KSBs

Knowledge

K1: The importance of continuing professional development throughout own career. Back to Duty

K2: The importance of safeguarding and relevant safeguarding processes. Back to Duty

K3: What is required by the Health and Care Professions Council, including but not limited to the Standards of conduct, performance and ethics. Back to Duty

K4: The importance of valid consent which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented. Back to Duty

K5: The importance of capacity in the context of delivering care and treatment. Back to Duty

K6: The scope of a professional duty of care and how to exercise that duty. Back to Duty

K7: The legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice. Back to Duty

K8: The British, European and International Standards that govern and affect pathology laboratory practice. Back to Duty

K9: The importance of own mental and physical health and wellbeing strategies in maintaining fitness to practise. Back to Duty

K10: How to take appropriate action if own health may affect own ability to practise safely and effectively, including seeking help and support when necessary. Back to Duty

K11: The need for active participation in training, supervision and mentoring in supporting high standards of practice, and personal and professional conduct, and the importance of demonstrating this in practice. Back to Duty

K12: Equality legislation and how to apply it to own practice. Back to Duty

K13: The duty to make reasonable adjustments in practice and be able to make and support reasonable adjustments in own and others’ practice. Back to Duty

K14: The characteristics and consequences of barriers to inclusion, including for socially isolated groups. Back to Duty

K15: That equality, diversity and inclusion needs to be embedded in the application of all HCPC standards and across all areas of practice. Back to Duty

K16: When disclosure of confidential information may be required. Back to Duty

K17: The principles of information and data governance and the safe and effective use of health, social care and other relevant information. Back to Duty

K18: The need to ensure confidentiality is maintained in all situations in which service users rely on additional communication support, such as interpreters or translators. Back to Duty

K19: Recognise that the concepts of confidentiality and informed consent extend to all mediums, including illustrative clinical records such as photography, video and audio recordings and digital platforms. Back to Duty

K20: The characteristics and consequences of verbal and non-verbal communication and how these can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences. Back to Duty

K21: The need to support the communication needs of service users and carers, such as through the use of an appropriate interpreter. Back to Duty

K22: The need to provide service users or people acting on their behalf with the information necessary in accessible formats to enable them to make informed decisions. Back to Duty

K23: The risks and possible serious consequences of errors and omissions in both requests for, and results of, laboratory investigations. Back to Duty

K24: The need to adhere to protocols of specimen identification, including bar coding and electronic tag systems. Back to Duty

K25: The importance of backup storage of electronic data. Back to Duty

K26: The principles and practises of other health and care professionals and systems and how they interact with own profession. Back to Duty

K27: The need to build and sustain professional relationships as both an autonomous practitioner and collaboratively as a member of a team. Back to Duty

K28: The qualities, behaviours and benefits of leadership. Back to Duty

K29: Recognise that leadership is a skill all professionals can demonstrate. Back to Duty

K30: The need to engage service users and carers in planning and evaluating diagnostics and assessment outcomes to meet their needs and goals. Back to Duty

K31: The impact of pathology services on the service user care pathway. Back to Duty

K32: The value of reflective practice and the need to record the outcome of such reflection to support continuous improvement. Back to Duty

K33: The value of multi-disciplinary reviews, case conferences and other methods of review. Back to Duty

K34: The value of gathering and using data for quality assurance and improvement programmes. Back to Duty

K35: The structure and function of the human body, together with knowledge of physical and mental health, disease, disorder and dysfunction relevant to their profession. Back to Duty

K36: The principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process. Back to Duty

K37: The roles of other professions in health and social care and understand how they may relate to the role of biomedical scientist. Back to Duty

K38: The structure and function of health and social care systems and services in the UK. Back to Duty

K39: The theoretical basis of, and the variety of approaches to, assessment and intervention. Back to Duty

K40: The underpinning scientific principles of investigations provided by clinical laboratory services. Back to Duty

K41: The role of the following specialisms in the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease: cellular science, blood science, infection science, molecular and genetic science and reproductive science. Back to Duty

K42: The techniques and associated instrumentation used in the practice of biomedical science. Back to Duty

K43: The biological hazards groups and associated containment levels. Back to Duty

K44: Recognise a range of research methodologies relevant to own role. Back to Duty

K45: Recognise the value of research to the critical evaluation of practice. Back to Duty

K46: The implications of non-analytical errors. Back to Duty

K47: The extent of the role and responsibility of the laboratory with respect to the quality management of hospital, primary care and community based laboratory services for near- service user testing and non-invasive techniques. Back to Duty

K48: The need to assess and evaluate new procedures prior to routine use. Back to Duty

K49: The need to maintain the safety of self and others, including service users, carers and colleagues. Back to Duty

K50: Relevant health and safety legislation, local operational procedures and policies. Back to Duty

K51: The principles of good laboratory practice. Back to Duty

K52: The role of own profession in health promotion, health education and preventing ill health. Back to Duty

K53: How social, economic and environmental factors, wider determinants of health, can influence a person’s health and well-being. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Identify the limits of own practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional or service. Back to Duty

S2: Recognise the need to manage own workload and resources safely and effectively, including managing the emotional burden that comes with working in a pressured environment. Back to Duty

S3: Keep own skills and knowledge up to date. Back to Duty

S4: Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct. Back to Duty

S5: Promote and protect the service user’s interests at all times. Back to Duty

S6: Actively look for signs of abuse and engage in relevant safeguarding processes. Back to Duty

S7: Respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values, and autonomy of service users, including own role in the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and/or therapeutic process. Back to Duty

S8: Recognise that relationships with service users, carers and others should be based on mutual respect and trust, and maintain high standards of care in all circumstances. Back to Duty

S9: Obtain valid consent, which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented. Back to Duty

S10: Exercise a professional duty of care. Back to Duty

S11: Apply legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice. Back to Duty

S12: Recognise the power imbalance which comes with being a health care professional, and ensure it is not for personal gain. Back to Duty

S13: Work in accordance with the British, European and International Standards that govern and affect pathology laboratory practice. Back to Duty

S14: Identify own anxiety and stress and recognise the potential impact on own practice. Back to Duty

S15: Develop and adopt clear strategies for physical and mental self-care and self-awareness, to maintain a high standard of professional effectiveness and a safe working environment. Back to Duty

S16: Recognise that they are personally responsible for and must be able to justify their decisions and actions. Back to Duty

S17: Use own skills, knowledge and experience, and the information available, to make informed decisions and / or take action where necessary. Back to Duty

S18: Make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease treatment or the use of techniques or procedures, and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately. Back to Duty

S19: Make and receive appropriate referrals, where necessary. Back to Duty

S20: Exercise personal initiative. Back to Duty

S21: Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving. Back to Duty

S22: Use research, reasoning and problem solving skills when determining appropriate actions. Back to Duty

S23: Respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences. Back to Duty

S24: Recognise the potential impact of own values, beliefs and personal biases, which may be unconscious, on practice and take personal action to ensure all service users and carers are treated appropriately with respect and dignity. Back to Duty

S25: Actively challenge barriers to inclusion, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible. Back to Duty

S26: Adhere to the professional duty of confidentiality. Back to Duty

S27: Respond in a timely manner to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public and recognise situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public. Back to Duty

S28: Use effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate with service users, carers, colleagues and others. Back to Duty

S29: Communicate in English to the required standard for the profession. Back to Duty

S30: Work with service users and/or carers to facilitate the service user’s preferred role in decision-making, and provide service users and carers with the information they may need where appropriate. Back to Duty

S31: Modify own means of communication to address the individual communication needs and preferences of service users and carers, and remove any barriers to communication where possible. Back to Duty

S32: Use information, communication and digital technologies appropriate to own practice. Back to Duty

S33: Communicate the outcomes of biomedical procedures. Back to Duty

S34: Keep full, clear and accurate records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines. Back to Duty

S35: Manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines. Back to Duty

S36: Use digital record keeping tools, where required. Back to Duty

S37: Recognise and communicate the risks and possible serious consequences of errors and omissions in both requests for, and results of, laboratory investigations. Back to Duty

S38: Use systems for the accurate and correct identification of service users and laboratory specimens. Back to Duty

S39: Work in partnership with service users, carers, colleagues and others. Back to Duty

S40: Contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Back to Duty

S41: Identify anxiety and stress in service users, carers and colleagues, adapting own practice and providing support where appropriate. Back to Duty

S42: Identify own leadership qualities, behaviours and approaches, taking into account the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion. Back to Duty

S43: Demonstrate leadership behaviours appropriate to own practice. Back to Duty

S44: Act as a role model for others. Back to Duty

S45: Promote and engage in the learning of others. Back to Duty

S46: Engage in evidence-based practice. Back to Duty

S47: Gather and use feedback and information, including qualitative and quantitative data, to evaluate the responses of service users to own care. Back to Duty

S48: Monitor and systematically evaluate the quality of practice, and maintain an effective quality management and quality assurance process working towards continual improvement. Back to Duty

S49: Participate in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, clinical governance and the use of appropriate outcome measures. Back to Duty

S50: Evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible, and revise the plans as necessary. Back to Duty

S51: Select and apply quality and process control measures. Back to Duty

S52: Identify and respond appropriately to abnormal outcomes from quality indicators. Back to Duty

S53: Apply the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process. Back to Duty

S54: Evaluate analyses using qualitative and quantitative methods to aid the diagnosis, screening and monitoring of health and disorders. Back to Duty

S55: Change own practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts. Back to Duty

S56: Gather appropriate information. Back to Duty

S57: Analyse and critically evaluate the information collected. Back to Duty

S58: Select and use appropriate assessment techniques and equipment. Back to Duty

S59: Undertake and record a thorough, sensitive, and detailed assessment. Back to Duty

S60: Undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate. Back to Duty

S61: Conduct appropriate assessment or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions safely and effectively. Back to Duty

S62: Critically evaluate research and other evidence to inform own practice. Back to Duty

S63: Engage service users in research as appropriate. Back to Duty

S64: Perform and supervise procedures in clinical laboratory investigations to reproducible standards. Back to Duty

S65: Operate and utilise specialist equipment according to own discipline. Back to Duty

S66: Validate scientific and technical data and observations according to pre-determined quality standards. Back to Duty

S67: Demonstrate proficiency in practical skills in cellular science, blood science, infection science, molecular and genetic science and reproductive science, where appropriate to the discipline. Back to Duty

S68: Demonstrate practical skills in the processing and analysis of specimens including specimen identification, the effect of storage on specimens and the safe retrieval of specimens. Back to Duty

S69: Demonstrate practical skills in the investigation of disease processes. Back to Duty

S70: Work in conformance with standard operating procedures and conditions. Back to Duty

S71: Work with accuracy and precision. Back to Duty

S72: Perform calibration and quality control checks. Back to Duty

S73: Demonstrate operational management of laboratory equipment to check that equipment is functioning within its specifications and to respond appropriately to abnormalities. Back to Duty

S74: Formulate specific and appropriate management plans including the setting of timescales. Back to Duty

S75: Select suitable specimens and procedures relevant to service users’ clinical needs, including collection and preparation of specimens as and when appropriate. Back to Duty

S76: investigate and monitor disease processes and normal states. Back to Duty

S77: Use standard operating procedures for analyses including point of care in vitro diagnostic devices. Back to Duty

S78: Use statistical packages and present data in an appropriate format. Back to Duty

S79: Design experiments, report, interpret and present data using scientific convention, including application of SI units and other units used in biomedical science. Back to Duty

S80: Safely interpret and authorise service user results. Back to Duty

S81: Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, local operational procedures and policies. Back to Duty

S82: Work safely, including being able to select appropriate hazard control and risk management, reduction or elimination techniques in a safe manner and in accordance with health and safety legislation. Back to Duty

S83: Select appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly. Back to Duty

S84: Establish safe environments for practice, which appropriately manages risk. Back to Duty

S85: Empower and enable individuals, including service users and colleagues, to play a part in managing their own health. Back to Duty

S86: Engage in occupational health, including being aware of immunisation requirements. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving. Back to Duty

B2: Treat people with dignity. Back to Duty

B3: Show respect and empathy for those you work with. Back to Duty

B4: Be adaptable, reliable and consistent. Back to Duty

B5: Uphold high quality and safe practice. Back to Duty

Qualifications

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

Other mandatory qualifications

A Health and Care Professions Council approved BSc (hons) degree; or a BSc (hons) degree that is accredited by the IBMS plus the HCPC approved Certificate of Competence

Level: 6 (integrated degree)

Professional recognition

This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:

• Institute of Biomedical Science for Biomedical Science Licentiate

Additional details

Regulated standard

This is a regulated occupation.

Regulator body:

HCPC

Training Provider must be approved by regulator body

EPAO must be approved by regulator body

Occupational Level:

6

Duration (months):

36

Review

This apprenticeship standard will be reviewed after three years