RCT Registrar’s Update July 2015

Many of you will know that we submitted an application to the PSA to gain accredited voluntary register status. The management team have been involved in a number of site visits and interviews over the last couple of months. The report and final decision are expected in August. As soon as the details become available we will provide a further update.

We are pleased to welcome two new IPEM members to the RCT Management panel.

Paul Blackett is an Engineering Operations Manager at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, a moderator on the IPEM Technologist Training Scheme, as well as sitting on various bodies and Special Interest Groups.

Paula Todd is a Chief Clinical Technologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital and is also a Moderator for the IPEM Technologist Training Scheme.

Both Paul and Paula have been RCT Registrants for a number of years and are excellent additions to the panel.

The RCT Equivalence Route is designed to enable technologists to achieve registration by demonstrating that their levels of knowledge and skills are at least equivalent to those offered by the relevant Scope of Practice and The RCT Equivalence Standards – Engineering or Physics. We are very pleased to report that after extensive piloting, the engineering route has now been launched. Full details of how to apply via this route are outlined on the RCT website. The Engineering Scopes of Practice cover the following:

Ø  Medical Engineering

Ø  Radiation Engineering

Ø  Rehabilitation Engineering

Ø  Renal Technology

The physics route is currently under development and we hope to be able to launch this shortly.

IPEM’s Public Engagement Panel (PEP) is a new network of volunteers who are not part of the health-related physics, engineering or technologist professions, and not members of IPEM. The aim is to bring a wider perspective to the work of the Institute. At the initial meeting members will be invited to join the RCT Management Panel. For further information on the panel, please visit the IPEM website.

A random percentage of RCT Registrants were selected for audit this year. The audit has now taken place and has highlighted to the management panel that further support for registrants is required. We will, over the summer, develop additional content to support you in recording your development activities and provide regular updates.

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure that entry to the Register is robust we are seeking interest from those who wish to become assessors for the equivalence route. Those expressing an interest will be invited to undertake training at a planned workshop in September 2015.

There are two Registrant Panel Member posts available from September.   All RCT Registrants are eligible to apply. The criteria and the role description will be sent to all registrants and where there are more applications than posts a ballot will be held.   Please email enquiries@therct.org.uk for further details.

The management panel have put together a document as a helpful, informal resource for registrants to explain who the bodies are which are responsible for the education and registration of technologists in the UK. Click here to view.

It is with great sadness that I have to advise you that Alistair Mitchell, an RCT Management Panel member, has passed away.  Alistair was an active member of the clinical technologists training scheme and CPD Audit panel.   His valued contribution will be greatly missed.