How can I keep my HCPC registration going?

[HCPCquestionNHS]

Hello,

Any NHS HCPC people out there? I have a question.

I worked as a State registered Biomedical Scientist for many years (from 1996 to 2020) and left due to wanting to do extra things (very interested in quality management) and had been top of band 6 for years. Now working as an ops manager for an area of pharmacy. I have gained a lot of management skills in this job and done an awful lot in quality management but the overall area isn’t my bag. I want to return to pathology, ideally in a quality management role. I have a BSc and MSc in Biomedical Sciences and I am currently studying (online) a Masters in Quality Management. Already hold the IBMS expert certificate in QM along with numerous others.

I am band 7 atm. I applied for a band 8a recently and was shortlisted for interview but declined due to the distance. I had a chat with the manager on the phone who said I was one of the best applicants. I would probably have gone for it had my daughter been finished school (1.5 years to go).

My worry is…

My HCPC runs out in December 2023. I’m conscious that the clock is ticking and I’m not actually working in pathology. I haven’t since August 2020.

Are there any ways I can keep
my HCPC registration running over the next year or so? I am thinking of asking my two previous trusts if they want someone on the weekend rota as a back up. Can I do this? I know that my MSc counts as CPD but I need to keep my skills up as a gap of another year won’t look good even though I have a strong/long background in pathology.

Does anyone know if this actually happens? Bank working, I mean??

Sorry, that should say that pharmacy isn’t my bag. Not the quality management!

I, basically, want to get myself in the right position to go for an 8a post in the next few months to a year.

I don’t work weekends or out of hours in this job and can actually take two days flexi during the week if I worked in pathology, say once a month or so!

I really don’t want to lose my HCPC registration as I worked hard to get it but I don’t need it for the job I’m doing now.

Help!

Bank definitely counts, I have a couple of friends who have moved on but do an occasional bank shift.

Ad far as I know, there isn't an official amount of clinical hours or skills you have to do, as long as you keep a portfolio going.

There's loads of info on the HCPC website, but if you can't find a specific answer I'd email them.

Do a bank shift now and again

Yes go on the bank. I do very few clinical hours but as an hcpc profession academic I keep up my registration through relevant work and the supervisory role I take with students. Email them, they want to increase fees so may as well get your money's worth!

PS well done on such interesting career development! And merry Christmas!