Dr Babafemi is an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist, Chartered scientist and Fellow member of IBMS. He is also a Lead Visitor at the HCPC.
What is your role at the HCPC and what do you do?
I am an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist, Chartered scientist and Fellow member of IBMS. My role here at the HCPC is a Lead Visitor. As a registered member of the professions that the HCPC regulates, I am involved with the performance periodic review process and programme approval for both BMS and Applied BMS in higher education institutions (HEIs), otherwise known as education providers.
I review and assess the submitted portfolio (evidence) from the education providers. Some of the thematic areas for review include:
- quality themes around Institution self-reflection
- sector body assessment reflection
- profession specific reflection
- stakeholder feedback and actions
- data and reflections.
I consider information about their performance by ensuring evidence presented in a coherent and user-friendly way meets the standards. I make a recommendation based on overall findings on performance as to whether the education provider meets the HCPC standards to the Education and Training Committee or Panel for the final decision about when the education provider’s next engagement with the performance review process should be.
What do you like most about being a Partner?
As an HCPC registered biomedical scientist, Chartered scientist and Fellow member of IBMS and a Lead Visitor to education providers, one thing I enjoy most about being a Partner is undertaking a detailed review of their performance (portfolio) in the various thematic areas. This gives me the opportunity to contribute to maintaining the quality and standards of delivery for our profession via the periodic review process and programme approval.
The role affords me opportunity to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds across the whole of the UK. It allows me to meet other Partners and learn from them, building relationships which are very encouraging. The role aligns perfectly with my career aspirations and personal interests.
What are the challenges?
Some of the challenges I have encountered in my role as a Lead Visitor include traversing the complexities of the HCPC standards and the associated organisations’ policies. Here are some of the key challenges:
- Keeping pace with the constantly evolving HCPC standards: Keeping up with evolving HCPC changes requires a commitment to lifelong learning and continuous professional development.
- Turnaround times: As an academic with many deadlines to meet, working with tight turnaround times adds more complexity to the role. It takes a lot of time to read the portfolio, filtering through the evidence across the thematic areas and applying the standards.
Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.
In addition to my international professional and academic achievements in biomedical science, I strongly engage in giving back to my profession through mentoring young professionals and academics. I also work as a volunteer Chaplain in the Chaplaincy department of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service across the United Kingdom where I engage the prisoners on a faith-based approach with the aim of reforming and redeeming them through prayers, Bible study/teaching and preaching/sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
