Cervical Sample Taker Training – East Devon – July 2025

With Clinical Educator Pauline Bird.

PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE MAKING A BOOKING

Wednesday 9th July 2025 – 09:15 – 10:00

Mentor Introduction – Mandatory Virtual Training for Mentors of Trainees

A Mentor in practice must be nominated for each Trainee, and that person must be available to attend the virtual Mentor Introduction. This must take place before the Trainee can undertake any of the practical elements of the Cervical Sample Taker Training programme. 

Please check for Mentor eligibility against the criteria in our Mentor Guide.

Invitations to this session will be sent on receipt of the Mentor Information Form.  Trainees will be able to share this when they receive their Welcome Email about a month before training is scheduled to begin.  

PLEASE ONLY MAKE A COURSE BOOKING IN THE NAME OF THE PERSON THAT WILL BE ATTENDING THE COURSE.  

If there are any queries about how to do this, please contact shs.cervicalsampletakers1@nhs.net or refer to our Website User Guide

Trainees must attend all of the sessions detailed below:

Wednesday 16th July 2025 – 09:00 – 16:00

Face to Face teaching session for Trainee Sample Takers

Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1JX

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 – 09:00 – 16:00 

Face to Face teaching and practical session for Trainee Sample Takers

Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1JX

The aim of this course is to enable Cervical Sample Taker Trainees to maintain high standards of sample taking in accordance with local and national standards. The guidance was updated in 2020 and again in 2024, and our initial training sessions include the following, reflecting these changes:

• The NHS Cervical Screening Programme
• The background to cervical screening
• Organisation of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme
• Equality of access to cervical screening
• Understanding the test results
• Anatomy and physiology of the pelvic organs
• Practical aspects and professional responsibilities of taking cervical samples

Trainees will receive initial theory and practical training with our Clinical Educators before completing the rest of the programme by undertaking supported procedures in practice with their Mentor.  The whole programme can take up to 6 months to complete, but can take as little as 6 weeks if there are sufficient appointments available to the Trainee.

Learning and Development Centre provides a detailed programme of work to follow, a Training Portfolio and Training Handbook, and professional support for Sample Taker Trainees and their Mentors throughout the programme. When the Trainee Sample Taker has completed the programme we allocate an independent External Assessor to liaise with the Trainee and complete a Final Clinical Assessment.

Our team consists of:

– Julie Frost – Clinical Educator

– Pauline Bird – Clinical Educator

– Stephanie Hawkes – Cervical Sample Taker Training Administrator

– Victoria Tucker – Cervical Sample Taker Training Administrator

Please note that there is information required from Trainees, Practice Managers and Mentors that must be submitted prior to the Trainee attending the first training session. 

A Mentor for each Trainee must be nominated and available to attend the virtual Mentor Introduction.  This is a requirement of the programme and Trainees cannot begin practical elements in practice if this has not been completed. 

If there are any queries please contact us: shs.cervicalsampletakers1@nhs.net