Improving endoscopy unit efficacy and retention through the provision of role-specific admin and clerical training

The North West Endoscopy Academy is committed to ensuring endoscopy training is of a standardised high quality that is multidisciplinary. It seeks to address the historic lack of admin training by providing a core admin and clerical (A&C) skills in endoscopy course for all A&C staff. The competency framework used for this training is the first developed specifically for A&C staff in endoscopy and the early indications are that it has significantly contributed to the efficacy of a unit’s performance, highlighting that greater focus should be placed on providing these opportunities to A&C staff in the future. This article will explore the aims and methodology of the course and present evaluation data to discuss the successes and future recommendations. We have used a combination of teaching methods, such as small group work, case study analysis and traditional classroom teaching to provide an education programme which seeks to underline existing best practice and introduce new themes and ways of working. Our two-tiered evaluation has shown this approach to be effective, in the future, we intend to implement a further evaluation to establish the long-term added value of the training. In combination, we will begin work on advanced skills modules aimed at supervisory and management staff.