HSST Section C Information Pack

At the beginning of Year 3 you will start your research project, and you will be required to do a literature review and a lay talk during Year 3 on your Research Project.

You will also be expected to do a brief innovation proposal, which will be included as a chapter in your thesis. This is required for the equivalence route to gain access to the HSSR (Higher Specialist Scientist Register).

During Year 5 of the programme, you will submit your doctoral thesis which should be prepared and bound in accordance with the regulations for your awarding university (please see the “Resources and Policies” tab for further information).

Clinical Scientists not completing the full DClinSci will submit an extended innovation proposal and give a lay talk on their proposed innovation during Year 3 of the programme. This provides clinical scientists with the knowledge, understanding and skills to undertake an innovation in the NHS.

The extended innovation proposal will include an introduction which will explain the background to the area, the current issues and the evidence that the proposed innovation is valuable. The overall written submission will comprise the introduction (4000 words) and the innovation proposal (5 pages).

The purpose of this extended innovation proposal will be to demonstrate that Clinical Scientists have an understanding of the processes required to complete research applications in the NHS. This is required for the equivalence route to gain access to the HSSR (Higher Specialist Scientist Register), and it cannot be assumed that HSST trainees meet the criteria through FRCPath Part 2 (as some do not contain a research element) or through a prior PhD (as this may not have been in a relevant area or may not have been undertaken when working in the NHS).

Trainees who are not completing the full DClinSci will complete Section C by then end of Year 3 (although they still may have additional Section A/B teaching in subsequent years).

The academic supervisor will carry out the roles and responsibilities expected of a main supervisor at the relevant Universities. Full details of these responsibilities can be found as detailed below.

In particular, for the DClinSci the academic supervisor will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

• Advise on the nature and standard of the research and give help with the research planning process.
• Liaise with the workplace supervisor to ensure the student receives support and advice as needed.
• Maintain regular contact with the student and workplace supervisor – it is recognised that frequency of contact will vary according to the type and stage of the project. However, a reasonable expectation is that contact (in person, via Skype, by video conferencing, by phone or by email) will occur every two-four weeks and that at least one face-to-face meeting takes place in each year of the project.
• Record and monitor progress of the student in the University’s progression monitoring system.
• Provide feedback and suggest revisions to the project proposal.
• Give feedback on written work drafts in a timely manner as agreed between the student and supervisory team. Note that in relation to the final thesis, the supervisor’s opinion is only advisory and the student has the right to decide when to submit and whether to follow the advice of the supervisor.
• Ensure the student and workplace supervisor are made aware when progress is not satisfactory and give guidance on how to improve progress.
• Support the student in relation to research governance processes relevant to their project.
• Appoint internal and external examiners for the final thesis, after consultation with the student and the workplace supervisor. All examiner appointments must be in accordance with the Doctoral Degree examination policy of the relevant University.
• Ensure the student is aware of University resources for support and advice.

UoM: Supervision policy for postgraduate research degrees

ManMet: The Manchester Metropolitan University Research Degrees Handbook includes information on the responsibilities of the supervisory team and of the student and is accessed via the Graduate School website

The Workplace supervisor will be the Clinical Scientist’s main day to day point of contact for Section C. In particular the workplace supervisor will be expected to undertake the following duties:

• Advise on the nature and standard of the research and give help with the research planning process.
• Liaise with the academic supervisor to ensure the student receives support and advice as needed – via Skype, email or face-to-face where feasible.
• Ensure appropriate resources are available in the clinical setting to support the research project.
• Ensure the student is given sufficient dedicated time away from clinical duties to undertake and complete the research.
• Provide timely feedback on written drafts as appropriate.
• Liaise with student and academic supervisor to ensure progress is satisfactory. Workplace supervisors will have access to the UoM student progression monitoring system, ManMet uses paper based forms to monitor progression.
• Support the student in relation to research governance processes relevant to their project.

The DClinSci is a research degree and it is essential that students take responsibility for their own personal and professional development throughout the degree. The universities’ supervision policies set out the expected responsibilities of a research student. Full details can be found as below.

In particular the student is expected to:

• Be proactive in arranging supervisory meetings and informing supervisors when work has been submitted for review. It is suggested that Clinical Scientists inform their academic supervisor when they will attending the University for teaching as this may allow face-to-face meetings.
• Maintain regular contact with academic and workplace supervisors. Frequency of meetings will vary according to the type and stage of research but a normal expectation would be for supervisory meetings (face-to-face, Skype, videoconferencing, phone or email) to take place every two-four weeks and that one face-to-face meeting occurs in each year of the research project.
• Prepare adequately for supervision meetings.
• Maintain up to date progression records and meet planning and submission deadlines.
• Make supervisors aware of any specific needs or of any circumstances likely to affect their work, and be proactive in raising issues or difficulties as they arise.
• Accept ultimate responsibility for his/her own research activity.

UOM: PGR Handbook

ManMet: The Manchester Metropolitan University Research Degrees Handbook includes information on the responsibilities of the supervisory team and of the student and is accessed via the Graduate School website.