STATE REGISTRATION FOR CYTOLOGY SCREENERS

1. STATE REGISTRATION FOR CYTOLOGY SCREENERS Chris Hurley

2. Why are we trying to State Register cytology screeners? Who is involved in this process? What must we do to achieve state registration? What have we done so far?

3. WHY? • In 2000 the government published its NHS plan • DoH recognise there is an increase in range of staff treating patients = need patient reassurance • Reassure other professionals that all staff are properly regulated. • Standards of practice, conduct and training required

4. FOR AN OCCUPATION TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR REGULATION ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MUST BE TRUE. • Invasive procedures carried out • Clinical intervention made with the potential for harm • Exercise of judgement by unsupervised professionals which can substantially impact on patient health or welfare

5. WHICH WAY TO GO? 2 routes • Non state registered regulation • Statutory state registration

6. REGULATION • Annual fee to be on a general register • Grouped with other healthcare staff • Regulated by those with overall responsibility for the work of staff • Under go pre employment checks

7. STATE REGISTRATION • Statutory registration • Recognised profession with a protected title • ?Improved career pathway, status and pay • Annual fee £60 per annum

8. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? • NAC ballot all cytology screener members • 200 replied • All in agreement for state registration

9. BIRMINGHAM JUNE 2004 • NAC invite all screeners to a meeting • 40 + screeners attended the meeting and elect a committee to look at achieving state registration

10. THE COMMITTEE • Called the Registration Council for Cytotechnologists (RCC) • Approx. 8 members + chairperson • Must compose of 80% cytology screeners I.E. Must be SELF regulating • Meet every 6-8 weeks • Liase with other groups e.g. DoH, NAC, NHSCSP, NHSU and others as appropriate

11. GROUPS AIMING TO ACHIEVE STATE REGISTRATION IN 2007(Aspirant Professions) • Anatomical pathology technicians • Cervical cytology screeners • Ophthalmic and vision scientists • Diabetic retinopathy screeners • Cyto and molecular genetic technology staff • Critical care technologists

12. HOW TO MOVE ON ? • The DoH wanted all groups going for state registration under one ‘umbrella’ because individually each group had relatively few members • This ‘umbrella’ is called the voluntary registration council (VRC) • The VRC comprises aspirant professions • VRC given administrative support by EBS

13. WHAT DO THE VRC DO? • Each aspirant profession has one or two representatives on the VRC • VRC with the help of a solicitor will form a limited company • VRC designs a generic application form for all groups (each aspirant profession has it’s own specific guidance notes) • VRC constructs generic codes of conduct and ethics and disciplinary standards

14. WHAT DO EBS DO? • Attend VRC meetings • Provide a full administration service to the VRC • Send out and process application forms • Issue certificates • Liase with individual applicants • Collect registration fees • Set up and keep individual databases for each aspirant profession

15. RCC - WHAT DO WE DO? • RCC works as a member of VRC to achieve state registration in 2007 • We studied the HPC criteria for eligibility for state registration and are working fulfil these • We designed an application form • We constructed a code of conduct and ethics and disciplinary standards

16. ORGANISATION

17. Cover a discrete area of activity displaying some homogeneity Apply a defined body of knowledge Practise based on evidence of efficacy Have at least one established professional body which accounts for a significant proportion of that occupational group Operate a voluntary register Have defined routes of entry to the profession Have independently assessed entry qualifications Have standards in relation to conduct, performance and ethics Have disciplinary procedures to enforce those standards Be committed to CPD HPC-10 CRITERIA

18. RCC NEEDED TO • Organise and operate a voluntary register • Liase with NHSCSP (education and training) regarding formal assessment of training • Develop standards in relation to conduct, performance and ethics • Develop and enforce disciplinary procedures to enforce those standards above

19. WHAT HAVE WE DONE SO FAR? • Operate a voluntary register - We have assembled draft copies of the application form and guidance notes • These have been incorporated into the generic application form • We cannot send out application forms until the limited company is set up

20. Standards of conduct, performance and ethics - we have assembled draft copies of these and these have been incorporated into the generic form • Disciplinary procedures - we have assembled draft copies of these and again these have been incorporated into the generic form

21. INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED QUALIFICATIONS? • Julietta Patnick and Richard Winder are currently working with ‘City & Guilds’ to independently assess the academic worth of the ‘Certificate of Cytology’ and the training of a cytology screener

22. LATEST NEWS ON EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT • City and Guilds have agreed to accredit the exam • They will work with an ‘Expert Reference Group’ (ERG) to oversee the transition of the current screening qualification to a City and Guilds accredited qualification • ERG drawn from the National Cervical Cytology Education and Training Committee (NCC ETC).

23. At a presentation on the 26th May, ‘City and Guilds’ went through the detail of how transition would be achieved • The qualification would consist of units each of which could contain both written and /or practical elements • Credits would be given for each unit completed-these credits would be transferable • There will still be a final practical exam

24. It is envisaged that trainees will complete the units with guidance from in-house training officers • Units could be completed in any order as decided by the training officer. • Credits would be awarded once a unit is finished but the City and Guilds Screening qualification would not be awarded until all the units have been completed, together with the practical screening examination.

25. A writing group was identified to begin writing the details of each unit. This writing group is the examination sub committee of the NCC ETC • The qualification could consist of all portfolio work, all examination, or a combination of the two • Exam level still in question

26. TRAINING OFFICERS WILL HAVE A GREATER ROLE • Training officers would need to go on a City and Guilds assessor’s course • Assignments would be set and marked by the training officer

27. SHOULD I BE ON THE VOLUNTARY REGISTER? • There will be fees (?) and other potential financial implications BUT cytoscreeners need to be on this register, if not, when we are state registered they will need to apply for state registration under the ‘grandparenting’ route (£200)

28. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? • There will be minimum entry criteria for inclusion on the register • applicants must have passed one of the currently recognised screening examinations • be participating in regular EQA • be attending three yearly update courses • should have satisfactory internal quality assurance figures

29. We encourage all cytology screeners to join your professional body • Keep your eyes open for updates and news on state registration

30. HOW? • We hope to circulate fliers to all laboratories • There are updates on the NAC web site • There are regular articles and updates in the ‘Scan’ written by Alison Baker • All the committee are available to give information

31. BUT FOR NOW Sit tight and wait..!