to be phased out by 6 August 2010
Healthcare scientists career pathway
The Department of Health launched the healthcare scientists career pathway in November 2005. The career pathway supports the healthcare science workforce in fulfilling their potential and establishing clearly defined, nationally consistent progression pathways.
Of particular importance is the removal of professional barriers, allowing new opportunities for healthcare scientists to develop consultant roles - "the 'consultant practitioner' career framework stage will be extended across healthcare science employment groups in line with service need."
The framework links with and supports the implementation of Agenda for Change and encompasses the development of healthcare scientists in post and throughout their careers in conjunction with the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework. Stages in the career framework are mapped to Agenda for Change pay bands and competencies as determined by the National Occupational Standards (NOS) Project in healthcare science.
The pathway stipulates that "an education and training framework will be developed based on a range of academic, vocational and professional qualifications/awards to recognise underpinning knowledge and skill…based on equivalence within each career framework stage irrespective of initial entry point." This principle has been one of the key driving forces behind the development of Institute’s professional examinations that aim to empower biomedical scientists in the expansion of current and emerging roles.
The project for developing the new career pathways begun in January 2003 and both the Institute’s President and Chief Executive, together with colleagues from Amicus, sat on the project’s working group. The IBMS and Amicus, along with all the organisations that form the Federation for Healthcare Science, have endorsed and fully support the outcomes.
At the time of the launch IBMS President Eddie Welsh said "I welcome the launch of the career pathway which is the culmination of several years collaboration between government and representatives of healthcare scientists. The project has had an important influence on the Institute’s ethos, and has helped shape its recent initiatives in the education, training and careers of biomedical scientists. The launch of the pathway marks another important breakthrough in providing exciting and diverse opportunities that properly utilises the expertise and potential of the healthcare science workforce."
IBMS Chief Executive Alan Potter said "the launch marks a watershed for the profession in opening up new career opportunities and choices, especially with the consultant role. We will continue to develop and provide tools and resources for biomedical scientists to take advantage of these roles, which will benefit not just a modern profession, but the delivery of a modern service for patients."
Further information and documents
A career framework for healthcare scientists in the NHS
Links includes Career framework for healthcare scientists in the NHS: A functional guide
Healthcare scientists career framework: Supporting agenda for change documentation