Updates and announcements

Dear Candidates,

As we approach the blessed month of Ramadan, we wish to extend our warmest regards and best wishes to all those observing this holy period. In line with our commitment to inclusivity and support, we want to address the upcoming exam schedule and provide considerations for our staff during this time.

We understand that fasting during Ramadan can be physically and mentally demanding. To accommodate our candidates observing this sacred month, we would like to highlight the following:

• Quiet/Prayer room: Available at the Swindon and Oxford site, to provide a peaceful environment for reflection and focus during exam periods.
• Extended rest time: We recognise the need for additional rest during fasting, so candidates will be allowed additional rest time in between exam stations. This will ensure that candidates can manage their energy levels effectively during exams.

Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact the Competence Test Centre ahead of your exam, and let us know that you’re observing Ramadan so special requirements can be applied to you.

Wishing you all a blessed Ramadan.

CTC Admin Team

Dear All,

We have been made aware that Candidates may have received text messages informing them their OSCE is cancelled. Please be aware that this is not Oxford Brookes University and we are looking into this serious issue. All communication between candidates and Oxford Brookes University Test Centre will be between emails or calls. Any text messages should be ignored. If you are unsure do drop the CTC team an email or a phonecall.

If you have received a text message, please contact us at ctc@brookes.ac.uk with a screenshot of the message.

Thames Water will be replacing the water pipes in Jack Straw's Lane (identified in red) in January and February inclusive. There wil be a road closure in place for the works, and diversion routes will be posted.

We recommend if travelling to the Competence Test Centre by taxi, that you enter via Harbeton Mead road (identified in purple), and take the first left, and drive on through to the main entrance. There is signage to the Competence Test Centre at the main entrance.

We have recently moved over to Zoom phone lines, and the new office line is as below:

+44 (0)1865 53 5200, for NMC Competence Test Centre at Oxford Brookes University, press number 3.

As part of the ongoing development of the OSCE we have made some changes to the existing midwifery materials. When we introduced our new and revised test content in June 2023, feedback and ideas were shared with us on how we could strengthen and improve the candidate experience.

We have introduced the IV flush and VIP station. Following the feedback, we have re-introduced the marking schemes for all midwifery stations as we do for nursing. We have updated the charts and diagrams in the mock examination to reflect the changes we have made in the diagrams and charts that candidates use in the live exam. We hope this will provide candidates with the opportunity to use this as part of their ongoing preparation and learning for the test of competence.

Over the coming days the following documents will be updated and published on our website reflecting all of our 2021 materials:

• Midwifery Station Timings – to include the IV flush and VIP station which has been set at 12 minutes. We have not reduced any of the timings across any aspect of the test at this time.
• Midwifery Marking Criteria – to include the IV flush and VIP station.
• Midwifery Mock OSCE
• Supporting Documents

The changes to the above documents will be implemented from 11 December 2023 (excluding the IV flush and VIP station).

To give employers and candidates time to prepare and incorporate this skill into their learning and preparation programmes, the IV flush and VIP station will not be implemented until 15 January 2023.

ACER, our new test development partner, have recently taken on the test of competence work. They have reviewed many areas of the midwifery test and we have made some minor changes and updates which do not impact the preparation that employers are providing to candidates or change the level of preparation candidates need to do prior to the exam.

Please see the NMC announcement link here.

Important Note regarding your NMC ID Check

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the NMC revised their ID Check process to best support candidates, allowing this to be conducted prior to the application being submitted. They also allowed candidates to post any outstanding documentation not presented at the initial check.

As this is no longer required, they are returning to the original process commencing Monday November 13th. They would therefore like to remind everyone:

• Applications must be fully submitted and all required original documentation should be provided, at the initial ID Check.
• The documentation requirements remain the same.
• The NMC will no longer accept documents via post.
• Each time you attend a test centre, you must provide a valid passport.

Further information:

• Further information on the documentation required for the NMC ID Check can be found in the OSCE information booklets for Nurses, Midwives and Nursing Associates.
• To book an appointment or if you have any specific questions regarding the ID Check, you can contact the ID Team at ID.Checks@nmc-uk.org.
• Your OSCE result will still be processed and uploaded to your NMC portal within five working days. However, you should note that you cannot fully register with the NMC until your ID Check has been completed.

Please note that the University will be closed on the 28 and 29 August 2023 for bank holiday and a concessionary day. During this time inboxes will not be manned, and there may be a delay replying to any emails sent or returning any phonecalls made to the Competence Test Centre.

Due to gas works, there is an unplanned closure to Jack Straw's Lane from the Marston road entrance. Please enter Jack Straw's Lane via Headley Way. This is expected to continue upto and including the 29 June. 

From Monday 15 May 2023 the Covid-19 Risk Assessment has been reviewed locally by Oxford Brookes University and the requirement to wear a disposable mask during the OSCE exam will no longer by required by candidates or examiners whilst at the NMC Competence Test Centre at Oxford Brookes University

Candidates are reminded to continue to adhere to good hygiene practice and to apply the usual principles of Personal Protective Equipment use for all clinical skills and stations taken as part of their OSCE examination.

As part of the ongoing development of the Test of Competence OSCE for midwifery, we have made some changes to the existing assessments and released a small number of new stations which will come into use from Monday 26 June.  These changes will ensure a wider coverage of the standards, code of practice and blueprint and forms part of our routine maintenance to keep the test valid and reliable. 

Candidates will still sit a 10 station OSCE but these changes will mean that there will be a greater selection of skills that could be assessed which will make the assessment less predictable. We will continue to develop new stations covering different skills and scenarios, so it is important that candidates and those supporting them incorporate the NMC blueprint and standards into their preparation for the test.

The new stations are:

APIE stations 

• Antenatal
• Postnatal 

Clinical skills stations 

• Birth    
• Postnatal Sepsis        
• Unexpected Breech Birth      
• Neonatal blood glucose monitoring
• Intramuscular injection           
• Removal of urinary catheter

Evidence Based Practice

• Induction of labour at term

Professional Values

• Safeguarding women and children

In addition to these changes the existing stations have been updated.  Systematic Examination of the Newborn has been amended to require candidates to carry out two

aspects (heart, eyes hips or testes) as opposed to one aspect and it has been split from the postnatal check.  There are also other small changes to the existing stations to bring them into line with the latest best clinical practice and to ensure that the APIE stations flow more logically and are clearer and there is no duplication of tasks for candidates.   

The marking criteria available to trusts and candidates have also been updated as we are seeing higher numbers of candidates attempting to rote learn the marking criteria.

This is problematic as they no longer approach the assessment with an open mind and in some cases find the assessment challenging when presented with new or different scenarios. The updated marking guidance are more holistic and will give trusts and candidates the key points that that all candidates will be assessed on.  They should be used by candidates to confirm understanding of the different skills that they need to demonstrate across the OSCE but the standards, code, and blueprint should form the basis of all teaching and learning.   

All candidates who sit their assessment prior to 26 June 2023 will not be presented with the updates covered above. All candidates who sit on or after 26 June 2023 will experience the changes we have made.

The Midwifery OSCE assessment will be updated from Monday 5 June with revised and new stations being introduced to assess more widely across the Midwifery Standards and the Code. In order to support this change some of the support materials have been updated and new support materials have been developed. These new materials will help candidates to prepare for their OSCE. Candidates are increasingly rote learning the marking criteria to prepare for their OSCE, which is often detrimental to their performance. Therefore, we have been looking at ways to strengthen the materials and give candidates the best chance to prepare for being a competent midwife in the UK healthcare system. The new marking guidance document highlights the important aspects to consider when preparing for OSCE assessment for the different stations and should lead to performances which are less stilted and more authentic and are a better reflection of the Midwife’s practice.

We have reviewed the approach taken to the assessment of IHR and have decided that the examiners will no longer give a prompt to candidates about their rate and depth of chest compressions during the station so as to fully assess the candidate’s ability to complete the task without any form of instruction.

From 14 November the In Hospital Resuscitation station for adult nursing will require the candidates to demonstrate how to use the bag valve mask to administer rescue breaths. They will work with the examiner who will act as the second person, in line with Basic Life Support requirements rather than the candidate verbalising how the bag valve mask would be used.  

Hello all,

As winter is drawing near, the weather is becoming a little colder. We would recommend you come prepared  and wear some clothing (like a vest or t-shirt) under your scrubs or clinical uniform to ensure you are comfortable and warm in your exam.

Thank you,

CTC Admin team

Hi all,

Just to remind you that there are several train strikes lanned across the UK for the coming weeks. 

Please see this link where you can monitor the latest updates.

Thanks,

CTC Admin team

Hello all,

The NMC has released an update on test maintenance and upcoming changes.

Please click here to view.

Thank you,

CTC Admin team

Hi all,

Please see announcement here from the NMC regarding the bank holiday on 19 September 2022.

Thank you,

CTC Admin team

Hello all,

I'm pleased to announce that the water fountains have been serviced and updated at both the Swindon and Oxford site and are now fully functioning. Please bring your own water bottle (without a label if shop bought) to take into your exam with you. We will be providing water bottles still until the stock we have runs dry.

Thanks,

CTC Admin team

Hi all,

Following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 08 September, the Competence Test Centre will remain open. When details of Her Majesty The Queen's funeral are confirmed, we will send a further update.

Thank you,

CTC Admin team

Hi all,

Please see the announcement released by the NMC here.

We have written it below for ease:

We work closely with our test development partner to regularly review and refresh test content for the Test of Competence. This is to:

• ensure it is reflective of clinical practice,
• retire stations that have been in circulation for some time,
• introduce new skills that candidates may face in clinical practice.

From 17 October 2022, we’ll introduce a selection of new scenarios and skills for the nursing OSCE. All test centres are in the process of publishing a suite of support and preparation materials for candidates and those delivering preparation and support programmes.

The updated support materials will include new marking criteria and station timings, which will aid candidate preparation. There are no changes to the number of stations candidates will be asked to sit, but they may be presented with a different clinical scenario or skill which other candidates may not have experienced.   

Candidates who are ready to practise in the UK and meet the standards set out in the NMC Code should be confident of passing these stations and we plan to share our timetable for future test updates on this page.

Thank you,

CTC Admin team

Hello everybody,

We're pleased to say that any trust/organisation sponsors who wish to travel with and accompany their candidates are welcome to attend the campus. Please email ahead so we know who to expect, and make yourself known to CTC reception upon arrival we can show you the facilities.

CTC Admin

Dear all,

We have received a number of queries about what is required when a candidate does not administer a prescribed drug. We thought it would be helpful to confirm what candidates need to do if they decide not to administer a drug. They must select the correct code and sign to say that the drug has not been administered as per the general instructions on the drugs charts. They should do this on the chart in the space where the candidate would sign that the drug has been administered. If it is a code 10 then they should also complete the relevant section at the end of the drugs chart. This aligns with national safe practice where it needs to be clear both the reason for not administering the drug and who made the decision. Given the number of queries we have received we wanted to make sure that this is clear to all candidates so please include this in any training that you deliver.  

Please click here for the NMC update.

Dear all, 

In order to continue supporting candidates and employers with their OSCE bookings, we require candidates, employers and agencies to provide candidate details at least eight weeks before their OSCE appointment.

If candidate details are not provided three weeks prior to the OSCE appointment, the appointment will be automatically cancelled by the test centre and a refund provided. Priority booking spaces will then be offered to individuals who are currently on a waiting list with one of our test centres.

Dear All,

Please note the NMC's latest announcement regarding the Legacy OSCE. This can be found here.

From August 1st 2022, no candidate will be able to sit their 1st attempt Legacy (6 station) OSCE. All 1st attempt OSCE's from August 1st will be TOC21 (10 station). Candidates will still be able to resit their 2nd or 3rd attempt Legacy exam after August 1st 2022.

We are writing to let you know of a change to the equipment used in the NMC test of competence. Following health and safety issues we are changing to using infra-red thermometers rather than tympanic thermometers in the assessment of candidates in the NMC test of competence. We will be implementing this change from 28 March and will update the equipment lists that appear on the website at the end of this month so that candidates are aware of the change. Infra-red thermometers will be made available to candidates in the test centre so they can familiarise themselves with their use prior to the start of the assessment.

Dear All,

Please be aware that over the café at our Swindon Campus on 26th and 27th February will have not hot food. The café will support hot drinks, confectionary and cold sandwiches.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Dear All.

Please be aware that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the cafeteria at our Oxford Campus does not accept cash payment.

Dear All,

Please note that on a temporary basis, the cafeteria at our Swindon Campus will close at 3pm Monday - Friday.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Dear All,

We have been made aware that Candidates may have received text messages informing them their OSCE is cancelled. Please be aware that this is not Oxford Brookes University and we are looking into this serious issue. All communication between candidates and Oxford Brookes University Test Centre will be between emails or calls. Any text messages should be ignored.

If you have received a text message, please contact us at ctc@brookesa.c.uk with a screenshot of the message.

Dear All,

Please be aware that over the café at our Swindon Campus on 5th and 6th February will have not hot food. The café will support hot drinks, confectionary and cold sandwiches.

We apologise for this inconvenience.

We have recently migrated all our learning resources onto our public facing website. They can be found under support and preparation. Candidates will no longer be able to access Moodle from 21st January 2022.

All candidates will be able to find the login details for Royal Marston either on their ticket confirmation when we booked them in, or on their last Moodle notification.

Please be aware that Marsh Lane (the Road from the A40 to our Marston Road Campus) has roadworks starting on Monday 24th January for 9 weeks. This is likely to cause some disruption so please take into consideration that you might need to factor additional time to travel to the Oxford test centre.

Thank you and drive safely.

Oxford Brookes CTC continues to test at full capacity during this current surge in covid positive cases. We continue to have all measures in place to maximise everyone’s wellbeing. For candidates attending the test centre, can we please remind you of the following to support everyone in these processes:

We strongly advise all candidates to undertake a lateral flow test before attending the test centre. Please let us know at your earliest convenience if a candidate tests positive and we will rearrange their OSCE for another date. The sooner we know this, the sooner we can accommodate a suitable time. We want to make sure we can accommodate everyone as best as possible.

Please continue to observe the required use of face masks and hand decontamination for being on our University campus.

As you can appreciate, we may have unanticipated staff sickness on the day of testing. All our staff are lateral flow testing before coming into the test centre too. Please be patient with us if unanticipated sickness results in delays in testing on the day. Our goal is to maximise testing but also retain the quality of our provision and we thank you in anticipation for your support in this regard.

Stay safe and well and thank you for choosing Oxford Brookes CTC.

All three OSCE test centres in the UK are currently open.

The safety of candidates and test centre staff remains a priority for us and the centres will continue to operate in line with Covid-secure measures.

We're closely monitoring any restrictions and their impact on OSCE test centres, and there may be some changes to your booking as a result.

Please also view the update from the NMC with regards to Covid-19.

Just a small reminder that for our candidates who are currently pregnant, please can you inform the test centre of your pregnancy before the date of your OSCE exam. You will be asked to complete a New/Expectant Mothers Form, to enable us to carry out our risk assessment and create a support plan in place for you if required.

You can inform us by contacting our test centre directly on ctc@brookes.ac.uk, or you can also inform your trust and they will be able to arrange for the form to be sent to you.

The form is also available for you to download on our website under Supporting Documents.

Important Reminder

Please take extra care when reading your booking confirmation about which campus you have booked your OSCE exam at. (Oxford or Swindon)

Due to the demand of exams being at a premium, we are very unlikely to be able to accommodate you at a different time on the same day- should you go to the wrong campus on the day of your exam.

We recommend that you double check the location details of your test centre again, before you travel over for the exam.

We would like to draw your attention to the potential for candidates to be required to administer STAT doses of regular medication. These STAT doses are required as the patient may not have been able to take their regular medication at their usual prescribed time. An example is the patient is prescribed regular morning mediation but is admitted after the time they would normally take these (and have not yet had them). They are then prescribed STAT doses in order to receive that medication. In the regular medication section for that morning, they will not appear as administered as the person was not there for this to happen (hence the STAT doses required). We are seeing candidates being confused by this. The expectation is that they would administer the STAT doses and the patient would resume getting these medications through the regular prescription thereafter. We also recommend that candidates familiarise themselves with the medication prescription chart on the online materials for the mock OSCE so that they are comfortable with the structure/format. We hope this feedback is helpful in supporting your candidate preparation for testing under the new Test of Competence.

To avoid confusion, please advise your candidates that should there be no end date entered for a regular prescribed medication on a drug prescription chart, this is because it is an ongoing/long term drug prescription. This is not an error on the chart and should not distract your candidates from making decisions around administration. We hope this is helpful

It may be helpful to remind all candidates coming to sit their OSCE (new and legacy Test of Competence) that any drug omitted must have the reason (code) and a signature documented. In addition, for those undertaking the new Test of Competence, it may be helpful to remind them to complete the administrator signature log in order to ensure all required documentation is complete. We hope this is helpful

It may be helpful to remind all candidates coming to sit their Legacy 2014 OSCE  and TOC 2021 OSCE that any drug omitted must have the reason (code) and a signature documented.

We hope that this is helpful.

For the attention of Candidates taking the Legacy Midwifery OSCE.

There has been an amendment to the Modified Early Obstetric Warning Score (MEOWS) Chart for the Midwifery OSCE. Please see the OSCE Midwifery Moodle platform for an example of the MEOWS Chart.

You will also find an example of a Newborn Early Warning Score Chart on the Midwifery Moodle platform.

Please note the recent changes in the timings for the Insertion of Fine-Bore Nasogastric Tube skill. Candidates have 12 minutes to complete this skill station, not 8 minutes as previously announced.

Actors

Just a reminder that actors have returned to the OSCE exam from 02 August 2021 for all scenarios. Therefore the patient's temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiration will be taken physically as pre-Covid19. There will no longer be a flashcard used in the Assessment and/or Physiological observation stations.

The timings of the stations will revert back to the original 15 minutes.

In addition to this, to manage safety and risk, Actors will be wearing PPE throughout the exam, and candidates will need to wear full level 1 PPE - mask, apron and gloves.

Please note: Candidates who sat their exam before the 2nd August and are due to resit the assessment station, will undertake the resit under the same conditions as their first attempt.

In-Hospital Resuscitation (IHR) station returning

The Adult Nursing In-Hospital Resuscitation (IHR) station has returned from 02 August 2021. You will not be required to undertake any ventilations, but will be expected to verbalise what you would do instead'.

The timing of this station will revert back to the original 8 minutes.

During the pandemic, with little staff on site, the carpark spaces have been free to use. Just to let you know that from 01 September, the University carparks will be patrolled and require permits again.

Should you need to book a visitor parking space when you come to one of our campuses, please contact ctc@brookes.ac.uk with plenty of notice so we can reserve you a space. At Oxford, there is only 3 visitor spaces available, but in Swindon there are more.

On Monday 12 July the UK Government announced that the last remaining restrictions that had been implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are to be lifted on 19 July 2021.

However, there is a suggestion that organisations need to be cautious. Therefore, all three Competence Test Centres will not make any changes to their current arrangements in respect to wearing personal protective equipment (candidates and staff in surgical face masks whilst on-site), maintaining social distancing and handwashing requirements. This is to ensure that staff, visitors and candidates are all protected during these uncertain times.

We will continue to review these restrictions regularly and will assess accordingly.

The advice from Government with regards to having a positive COVID-19 result or being notified as a close contact, please see the link below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

Should any candidate need to self isolate or reschedule due to a positive test result, please don't hesitate to contact the test centre and we will work with you to rearrange your exam.

Please be mindful that the time stated in your Eventbrite confirmation ticket is the time we expect you to arrive on campus. We ask you to arrive 30 minutes before your actual OSCE exam time to allow plenty of time for registration. The ticket time stated includes the time required for registering, when you will be asked to complete some forms onsite and have your photo taken as part of your ID checks.

Please arrive by the time stated on your confirmation email.

Eg: If your confirmation email time says 10.50am, please arrive at the test centre for this time to begin your registration. Your exam time will start at 11.20am.

Please make sure you read through all the Eventbrite confirmation information and please arrive at the time stated in the confirmation email.

If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to contact us.

The NMC released the below communication in relation to the transitioning to the new test:

After the new TOC goes live in August 2021, anybody who applies through our overseas registration route from that date will take the new test. This also applies to candidates based in the UK who choose to do the ToC as part of their return to practice. Candidates who have begun their application, but not yet taken either the CBT or the OSCE before August, will also take the new test. Candidates who have attempted to take the CBT or the OSCE before August will have a 12-month transition window to complete the current TOC. After 12 months, they will need to take the new test.

Information on this can be found on the NMC link here: https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/toc/toc-review/

Should you have further questions, please direct them to the NMC.

Following a recent case we would like to remind everyone of the process for reasonable adjustments due to a declared disability or health reasons.

The candidate information booklet section 12 Fitness to undertake the OSCE page 10-11 sets out the reasons and the process. Copies of the forms are in the appendix of this document.

We are willing to consider and where appropriate make reasonable adjustments as long as the request is made before the date of the examination. It is not possible to make these adjustments on the day of the exam.

If your CBT is due to or has expired before your booked OSCE date, we advise that you retake the CBT before you take the OSCE. You will need to contact the NMC on toc@nmc-uk.org to authorise this.

However, if you are unable to retake the CBT before your OSCE date this will not prevent you from being able to sit your exam. You should try and retake your CBT as soon as possible after your OSCE. If you pass your exam with an expired CBT, you will not gain full registration until you have also passed your CBT.