February 2026

Please see below for our KSS February bulletin.

New Updates

KSS Welcome Event

The KSS Welcome Event for the new cohort of FY1s staring in August 2026 will now take place on Tuesday 17 March 2026. Trusts have been notified of this change of date due to the delay in recruitment whilst the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill is in Parliamentary progress. We apologise for this late change, and Trust faculty are welcome to submit pre-recorded videos for this event but at least one trust representative will be expected to be in attendance on the day, to answer any questions that might be asked from applicants.

KSSFS Intra-Foundation Programme Transfers (IFPT) window

The KSSFS IFPT window designed to support transfers for current FY1 Resident Doctors (RD) who need to train in a particular geography within KSS and whose individual circumstances have changed since the point of initial application/allocation to a 2-year foundation programme closes on Thursday 26 February 2026 (at 17.00 GMT). Please see the Applicant Guide on the KSS website for detailed information.

Important Information

Provisionally registered doctors (foundation year one/F1) must not undertake formal locum posts or activities.

Provisionally registered doctors can undertake occasional ad hoc additional/overtime shifts on their current FY1 placement or previous FY1 placements that have formed part of their F1 rotation, where such work is undertaken only within the limits of their current competence and with the support of their educational supervisor. When undertaking such occasional ad hoc additional/overtime work, provisionally registered doctors should be clear with other members of their team about their current experience and level of competence.

SCRIPT – supporting safer prescribing practices

The SCRIPT programme is a collection of innovative eLearning portfolios designed to encourage safe and effective prescribing and medicines management among healthcare professionals.

SCRIPT will enhance your knowledge and confidence in prescribing correctly, improving patient safety, therapeutics and medicines management. You will receive a certificate for each module that you complete, which can be used in your online learning portfolio. SCRIPT is easy to use. You can access the modules at a time which suits you and revisit them even after completion. You can learn more about the SCRIPT eLearning programme and how to sign up by visiting Medicine & Surgery | Safe Prescriber

  • New script modules were released on the 1 July 2025 and are available to all foundation doctors (F1 and F2)
  • The SCRIPT Team completed work on a new edition of the Medicine & Surgery portfolio for Foundation Schools. The new edition comes with the following enhancements:
  • Reauthoring of selected modules to maintain alignment with the underlying evidence base.
  • Redesign and splitting of larger modules into more discrete modules to reduce per module running time, whilst expanding on scope, in response to Foundation Doctor feedback.
  • Module interfaces and navigation upgraded to a new design to maintain WCAG AA compliancy for improved accessibility for those with learning difficulties.

Please find attached further information here to include the new list of modules available.

It is a local KSS Foundation School recommendation that all F1 and F2 doctors complete 6 script modules per year prior to ARCP.  The topics are not mandated by the foundation school; however, your trust may mandate topics to support learning.

Study Leave

The KSSFS Admin Team often receive queries on how KSS Foundation Year 2 Doctors can apply for Discretionary Study Leave. For clarity, please see the process which is shown on the flow chart in the Study Leave pages SE Study Leave .

NB: Discretionary Study Leave should be applied for prospectively and not retrospectively:

**Please note that the management of KSS Study Leave changed from 01 April 2025 and KSS Resident Doctors link to the SE Study Leave  team for guidance on travel and accommodation and subsistence**

2025-26 TAB (Team Assessment of Behaviour) window dates

The recommended dates for TAB are detailed below but these dates are not mandatory. More information on the TAB process can be found on the Horus Website.

Placement 2

Opens: Friday 6 February 2026

Closes: Monday 30 March 2026

Placement 3

Opens: Friday 17 April 2026

Closes: Monday 18 May 2026

KSS Contact details:

For Foundation Year 1 queries please email england.kssfoundationyear1.se@nhs.net

For Foundation Year 2 queries please email england.kssfoundationyear2.se@nhs.net

For any other queries, please email england.kssfoundationenquiries.se@nhs.net

PSA sittings 2025-2026

All sittings are scheduled to commence at 13.00.

  • Thursday 26 March 2026
  • Thursday 23 April 2026

enhance Programme

Hopefully, enhance will have been introduced to you as a Foundation doctor during induction and those wishing to take part will have expressed an interest. However, there is still time to participate, so please contact your local FTPD or PGMDE team if you are interested in taking part and they will be able to help you.

enhance is available to everyone who works for NHS England and you can find more information on the KSS website.

e-learning opportunities

Welcome to your February 2026 update from the Foundation e-learning team.

The Foundation elearning programme covers key areas in your Foundation curriculum. It has been developed specifically for Foundation doctors by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in partnership with NHS England elearning for healthcare (NHSE elfh) and is approved by the UK Foundation Programme (UKFPO).

Foundation School Representatives

KSS Foundation School F1 and F2 Resident Doctor Representatives for 2025-26 have been appointed, please see details below. Please contact your Reps with any feedback so they can bring it to the FSD.
For further information on the Reps roles, please see here.

NameGradeEmail
Nicola GallagherF1 (Lead)nicola.gallagher5@nhs.net
Keshav HarivardhanF1 (Deputy)keshav.harivardhan2@nhs.net
Dr Heloise MetzgerF2 (Lead)heloise.metzger@nhs.net
Dr Preeyan ShahF2 (Deputy) – LTFTpreeyan.shah2@nhs.net

Courses, events, surveys and webinars

UKFPO webinars

Please keep an eye on the UKFPO Webinars page for future webinar dates and recordings.

Reminder – Webinar: Sustainability in Healthcare for Foundation Doctors

Please join us for this interactive session exploring sustainability and planetary health in the context of foundation doctors. We will discuss what sustainability and planetary health mean, what the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC) is, what sustainability in healthcare looks like and how you can get involved as foundation doctors.

You will hear from two resident doctors who have undertaken a number of sustainability projects, and how this has affected their practice. We also invite you to share your ideas, experiences and questions throughout the session.

We recommend having a quick read of the following resources before and/or after attending this webinar:

When: Wednesday 11 March 2026, 18:00-19:00.

Where: Virtual via Microsoft Teams. Virtual via Microsoft Teams. You do not need to pre-register, simply select the ‘join the webinar’ link on our website at 18:00 using the link below. The webinar will be recorded and uploaded to the UKFPO webinars webpage within two weeks of the webinar date.

Target audience: Foundation doctors

Webinar panel:

  • Dr Ruth Eakin, Vice-chair of the Academy Foundation Programme Committee and Deputy FSD, Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency
  • Victoria England, Clinical Fellow, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland
  • Fionán McBride, F2 doctor, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland

Clinical Oncology Careers Webinar – North West Radiotherapy Network

North West Radiotherapy Specialised Services Clinical Network are hosting a virtual webinar in collaboration with consultants and registrars across the North West Radiotherapy Network, and although it is delivered by NW region, the content will be relevant to all Foundation trainees and medical students who may be considering a career in Clinical Oncology in future.

What the session includes:

  • Insights from experienced Clinical Oncologists across the North West
  • Overview of training pathways and academic opportunities
  • A realistic “day in the life” of a Clinical Oncologist
  • Guidance on examinations and progression
  • BONUS – introductions to Oncology societies and useful networks

Webinar details:

Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Registration link:
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a6b5bd2b-034d-4a75-8edc-61bb18d14f27@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3 

Opportunity for Foundation Year Clinical Educators – Peninsular Medical School.

The ‘Whole Story’ project: Exploring the use of ‘patients accounts’ and ‘accounts about patients’ in postgraduate clinical education – An invitation from Peninsula Medical School to participate in research workshops.

Volunteers are sought to take part in a research project exploring postgraduate clinical educators’ approaches to the use of patients’ accounts and accounts about patients in clinical settings. It is an invitation to those who are currently working, or have recently worked, in the education of postgraduate doctors in England and have an interest in patient-centred medical education.

For further information and to express an interest in this project please read the information and complete the short online form at https://tinyurl.com/2jehbwzu. Please contact anne.chappell@brunel.ac.uk if you have any questions.

British Association of Dermatologists: In-person Foundation Year Doctors Masterclass in Dermatology course

Willan House W1T 5HQ  9.30 am – 4 pm, Saturday, 14 March 2026

Topics covered include:

  • Emergency dermatology
  • Decision-making in Dermatology
  • When to refer
  • Prescribing topical therapies
  • Drug rashes, skin cancer, skin infections, and prescribing

For further information please see British Association of Dermatologists 

LTFT Conference 2026 – Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust are holding the next LTFT Conference on Tuesday 12th May 2026 at the Academic Centre, Maidstone Hospital.

This conference highlights the importance of Less Than Full Time training, the challenges and the successes. Please see poster here for further information. If you would like to register, please email us on MTW-tr.LTFT@nhs.net. Please do also share this with others who may be interested – this is a free event and everyone is welcome.

Royal College of Pathologists – Foundation Essay Prize

The Royal College of Pathologists’ Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize offers foundation doctors the chance to take an in-depth look at a particular aspect of pathology through a written piece. This year’s essay question centres around pathology tests and their impact on patients. The deadline for entries is 23:59 on 11 May. The winner will be awarded £250, will have their essay published on our website and in the College magazine, The Bulletin, and will be presented with a certificate at a Royal College of Pathologists event.

This competition offers the chance to explore how pathology makes a difference to patients, as well as a unique opportunity to boost your CV ahead of applying for your specialty training.  

The essay question for this year’s prize is ‘300,000 different pathology tests are performed every working day across the UK. Write about an example from your time as a foundation doctor where one of these pathology tests had a significant impact/outcome for either you or your patient​​​​​.’

Find out more about how to enter on the RCP website. If you have any questions about the essay competition, please contact publicengagement@rcpath.org

Doctors’ Routes Ahead: Interest & Growth – 20th & 21st June 2026 – Hywel Dda University Health Board’s first national conference for resident doctors

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s first national conference for resident doctors, Doctors’ Routes Ahead: Interests and Growth (DRAIG), will take place on Saturday the 20th & Sunday the 21st June 2026 at Parc y Scarlets Stadium, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA14 9UZ. Wales.

This two‑day event has been created to support resident doctors along their career pathway, offering:

  • Keynote speakers on inspiring and relevant topics
  • Careers advice tailored to resident doctors
  • Workshops focusing on:
    • Interview skills
    • Leadership and management skills
    • Research and innovation
    • Quality improvement
    • MSRA Support
    • Alternative Routes
  • Poster displays and oral presentations with opportunities to win prizes and certificates
  • Networking opportunities with resident doctors from across the country

For more information or to purchase a ticket, please see link below.

👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1978126606931?aff=oddtdtcreator

Reminders and Guidance

Horus e-portfolio update: Combined CS/ES end of placement report

This new form went live in October 2025. It includes all the elements of the two separate forms and is the only one that needs to be completed if the CS and ES are the same person.

The form is available in the ‘Forms (start new)’ section. A blank version is available on the UKFPO Assessments webpage.

The system will suggest this form to joint CS/ESs and provide guidance on the “Forms (start new)” page.

The overview will count both CS and ES forms as complete if this one form has been completed. However, the combined form can’t be used to replace the ES end of year report.

PLEASE NOTE: A satisfactory ES end of year report is still required prior to ARCP.

TIS Checks

Please can we use this opportunity to remind Medical Education colleagues in Trusts to work with their Medical Staffing teams to regularly check Foundation Doctors’ posts on TIS, against internal records. Early recognition of any discrepancies can help us all to resolve issues quickly.

Also, if you have not already informed us of any F1s that have withdrawn from training, please do so, as we aren’t always made aware by resident doctors themselves.

Foundation Doctors taking Parental Leave

Please can all foundation doctors who will be taking a period of Parental Leave complete the following training interruption form: https://kss.hee.nhs.uk/kss-foundation/useful-links-and-documents/ and return to england.kssfoundationenquiries.se@nhs.net. This is in addition to informing your employing Trust.

Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Training

Please click the link below for guidance regarding Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training:

Less Than Full Time Training – Working across Kent, Surrey and Sussex

Foundation doctors in GP and psychiatry placements contributing to acute services     

Please see below link for guidance regarding Foundation doctors in community placements contributing to acute services: https://kss.hee.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/09/KSSFS-Foundation-doctors-in-GP-and-psychiatry-placements-contributing-to-acute-services_2.pdf

NHS employers’ guidance on induction for international medical graduates

Please see below link to guidance from NHS employers:

https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Welcoming-and-Valuing-International-Medical-Graduates-A-guide-to-induction-for-IMGs-WEB.pdf

Foundation Doctor Role and Responsibilities

For guidance, please see document “Foundation Doctor Role and Responsibilities within the Local Education Provider and Minimum Requirements for Clinical Supervision of Foundation Doctors” here.

Useful Websites and Contacts

UKFPO Bulletin: