ARCP Requirements (Trainer Guidance)

Will Turas generate a log of all completed assessments for use in appraisal?

• Turas does not generate a summary.  However, for each ticket you complete as a consultant/educator you will receive an email similar to the one outlined below (which could be kept as evidence for appraisal): 

                Dear [educator]

                 A ticket that you have raised for [Trainee Name] has been completed by [Ticket recipient Name].

                Please click link…..

What happens with open attention items from previous blocks?

• Trainers need to take note of these attention items and guide the foundation doctor to provide evidence to address them. ES and CS cannot close attention items. 
• The ES/ CS must contact the FPD to ask them to close attention items and add comments for the reason for closure based on the evidence provided by the foundation doctor.
• Once an attention item has been closed it will appear as green, and will remain on the foundation doctor's record.

Is attendance at core teaching mandatory as our department is busy at the time this is scheduled?

• Yes, attendance is mandatory, as this is a reasonable way to make sure we have appropriately trained doctors. You should work with your clinical teams and rota coordinators to ensure that FYs are able to attend core teaching.
• They should not be required to apply for study leave to attend teaching as this is core to their training.
• If you are having difficulty releasing your Foundation doctors, please seek advice from the / FPDs, APGDs and Consortia leads.

CS/ ES progress rating, below is wording to help and support this activity.

Please describe the foundation doctor’s performance as you have observed in the workplace.

A comment for each (HLO) of the Foundation Programme Curriculum 2021 is required to support/justify the ratings. 

* If you select ’Some Concern ‘or ’’Major Concern’ you will be asked to specify the area of practice or FPC(s) you have concerns about directly. Comments are mandatory and please provide a comment to support and justify the assessment rating.

Particular attention should be paid to highlighting any areas of excellence or areas of concern that may require educational support. Please be as specific as possible. 

Higher Learning Outcomes (HLO)

Are the people in the Placement Supervision Group (PSG) decided by the ES?

• Yes. The ES decides staff likely to be able to complete a PSG form and enters their email addresses into TURAS. The PSG process is then initiated later in the block by the ES . 
• The process allows the staff identified to be changed later if necessary. It can be a mix of staff, but they must be >F2. 
• It can be undertaken in either block, not usually in the same block. However, this may be necessary due to the posts undertaken by the Foundation doctor. Even a few shifts are enough for someone to complete a PSG, they do not have to have supervised the foundation doctor for the whole block. 

Is the PSG Feedback requirement similar to TAB

• TAB tells the foundation doctors if they a communicate well with the team e.g., they answer their bleep, they are nice to the patients,
• PSG gives the foundation doctors feedback on if they are a good doctor, with a focus on clinical skills and patient safety.

Is there a minimum number of members needed in the PSG?

• While there is no minimum number of assessors in a PSG, it would be strongly suggested that at least 3 assessors were involved to allow triangulation of comprehensive feedback. The ES or CS can ask senior nursing staff, senior consultants, GPs, or other members of the multidisciplinary team. ES and CS can also nominate themselves as a member of the PSG if you are working with the Foundation doctor . The PSG is driven by the ES or CS and not the Foundation doctor and the information gathered can help inform the end of placement report. 

Should the Foundation doctor have an input as to who is included in the PSG?

• The PSG is initiated and sent out by the supervisor and there is an opportunity to change the names of the initial PSG before you send out any tickets. The PSG should be completed in  post and not carried over to the next post. You should aim to get the PSG and TAB completed in post 1 and 2 which allows the Foundation doctor to address any issues in post 3 of each year of training.

Can additional TABs or PSGs be done if you have concerns about a Foundation doctor?

• Yes, you can request for an additional TABs or PSGs during the year; post 3 can be used as remediation. There are some posts which are set up for PSG e.g. in General Practice a Foundation doctor will work directly with a group of trainers. Foundation doctors can complete a TAB and PSG in the same post, but this will be dependent upon how the rotation is set up. 

What do I do if I am nominated to complete a PSG Form?

• If you have been nominated to complete a PSG form about a Foundation doctor, by or on behalf of the CS or ES. 
• Feedback is very important to help the foundation doctor develop and to ensure patient safety. The areas you will be asked to comment on are: regarding clinical practice, teamworking and professional attitude. You are invited to comment on all three areas, if this is not possible, then feedback on areas of practice on which you can comment.
• This feedback will be used by the CS or ES as an assessment of their progress  and to plan the Foundation doctors training .

Please could I have more information about the summary narrative and CS/ES role in this?

• A Foundation doctor should complete 1 summary narrative for each of the 3 HLOs of approximately 300 words per HLO.
• The summary narrative needs to be completed by the ARCP submission date. 

Does the Foundation doctor complete a summary narrative every four months or just once for the year?

• Foundation doctor should complete the summary narrative towards the end of each post. These narratives can be edited and added to at the end of each post.
• The summary narrative is not pass/ fail but is formative; it is another form of reflection.

Is there a minimum number of SLEs per block? 

• No, there is no minimum number or mix of SLEs. Foundation doctors must demonstrate that they have completed/covered the curriculum, so it is quality not quantity.

How do we flag up specific mental health/ psychosocial aspects of cases on Turas for the portfolio?

• The onus is on the foundation doctor to add the title of an SLE themselves and they can also link an SLE to various FPCs, the consultant/ educator will need to look at the portfolio content to ensure that the SLEs have covered all aspects of the curriculum.
• We are looking for the Foundation doctor to look at the whole person/ patient and that they have an understanding of social/ mental health issues that may arise from a diagnosis or the person being in hospital/ unwell.

Who completes the end of placement report?

• End of placement reports are completed by the CS and ES  (who will often be the same person, so they complete the combined report).

Who completes the end of year report?

• The end of year report is completed by the FPD following the ARCP deadline date and after all evidence has been submitted including all supervisors’ reports.

It seems a lot for new graduates. 

• Most foundation doctors are used to portfolio type work as undergraduates.
• Support about the process (for Supervisors as well as foundation doctors) is available from FPDs and admin staff.