National Histopathology Training Schools (NHTS)

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National Histopathology Training Schools (NHTS)
Recruitment Experiences, Issues and Challenges

• Recruitment Management Group
• Histopathology Training Schools

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An initiative etc 2001

• concerns around poor recruitment into the
  specialty, and a concurrent shortage of
  consultants to train additional trainees using
  the traditional model
• evolution of  the schools suggests that they may
  deliver a better-trained doctor more efficiently
  
• professionalizing postgraduate medical education
  by bringing proper funding and management to it
  will ensure that training is seen as core to the
  delivery of good patient care now and in the
  future
• Julia Moore, Shelley Heard

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Histopathology SHO Schools

• This is a very important initiative that will
  not only help attract high quality young doctors
  into pathology but will also help us to enhance
  the quality of training and go some way to
  helping the serious shortage of pathologists.
• This is a unique approach to training, which may
  become the model for many other specialties in
  the future
• Phil Quirke

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12 Schools, All Full
Year No of Schools No of applicants No of posts Posts filled
2001 3 18 18
2002 3 18 18
2003 3 24 24
2004 6 46 46
2005 12 96
2006 12 720 96 58
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The Recruitment Process

• National process
• Application form
• Scored by 4 consultants
• Interview
• 3 panels of 4/5 consultants
• Probably the most robust (recruitment)
• process within the NHS

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Review of the Process

• 1. Seek expert HR advice
• Scoring forms by different individuals is OK
• An interview requires different interactions

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Review of the Process

• 2. Maintain national recruitment
• Single process run once per year
• Maximise the pool of applicants
• Maintain a uniform standard

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Review of the Process

• 3. Re-evaluate the person specification
• Previous experience
• Academic achievements
• Minimum requirement
• is FY2

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Review of the process

• 4. Comparison with and analysis of previous years

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Review of the process

• 5. Improved guidance to candidates on completing
  the application form
• Hints and tips on general
• completion of form
• Specific advice

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Review of the panels

• 6. Review of the interview process
• Shorten the interview
• Critically review the questions
• Improve panel team-working

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Did it work?

• The interview process worked very well
• but we did not fill all the posts
• did the application form work effectively?

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Major challenges

• 1. Large number of applicants
• Logistic challenge
• 2. Making the most of applicants and interviewers
• Time, cost and fairness

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Major challenges

• 3. A reproducible process
• 4. Setting acceptable standards?

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For now and the Future

• Are we recruiting the right people?
• Changes in immigration laws
• Is this the best way to recruit
  histopathologists?
• How big is the workforce gap at consultant level?

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Acknowledgements

• Jane Appleyard
• Joanne Brinklow, Hani Zakhour
• Charlotte Gore, Teresa Collins, Louisa Couzens
• David Bailey, Patrick Gallagher, Nick Griffin,
• Sarah Hill, Rachael Liebmann, Kevin West,
• Martin Young
• Sue Cossins