Carrying out routine technical and scientific procedures and support within hospitals, doctor surgeries and other healthcare settings for a wide range of people.
This occupation is found in hospitals, general practice and other settings in the health sector.
Employers can vary in size from a large national organisation such as the NHS through to a private practice.
Healthcare Science Assistants work in Life Sciences, Physiological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Clinical Engineering, Clinical Bioinformatics in environments such as outpatient departments laboratories and engineering workshops.
Healthcare Science Assistants are part of a wider team contributing to safe patient care across all care pathways from conception to end of life across all areas of healthcare science.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to perform a range of routine technical and scientific procedures whilst in a clinical setting.
Healthcare Science Assistants follow standard operating procedures in order to select and prepare equipment and the environment for healthcare science procedures. They perform healthcare science tasks and tests appropriate to their role. They log, prepare, input and store data.
A Healthcare Science Assistant may also carry out stock control of equipment and consumables.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of stakeholders including, healthcare science professionals, the wider multi-disciplinary healthcare team, patients and the public. They are likely to report to a Healthcare Science Associate or professional.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for carrying out clinical, technical, scientific or administrative duties according to standard operating procedures.
They follow specific protocols and adhere to health, safety, governance and ethical requirements.
They are responsible for carrying out a range of delegated activities and solving routine problems using simple rules and tools. They are accountable for their own work performance and are expected to take ownership of their own career and professional development.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 14 months. The EPA period is typically 2 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
For the healthcare science assistant, the qualification required is:
Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Science (603/0626/9)
Observation with questions
You will be observed by an independent assessor completing your work. It will last at least 2 hours. They will ask you at least 4 questions.
Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 7 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
This apprenticeship aligns with Academy for Healthcare Science for Healthcare Science Assistant Register (non-accredited)
Please contact the professional body for more details.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised. | 01/02/2024 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 10/05/2016 | 31/01/2024 |
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