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Healthcare science specific funding

Woman in mask with a test tube

Scientific Training Programme (STP)

STP is a graduate-entry training programme leading to more senior scientist roles, and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). STP trainees are employed by an NHS organisation for the duration of their training and receive a salary.

Details of applications can be found here.

Recruitment Process: 

  • Applicants apply via NHS Jobs.
  • Overseas applicants must have the relevant visas in place to be in a position to work in the UK.
  • Adverts are usually placed late February to early March.
  • Successful applicants are invited to a face to face interview.
  • Those that are successful at interview are offered a three-year fixed term training contract with the respective Health Board or Trust.
  • All STP trainees enrol with both the relevant university and the National School of Healthcare Science.

Funding guidance can be found here.

 

Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST)

HSST is a five-year workplace-based training doctoral programme that provides the opportunity for clinical scientists to train and become eligible to apply for consultant clinical scientist posts.

Funding guidance can be found here.


Equivalence funding for healthcare scientists


Applications for 2024 funding now open

Professional registration is beneficial to patients and the public, but also to services and to the registered professionals themselves. Within healthcare science professional areas there are HCPC mandatory registers at graduate level (for Biomedical Scientists, Radiographers and Operating Department Practitioners) and at postgraduate level (Clinical Scientists). There are also a range of PSA regulated registers and other regulated qualifications. Steps are being taken within NHS Wales Health Boards and Trusts to include these as essential criteria for roles, where they are available.

For all these forms of registration, flexible experiential routes to registration are available that enable healthcare scientists to demonstrate that their training, qualifications and experience are equivalent to the standard training route. These enable staff working in Wales to progress in their careers effectively, recognising the significant experience that is gained when working in NHS services.

HEIW has an established funding allocation for supporting NHS staff within Healthcare Science to access education that will enable them to achieve registration/regulation via an alternative or equivalence route. This funding may also be used to fund the equivalence/alternative route application process. Funding is available annually in April. Organisations wanting to take advantage of this funding must be complete this application form for each individual applicant that seeks to access this funding. This funding request form must be completed by the manager of the proposed recipient (either the line manager or service manager as appropriate).

This funding is available for all Healthcare Scientists employed by NHS Wales that are undertaking any routes to, or levels of, professional registration/ regulation. This includes Radiographers and Operating Department Practitioners. 
 

Organisations wanting to take advantage of this funding must complete the application form by 16 August. Further detailed instructions are given on the form, which can be accessed by clicking on the blue button below.

 

EQUIVALENCE FUNDING FORM


Find more information about healthcare science by clicking here.