News

Amy Calder achieves the Chartered Scientist award

2 January 2025

Congratulations to Amy Calder CSci FAAPT for her award success at Chartered Scientist level

The AAPT spoke to Amy about the application process and her encouragement to others to follow the same path.

Many APTs might not feel they can apply for CSci given they do not hold a M-Level qualification. Can you give some insight into the equivalency process that you followed in order to meet the standards?

To meet the standards I described my role and different situations I have led or taken part in my career as an APT. 

I went into detail about my skills and how I work with my team and higher management. 

For the scientific standards I used examples in the post mortem room such as different post mortem techniques and how these are applied depending the circumstances around death.  I used examples of issues that have arose that I have had to apply my knowledge to help resolve the situation – an example of a health and safety incident discussed with the explanation of how this was rectified and what was put in place to ensure that it does not reoccur. 

Did the AAPT CPDMe Portfolio prove useful when submitting the required record of your learning & CPD?

The CPDMe was  useful however I have not utilised this to its full potential, but will do going forward.

I know you will want to inspire other mortuary managers to make a Chartered application. How can the AAPT help others make the jump and how does professional registration align with the overall AAPT strategy?

A masterclass in the how to complete the application would be helpful for APTs interested in applying or the name of someone in the AAPT to contact for guidance – this may be available but I did not seek this. 

I have registered as this is the natural progression for me as a Head of mortuary and bereavement.  AAPT are continually working towards statutory registration and if we keep increasing the numbers of registered APTs I feel this will help with moving forward.  The AAPT wants APTs to be registered to help with standardising working practices, accountability with following the standards set, banding of staff to be consistent across mortuaries and ensuring staff who work in mortuaries are appropriately qualified to carry out their role.

Did you feel supported during the application process both in-house and by the AAPT?

I did feel supported by the Science Council but I never asked for help from the AAPT but the information they provide on their website is designed to help with the application. There are sessions available with AAPT that staff can attend for further information on how to complete the application.

Last question, when completing a CSci level application, I always inform biomedical scientists in the NHS that at the very least you would be working at Band 7 (or equivalent). This would likely be the case for the majority of APTs working as mortuary managers. What experiences do you feel an applicant can draw upon in order to meet the CSci standards?

Mortuary managers have worked up from being a trainee APT. 

Looking at the processes that they have been involved in from trainee to manager will help meet the standards.  How they have been trained and then trained staff can be discussed to include the different post mortem techniques and reconstruction. 

Procedural improvements they have led such as changing a procedure to meet HTA standards and any projects they have been a part of such as reacting to COVID pandemic.  Any health and safety incidents and complaints they have received and resolved.  It needs to be clear what their own input was and other teams that they worked with – for example with health and safety they will need input from the Trust or Council health and safety team when investigating an incident. 

It is important that with each example that the outcome is detailed as well as what could have gone better, what they have learnt and how this is feedback to the team and department.