Apprenticeship training course

Clinical scientist (level 7)

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Information about Clinical scientist (level 7)

Collect, analyse and provide expert interpretation of clinical and specialist scientific data and make key judgements and decisions.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • The Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency for clinical scientists; codes of conduct for relevant professional bodies; appropriate legislation and statutory frameworks and employers’ policies and procedures.
  • Limits of own scope of practice, knowledge and skills, including strategies for time and resource management.
  • The underpinning clinical and scientific principles including the role of the profession in health promotion, health education and preventing ill health and the wider determinants of health relevant to the specialism and associated practice.
  • Anatomical, physiological and biochemical functions of the human body appropriate to the specialism.
  • The analytical methodologies and techniques appropriate to the specialism and the performance and limitations of those methodologies.
  • Current and emerging procedures relevant to professional practice.
  • Information and data searching methodologies eg literature searching, patient data searches, search algorithms.
  • Communication strategies within a healthcare context, including conflict management techniques, and the need to provide individuals with appropriate information.
  • The differing needs and rights of individuals including consent and capacity.
  • The structure and function of health and social care services, including the composition of the multidisciplinary team and the role of the Clinical Scientist within it, relevant to scope of practice, and the need for effective partnership working, as appropriate.
  • Leadership and management techniques and strategies appropriate to practice.
  • Accreditation, quality systems and relevant quality standards, appropriate to the specialism.
  • Audit methodologies, quality control and quality assurance techniques, reporting mechanisms and corrective action techniques.
  • Strategies and methodologies for conducting effective research, including research ethics and statistics.
  • Learning and development strategies, including giving and receiving feedback, appropriate to practice.
  • Scientific and clinical investigation strategies and problem-solving techniques, appropriate to practice.
  • Health and safety techniques relevant to areas of practice and the importance of maintaining own safety and that of patients, colleagues and the public.
  • Change management theory in relation to innovation and service improvement, appropriate to practice.
  • The concepts and limits of confidentiality, the principles of information governance and the processes and procedures for managing records and other information.
  • The importance of continuing personal and professional development and the role of critical reflection in maintaining fitness to practise.
  • The application, implementation and security of digital technology within the healthcare environment as appropriate to the specialism.

  Skills

  • Interpret, apply and comply with legislation, statutory frameworks, professional codes of practice and guidance.
  • Work within limits of personal and professional competence, justify and take responsibility for own actions and seek advice when required. Manage time, resources and workload effectively.
  • Apply relevant clinical and scientific knowledge in the clinical context, to inform own decision making, and that of service users, as appropriate.
  • Select and perform, if required, the appropriate analytical technique relevant to the given data set.
  • Assess and interpret the results of data analysis, report appropriately in accordance with the clinical and scientific context and recommend further investigations where appropriate.
  • Identify emerging clinical, scientific, analytical, diagnostic, monitoring, treatment and therapeutic procedures, as appropriate, and adapt practice accordingly.
  • Develop, introduce or modify procedures and techniques to improve service delivery, as appropriate.
  • Compare procedures and techniques against references or baseline and take action, as appropriate.
  • Assess and evaluate new technologies prior to their routine use.
  • Select, and if necessary develop, the appropriate methodology(ies) to investigate the problem or source of error.
  • Take appropriate action to correct problem or source of error based on the results of the investigation.
  • Search and critically appraise scientific literature, including literature on new and emerging technologies, and other sources of information.
  • Implement suitable evidence gathering strategies.
  • Evaluate evidence to inform professional practice.
  • Determine existing levels of knowledge, select the appropriate methodology(ies) and approaches in accordance with individuals’ needs, and use appropriate forms of communication with a diverse range of audiences, including colleagues and service users.
  • Lead projects to successful completion within agreed and defined timescales eg audits, research projects
  • Set, maintain and apply standards, and undertake quality control and assurance techniques.
  • Undertake audit and take appropriate actions to ensure quality of processes/procedures.
  • Present data and/or research findings to peers, in appropriate forms.
  • Facilitate learning and provide feedback to others, as appropriate.
  • Undertake risk assessments to identify and manage sources of risk in the workplace.
  • Select the appropriate equipment and methodology(ies) to ensure safe working practices, in accordance with relevant guidelines and legislation.
  • Maintain an effective audit trail and initiate service improvements.
  • Keep accurate and comprehensive records and manage information in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines.
  • Reflect on and critically review practice and identify areas for personal and professional development.
  • Use digital systems in a manner appropriate to function and clinical scientific context.
  • Work in partnership with others to build sustainable professional relationships.

  Behaviours

  • Be open, honest, compassionate, act with integrity at all times, observe duty of candour and maintain confidentiality.
  • Be respectful, non-judgemental and engage with people in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner.
  • Maintain good character as outlined in professional Code of Conduct and refrain from activities which would bring the profession or organisation into disrepute.
  • Be adaptable and able to respond professionally to all feedback.
  • Be prepared to challenge and/or report inappropriate behaviours and practices, using established procedures.
  • Take a proactive approach to own personal wellbeing, and that of others, reporting concerns as appropriate.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Health and science
• Qualification level: 7; Equal to master’s degree
• Course duration: 36 months
• Maximum funding: £20,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Clinical scientist
  • Individuals undertaking this occupation must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a clinical scientist (a protected title)

View more information about Clinical scientist (level 7) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.