Apprenticeship Model For

Clinical Engineering Workforce

Development

Clinical Physics & Engineering Department

Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom

Basit Abdul Apprenticeship Programme Manager

Malcolm Birch Director

Background

• Largest NHS trust in the UK

• Base of London’s Air Ambulance

• 4 Clinical Engineering Departments

• CE Teams in ITU, Renal and A&E

The Mismatch 1. Workload vs. Staff Numbers

2. Device Complexity vs. Staff Skill Set

Current Input • Practitioner Training Programme (PTP)

• Scientific Training Programme (STP)

• Other BSc and MSc qualifications

University Fees Increment

• 17% Drop* in Graduates

* Howse, P. (2014) Higher fees led to 17% drop in UK undergraduates. BBC News [online].

Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25761133 [Re-accessed 02 May 2017]

The Need

Professional Training

Formal Education

Recognised Qualifications

Continuous Progression Pathway

No Age Restriction

New Recruits

Existing Staff

Solution

Clinical Engineering

Apprenticeship Programme

36%

The Engagement Process

Aim

Engage critical stakeholders in designing a clinical engineering apprenticeship

programme to produce a workforce to the highest calibre to improve patient

experience, care quality, equality and diversity in the Barts Health NHS Trust.

Process

• Used Power/Interest Matrix to categorise and prioritise stakeholders

• 21 experienced professionals contributed to the engagement process

• 11 Interviews – a combination of 1-1 and Group Interviews

• Thematic Analysis

Expectations

• Identify the needs of individual stakeholders and learn best training practices

• Identify challenges and opportunities in having apprentices in CE areas

The Model - Outcome of the Engagement Process 36%

Implementation

55%

Theme Code Action

Motivation

Inter & Intra team collaboration

• Programme designed on multiple placements in equipment focused areas

Resources Trainers’ time

• Record keeping of training time • Appreciation, inclusion in appraisals and time buy

back options

Curriculum Workbook

• One comprehensive workbook for each placement • Based on natural learning but covering all elements

of the diploma qualification

Recruitment Advertisement

• NHS jobs website is not popular among young age groups

• Targeted our desired audience through Twitter and paid Facebook advertisement in local community

• Pilot Programme

o Launched in September 2016

o 4 Apprentices – 2 at Barts & 2 at Royal Free NHS Trust

o Appointed through a single selection process using Values Based

Recruitment (VBR)

o 3rd Placement will finish end of May 2017

• Placements include:

ITU, Renal, Equipment Library, CE Workshop, Mould Room, CE Contracts

and Mechanical Engineering Workshop

• Study – Work Split

o 1 day per week at college and 4 days per week at workplace

• Qualifications

o Extended Diploma in Engineering Maintenance (180 Credits)

Pathway: Servicing Medical Devices

o Diploma in Engineering (90 Credits)

Results

27%

The apprenticeship programme will

provide equal opportunities to bright and

talented school leavers to pursue a

career in CE regardless of their ability to

pay university fees.

The apprentices soon will be able to

maintain low to medium risk medical

devices at all four sites of the Trust,

improving KPIs and ensuring provision

of safe medical devices for patients and

clinicians.

73%

Q&A

Apprenticeship Model For Clinical

Engineering Workforce

Development

Clinical Physics & Engineering Department

Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom

Basit Abdul Apprenticeship Programme Manager

Email of Abdul Basit

Malcolm Birch Director