21st Century Careers for 21st Century Scientists
-- Posted on :: Saturday, March 6 2010
21st Century Careers for 21st Century Scientists
by Department of Health
A new national career framework will give healthcare scientists clearer roles and career pathways, Health Minister Ann Keen announced today.
The healthcare science workforce plays an important role in healthcare in the UK, with up to 80% of all diagnoses attributed to their work.
The new career framework is the result of a UK-wide consultation on how training can be made consistent across the healthcare scientist workforce and meets the challenges of modern healthcare.
Modernising Scientific Careers: The UK Way Forward, published today, sets out the key changes that will be made across the four countries:
A simplified national healthcare science career framework with clear descriptions of the competencies required at each level, making development and career progression simpler.
Accreditation of education and training programmes to ensure consistency in standards - this will replace the current complex mix of programmes. A national curriculum, developed in partnership with clinical leaders, for each of the healthcare science areas.
Health Minister Ann Keen said:
Modernising Scientific Careers will ensure standards of training are consistent and give scientists clear career pathways which will help their development.
As a nurse, I understand the important role that the healthcare science workforce plays in delivering often life-saving clinical advice to doctors and in aiding diagnosis. This new national framework will help healthcare scientists to further improve the quality and effectiveness of the care they give to patients.
Chief Scientific Officer Professor Sue Hill said:
Some 45 plus scientific specialisms make up the healthcare science workforce. The Modernising Scientific Careers Programme will help those wishing to pursue a career in healthcare science to have clarity about the different entry points into the profession and its diversity as well as opportunities for career development. Through modernised education and training programmes it will ensure that the workforce is equipped for the changing healthcare environment in new models of care and in delivering high quality, efficient and effective care.
The consultation document etc received just under 1000 responses from employers and a range of organisations including SHAs, professional bodies and medical royal colleges
The consultation document, The Future of the Healthcare Science Workforce: Modernising Scientific Careers, The Next Steps received nearly 1000 responses from Healthcare Scientists and employers in NHS organisations.
Following the publication of the Modernising Scientific Careers: The UK Way Forward, each country will publish their own action plan.
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