Cervical Sample Taker Training - North Devon - January 2026

Cervical Sample Taker Training - North Devon - January 2026
With Clinical Educator Pauline Bird.

PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE MAKING A BOOKING

TRAINEES MUST LIAISE WITH THEIR PRACTICE MANAGER AND MENTOR IN PRACTICE BEFORE BOOKING A PLACE ON THIS PROGRAMME. 

This course is only suitable for Registered Practitioners that hold a current, valid PIN.    

Wednesday 14th January 2026 - 09:15 - 10:00

Mentor Introduction - Mandatory Virtual Training for Mentors of Trainees

A Mentor for each Trainee must be nominated and 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. 

Mentors of Trainees must hold a valid PIN and have undertaken a Sample Taking Foundation or Update course within the last 3 years.  For the full list of eligibility criteria please read the Mentor Guide.

Invitations to this session will be sent on receipt of the Mentor Information Form - this is sent in the first instance to the Trainee who will send it to the nominated professional in practice. 

NOTE - Attendance at this session is MANDATORY unless certain criteria are met and Mentor absence is agreed in advance with the CSTT Administrator.  If an additional Mentor Introduction session is required to ensure full compliance with government guidelines, a fee of £25 will be charged to cover administration and educator costs and facilitation. Provision of additional Mentor Introductions are at the discretion of the Learning and Development Centre and if no arrangements can be made within timescales Trainees may be deferred to a later programme. 

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 [email protected] or refer to our Website User Guide

Trainees must attend all of the sessions detailed below:

Wednesday 21st January 2026 - 09:00 - 16:00

Face to Face teaching session for Trainee Sample Takers 

Pyncombe Room, High Bickington Community Centre, Little Bickington Lane, High Bickington, North Devon. EX37 9HG

Wednesday 28th January 2026 - 09:00 - 16:00 

Face to Face teaching and practical session for Trainee Sample Takers 

Pyncombe Room, High Bickington Community Centre, Little Bickington Lane, High Bickington, North Devon. EX37 9HG

The aim of this course is to support Cervical Sample Taker Trainees to maintain high standards of sample taking in accordance with local and national standards. The guidance was updated in 2023 and our initial training sessions include the following:

• 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

- Heather Taylor - Clinical Educator

- Pauline Bird - Clinical Educator

- Stephanie Hawkes - Cervical Sample Taker Training Administrator

Please be aware 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: [email protected]

The training session on 21st January 2026 has been sponsored by:

09:30 to 09:35 - Product Promotional Presentation by Chiesi Representative. Chiesi Ltd has sponsored the costs associated with the logistical organisation of this event.