Sallyanne - Biomedical

‘The next best thing’ was the beginning of what has turned out to be an NHS, in private and abroad (languages are useful!), in Public excellent career route for Sallyanne. After leaving school with CSEs, , in the , in including Maths and English, but not really knowing what she wanted to and in teaching. It is also possible to specialise: Sallyanne is interested in do, she saw an advertisement that appealed to her interest in Forensic Toxicity so will probably seek a move from Medway to London where . It was for a Scene of Crime Officer - but she didn’t have the there are more laboratories and the large teaching hospitals. qualifications required. This led her to explore the Access route to Higher Education and she began an Access to Applied Science course when she The work of a biomedical scientist is analytical and demands a high was about 30 years old. degree of responsibility. It requires a methodical person who is also flexible and adaptable; excellent communication and team working skills Sallyanne hadn’t planned to go into Bioscience but, after successfully are necessary. Ideal subjects to be concentrating on at school are science, completing the Access course, embarked on a research degree in ideally and/or , and general English and Maths. which she enjoyed very much.To ease her progression from this into biomedical science she topped up with a post graduate The most enjoyable part of the job for Sallyanne is being on call to see a certificate in Bioscience and is now, several years into her career, finishing patient through the test processes from start to finish. She even an MSc in . volunteers to do this overnight! The least enjoyable is having to allow automation to take over some of the work…. Sallyanne agrees that hers appears to have been a very long route but says that younger students will find that preparatory education today will equip them more fully and efficiently with the knowledge that they need.

Of course, there is a lot of theory to be absorbed, so Sallyanne’s advice is to try to obtain work experience as a Medical Assistant to find out whether the work is for you. As a ‘flexi bank’ member you could be inputting patient information and test requirements, numbering, centrifuging and sorting samples, and giving out test results.

No day is ‘typical’ for Sallyanne but could include setting up an analyser, which demands quality control of technical equipment, putting a Quality Assurance scheme in place for national comparison of results, and inputting information and patient data.

Once you are employed as a biomedical scientist, opportunities for professional development and progression are good. You can work in the

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Further Education in Kent and Medway Higher Education Institutions in Kent and Medway South East For: Educational guidance, For: Educational guidance, financial information, financial information, course information course information including Degrees and Foundation Degrees CANTERBURY Canterbury CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH Tel: 01227 811111 Canterbury, Broadstairs, Chatham Routes into Email: [email protected] Tel: 01227 782900 Biomedical Science Web: www.cant-col.ac.uk Email: [email protected] Web: www.canterbury.ac.uk

nce in Kent and Medway MID-KENT COLLEGE Chatham, Rochester, Maidstone UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH Tel: 01634 830633 Greenwich, Chatham www.aimhighersoutheast.ac.uk Email: [email protected] Tel: 0800 005 006 Web: www.midkent.ac.uk Email: [email protected] Web: www.gre.ac.uk

NORTH WEST KENT COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF KENT Dartford and Gravesend Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge Tel: 0800 074 1447 Tel: 01227 764000 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.nwkcollege.ac.uk Web: www.kent.ac.uk

SOUTH KENT COLLEGE OPEN UNIVERSITY Ashford, Dover, Folkestone, New Romney Tel: 0870 333 4340 Tel: 0845 207 8220 Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected] Web: www.open.ac.uk scie Web: www.southkent.ac.uk

THANET COLLEGE Broadstairs Tel: 01843 605040 Email: [email protected] Web: www.thanet.ac.uk

WEST KENT COLLEGE Tonbridge Tel: 01732 358101 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wkc.ac.uk

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/FINANCIAL HELP bio- Ordinarily, there are no bursaries for Biomedical Science courses. However, a new bio-science focused Foundation Degree for Laboratory and Manufacturing Technologists is being piloted at the Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne and validated by the University of Kent. There may be a bursary available for this in the future.

Enquiries: UNIVERSITY OF KENT Tel: 0800 9753777 Email: [email protected]

Whilst all information was correct at the time of going to print, the Aimhigher Healthcare Strand recommends that you contact indivdual institutions The Aimhigher Healthcare Strand, Kent & Medway for course information and entry requirements. Acknowledgments: The Islington 14-19 Partnership for original research undertaken in this field. The NHS Photo Library.

Professional Key: Doctorate Adults without Entrants normally 18+ with formal qualifications employment experience in health General Education Advanced Specialist Diploma (School/College) University study Higher Specialist Diploma MSc Vocational Education (School/College) Specialist Diploma Occupational Training

Biomedical Scientist

IBMS Certificate of Competence

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science (IBMS accredited) Assistant Practitioner or another IBMS - approved Degree with an acceptable component of Biomedical Science

Foundation Degree

Entry to HE Senior Clinical Support Worker

NVQ 3 An As/A2 Levels in Approved A Levels Applied Subjects, ACCESS (formerly A/SVCEs) or Course National Diploma/Level 3 NVQ 2 USEFUL WEBSITES

Pre-Access Institute of Biomedical Science Course GNVQ Intermediate Medical Laboratory www.ibms.org or First Diploma Cytoscreener or The Federation for Healthcare Science Assistant Phlebotomist www.fedhcs.net Aimhigher Adult entry www.aimhigher.ac.uk without GNVQ Foundation or www.hese..ac.uk/aimhigher/healthcare qualifications Introductory/Level 1 UCAS Award www.ucas.ac.uk NHS Careers Post-16 Options www.nhscareers.nhs.uk www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/careers/ahp GCSEs, including Vocational Learning Connexions Service GCSEs including English, Maths & in Healthcare & www.connexions.gov.uk Applied Science Science GCSEs including Science Foundation Degrees www.foundationdegree.org.uk

Occupational Pathways in Biomedical Science

Biomedical scientists analyse body fluids and samples to aid pharmaceutical industry, independent and academic research Your school or college, working with the Aimhigher Kent and Medway doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. These are some of laboratories and with government agencies such as the Health and Healthcare Strand and the NHS, can help you develop skills, qualities the areas they specialise in: Safety Executive. and knowledge. Possible learning activities include: There are four grades of biomedical scientist; BMS 1 to 4, plus an Gathering information ● Cellular – analysing tissue samples ● attending talks, presentations and demonstrations by to establish causes of illness and advanced practitioner level. Some biomedical scientists specialise and continue to study beyond degree level which may provide the practitioners ● Chemical pathology (biochemistry) – analysing ● visiting departments and other biological materials to diagnose disease and opportunity for career progression within the clinical and scientific sector. ● course work assignments designed around real NHS test function issues ● Cytology – analysing samples of cellular material Skills, Qualities & Knowledge ● using the internet to investigate NHS careers collected from patients to seek abnormalities ● Haematology – identifying blood abnormalities Qualifications and training are important for a career in biomedical Activities and experiential learning and calculating haemoglobin levels science but you also need to develop skills, qualities and knowledge ● reporting back and making presentations ● – development of tests and treatment such as teamwork, responsibility and problem solving in order to ● learning about the use of specialist technology of such as AIDS, and leukaemia successfully progress in your education and training or work in ● following a patient’s journey within an NHS trust ● Medical – identifying and isolating biomedical science: ● having a mentor advise on course work micro- and testing their reaction to antibiotics ● work shadowing practitioners ● Being part of a team Transfusion science – identifying blood groups, testing Thinking and reflecting ● good interpersonal skills to communicate with for donor/recipient compatibility and preparing ● discussing your options with others (for example with a other members of the team blood products for administration to patients Personal Adviser, tutor or mentor) ● ● able to work well in a team with other - identification of viral infections and ● assessing your own skills, qualities and knowledge healthcare professionals conducting screening of those at risk ● taking tests designed to find out what your abilities are Being patient focussed, if working in an area where Biomedical scientists in each area of work may have the opportunity Making decisions contact is likely ● to become involved in research work, developing new methods of developing your Individual Learning Plan ● able to provide support for patients who are frightened ● detecting and monitoring disease and introducing improved building your own portfolio of evidence and a record or uncertain treatments. of experience ● have excellent communication skills to explain procedures and treatments Qualifications & Training Opportunities may exist for biomedical scientists in private hospitals, ● understand the emotional needs of patients and able to the Laboratory Service, the National Blood Service, the The entry requirements for a biomedical science degree usually consist deal with patients of all types and ages of five GCSEs (A-C), including maths and English, and three A levels, Being self-reliant preferably including biology and chemistry. but may be Training & Qualification Routes flexible in their entry requirements. ● well organised to keep accurate records General Education – studying subjects that are not ● excellent oral and written communication skills Other qualifications that may be acceptable include: ● directly related to work Accepting responsibility Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE) in Science Vocational Education – give a broad introduction ● able to think quickly and make decisions independently Always check with Admissions tutor of your chosen university to a work area Problem-solving A Medical Laboratory Assistant post is not a route to qualifying as a Occupational Training – provide you with the ● have an enquiring mind biomedical scientist, but those with suitable motivation will be knowledge and skills required for a specific job ● able to concentrate for long periods encouraged to obtain the academic qualifications needed to become ● able to work accurately, with attention to detail a trainee biomedical scientist.