We have commissioned research to map technician roles in the healthcare sector. The research will explore whether a registration scheme would work within the sector and fit into a wider framework across STEM.

Skilled non-graduates in technician roles are critical to the effective and efficient running of healthcare services.   Many will use their knowledge of science while carrying out their work, but perhaps the most important skills required in their roles are interpersonal.  As a result, it has been very difficult to understand whether the registration framework Gatsby is helping to develop in science, engineering and ICT will be appropriate for the health sector.

Gatsby has commissioned research to try and understand the role of technicians in the health service.  The research will:

• map the current and evolving status of technician posts within the health sector, including how the term technician is applied within different professional and occupational strands of the sector;
• map the education and training of workers at technician level in a range of health-related occupations and consider how this fits with recent workforce reforms;
• consider the drivers, barriers and opportunities for developing the technician role and registration within the health sector;
• explore the views of key stakeholders including professional bodies, employers, education providers, and technicians in a sub-set of contrasting health occupations.

Desk-based research will investigate the size of the technician workforce in the health sector, while field research including focus groups will explore perceptions of technician roles and the potential value of registration and its possible articulation within professional career ladders.

The research is being carried out by teams from the University of Southampton and the Institute of Education, London, and will be completed in early 2012.