Training Pathways for Pathology ATO Staff

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Training Pathways for Pathology ATO Staff

• Presented by Gill Jones BSc, CSci, FIBMS
• Pathology Directorate,
• Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

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Order of Events

• Reasons for change in working practices
• What actually happened
• Outcomes
• Take home messages

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Reasons for change in working practices

• 1998/9 PHLS South West initiated survey -
  Recruitment and Retention of MLAs
• Supporting Facts
• turnover 29 -100 (mean 62)
• sickness increased rates (turnover associated)
  
• accident occurrence ? turnover, shortages,
  sickness

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Survey cont. Recruitment and Retention of
MLAs

• Objectives
• Revise pay structure
• Identify needs and expectations
• Introduce national qualification
• Recommendations
• Regrade as ATOs
• Access to enhanced salary points (e.g. SATO,
  MTO1, MTO2)
• Introduction of NVQs e.g. LATA (Level 3)
• Laboratory and Technical Activities

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Moving on.

• 2000 - All Pathology MLAs regraded as ATOs.
• 2001 - 5 ATOs commence NVQ training.
• - Trust funded creation of ATO structure (60K)
• 2003 - 2 Senior BMS staff become NVQ Assessors.
  - First wave of ATOs complete LATA NVQ level 3.
• - First qualified ATOs appointed SATO status.

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One step further. what happened next

• Jan. 2003 Team of 3 BMS appointed
• To Review the Training of Pathology ATO Staff
• Objectives
• To provide a clearly defined training pathway for
  developing and progressing ATO staff.
• To provide common ATO training programmes and
  records.

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Outcomes Pathways for Progression of ATO
Staff

• I. Routes of progression to BMS level.
• Routes identified
• 2 Science A Levels (one must be Chemistry /
  Biology)
• Chemistry A or AS Level
• Access to Higher Education (Science) (1yr. 334)
• (HNC in Laboratory Technology - Truro)
• LATA NVQ Level 3 (2yr. 464)
• Access to BMS BSc verified by University West of
  England
• Funding via NHS NVQ or NHS ILA

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Outcomes Pathways for Progression of ATO
Staff

• II. Routes of progression to MTO level.
• Some ATOs either do not want, or lack academic
  skills, to progress to BMS level.
• SATO, MTO1 and MTO2 grades redefined using
  Professional and Technical Staffs B Whitley
  Council (PTB) guidelines.
• ?
• Alternative career structure provided for
  Pathology support staff.

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Outcomes Training Programmes Records

• Common Training Programmes Records for
• Trust and Departmental Induction.
• Competency Training.
• Statutory Update Essential Training.
• Staff appraisal.
• Monthly Feedback Reports on Performance.
• (Also common JDs)

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Summarising

• There now exists a clearly defined training
  pathway for ATO staff
• ATO ? SATO ? MTO
• ? ? ? Trainee BMS
• Plymouth Pathology Directorate now have a stable
  ATO workforce.
• Electronic ATO programmes and records exist for
  all disciplines.
• Laboratory needs should be considered at
  recruitment and selection stage.

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Summarising

• Example of pathway in practice
• In Microbiology
• 4 ATOs ? SATO
• ? SATO ? MTO 2
• ? Trainee BMS (final year)
• ? Trainee BMS ? BMS 1 ? BMS 2

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And still theres more.

• Recent developments
• Co- terminus / Foundation degrees.
• Agenda for Change.
• National Occupational Standards.
• MLA Registration.
• IBMS Gazette/Website keeps us informed

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The way forward? ..its your choice
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We are quite happy with ours!
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ATO Training Pathway
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Take home messages

• Be proactive!
• Be prepared to change but only if its a real
  improvement.
• Staff seem to respond well rather than vote with
  their feet!

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• Thank you for listening!
• Any Questions?
• gillian.jones_at_phnt.swest.nhs.uk
  rob.boon_at_phnt.swest.nhs.uk