Our postgraduate scientist trainee cohort includes Pre-registration Clinical Scientists and Practitioner-level (graduate) staff undertaking advanced-practice scientist development. For Practitioners, we competitively select around 30 in-service Practitioner staff for NES awards annually to ensure that NHS Scotland has a pathway for able HCS Practitioners to progress to advanced scientific practice. Our postgraduate scientists cohort have a National Training Number and develop attributes on our Common Core List. All postgraduate scientist trainees are subject to Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) monitoring.
Our Common Core List (CCL) identifies shared attributes for NHS scientists, across four domains: scientific practice; leadership and management; safety and improvement; the future. CCL does not specify format, level or content of development within the domains. Instead, it challenges trainees to consider their wider development as a future scientist-leaders. Engagement with CCL is central for approval of NES postgraduate support.