Any NHS clinical scientists or BMS on here that can advise me about my career plan?

[loveloveloves]

I want to work as an NHS clinical scientist in the future but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and confused about how to get there. I know that there is the Scientist Training Programme which I will apply to this year but as I am lacking clinical experience and haven't been able to get any in the last year due to COVID I am not expected my application to be successful this round.

I have heard you can become a clinical scientist through other routes but I can't seem to find much information on this.

My background is:

• A degree in Biological Sciences rather than Biomedical Science; however, I took the same modules as the BMS cohort at my university so I am confident I could probably get my degree accredited.
• An MSc in Molecular Biology
• I'm starting a new job in an NHS lab, band 4. It's in virology which is not the area I would like to specialise in but because of COVID there has been a lot of recruitment in this area so it was a good opportunity to get some NHS experience.

Does anyone have any advice on the best way to tackle this? I'm not sure whether to apply to see if my degree can be IBMS accredited or whether to wait until I start working for the NHS and ask my line manager about progression? I don't know whether you can slowly work your way up the bands with relevant training or whether you need to go through the formal training programmes like the Scientist Training Programme?

Ideally I would like to work in cancer genomics.

I’m not an expert but I would imagine when you have your job in the nhs you would have reviews with your manager and you could make it known this is where you are heading and ask advice how to get there. Really good to get your foot in the door though as I’m sure opportunity will be much easier to take when you are already there.
You do know the pay is terrible though compared to industry.

Also have a look at lab based jobs within universities if you are near one. These can be really interesting especially if there is a teaching hospital close by - then many clinicians have part time academic/research labs.

Hopeful bump because my dd is hoping to head in this career direction.

Take a look at www.assclinsci.org/acsApplicants/acsRegistration.aspx Look for information on Route 2 to Registration.

If you are serious about cancer genomics rather than keeping your options open then there is no need to convert to BMS. Scientists in genomics tend to be Clinical Scientists not BMS and generally have more specialised degrees and (to be successfully shortlisted for STP) usually seem to have MSc or PhD. Route 2 is usually used for those working their way up in an NHS lab.

@Teenageromance

I’m not an expert but I would imagine when you have your job in the nhs you would have reviews with your manager and you could make it known this is where you are heading and ask advice how to get there. Really good to get your foot in the door though as I’m sure opportunity will be much easier to take when you are already there. You do know the pay is terrible though compared to industry.

Thank you for your reply, that is great to know! I will definitely speak to my manager once I start. Yes I know about the pay, I was planning on pursuing a career in academia so in comparison working for the NHS is more appealing as it is much more secure than academia.

@keta

Take a look at www.assclinsci.org/acsApplicants/acsRegistration.aspx Look for information on Route 2 to Registration.

If you are serious about cancer genomics rather than keeping your options open then there is no need to convert to BMS. Scientists in genomics tend to be Clinical Scientists not BMS and generally have more specialised degrees and (to be successfully shortlisted for STP) usually seem to have MSc or PhD. Route 2 is usually used for those working their way up in an NHS lab.

Thank you so much, that link was just what I was looking for!

I was just wondering whether you know what kind of job roles I should be looking at to progress beyond band 4? From browsing NHS jobs it seems the band 5 roles are BMS so I am not sure how I can progress via route 2 without being a BMS?

Band 5 jobs in other specialities tend to be BMS. In genomics they tend not to be. So use genetics or genomics as your search term in nhs jobs and see what comes up. good luck