April 2024

Please see below for our KSS April bulletin.

Highly Important

The 2024 GMC National Training Survey

Every voice counts. The GMC’s survey for trainees and trainers is now live. The deadline has now been extended, please take part before midday on Thursday 16 May 2024.

To complete the survey visit here .

Preparing for your ARCP

The UKFPO webinar recording and slides are now available to view.

Focused around what your e-portfolio should look like leading up to your ARCP.

Watch the recording about Preparing for ARCP here

Review the Preparing for ARCP slides here and here

Special Circumstances

If you are due to start FY1 in August 2024, or are a current trainee due to start FY2 in August 2024, and you have experienced an exceptional change in circumstances since you applied to the foundation training programme which affects your ability to complete training in your current location, you will have the opportunity to apply to move Foundation Programmes within Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

However, due to limited capacity, all successful applications are subject to a suitable vacancy becoming available at the preferred location. Therefore, we cannot guarantee you will be able to move to an alternative trust even if your application is approved.

14 April 2024: Application window closed.

14 May 2024: All applicants will be notified of the outcome. (Please do not email us chasing for outcomes prior to this date).

Industrial action and time out of training (TOOT)

The national guidance and FAQs published earlier this year remains in effect and has not changed. The guidance can be found here.

For the foundation programme, it states: –

All Foundation doctors have a 20-day absence allowance (per year) for sick leave, compassionate leave. This is particularly important in Foundation Year 1 (FY1) as this is a time-based programme, with each FY1 doctor having to complete 12 months training pro rata.

If a Foundation doctor has more time off than this, a review of their performance is triggered, but this does not mean an automatic extension to training.

In the event of doctors in training taking industrial action in 2023, then any time absent from work maybe considered to be within the ’20-day allowance’.

If the ’20-day allowance’ is exceeded for any reason (including industrial action), then this should trigger a review of overall performance and achievement of curricular outcomes but does not mean an automatic extension to training. This review will be carried out by the Foundation School with oversight by the Postgraduate Dean, but, in line with Gold Guide, does not require an Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP).

This should be discussed with the Foundation School Director/Postgraduate Dean before any training is extended.

New Updates

RCPath Foundation Fellowships

The College makes available 25 Foundation Fellowships annually. The Foundation Fellowship Scheme is open to Foundation doctors who secure a Foundation post in which they will rotate through a pathology specialty between 1 August 2024, and 31 July 2025. The pathology specialties include histopathology, haematology, medical microbiology, chemical pathology, or any other specialty represented by the College.

Foundation Fellows receive opportunities to get involved in a range of College activities, meetings, and events.

The closing date is Monday 08 July 2024. Successful candidates will be informed by the end of July 2024.

More information can be found on the College website. If your department has placements for Foundation doctors, please encourage them to apply.

Leadership and management standards for medical professionals – webinar recording

On Tuesday 30th April 2024 the UKFPO welcomed all Foundation doctors to their fourth webinar of the training year. The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management hosted a webinar for Foundation doctors (and supervisors). The session:

• Introduced participants to the FMLM Leadership and management standards for medical professionals
• Shared some of the research evidence about why medical leadership matters
• Presented resources available to support leadership development for doctors in training
• Provided top tips about developing leadership from doctors in training involved in the FMLM Clinical Fellow Scheme and the Trainee Steering Group.

The webinar was recorded and will be uploaded to the UKFPO website within two weeks of the webinar date. 

Target Audience: Foundation doctors and trainers.

Email foundation.educationandsupport@nhs.net with any queries.

Reminder

Foundation ARCP requirements

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

Study Leave

The KSSFS Admin Team have received several queries on how KSS Foundation Doctors can apply for Discretionary Study Leave. For clarity, please see below.

Discretionary Study Leave should be applied for prospectively and not retrospectively.  

1. Foundation Doctor (FD) seeks support from Educational Supervisor and trust (local) Foundation Training Programme Director (FTPD).
2. Local FTPD seeks approval from the area Foundation School Director (FSD)
3. Local FSD replies to trust TPD, including study leave team.
4. Local TPD can then reply to FD with outcome. 
5. If approved, on the guidance from the study leave team FD completes study leave form on the study leave portal. 

We are not able to reply to direct emails about Study Leave but if you have any questions, please do contact the school at: england.kssfoundationenquiries.se@nhs.net.

KSS Contact details have changed

Following the merger of HEE and NHS England, our contact email addresses have changed. Please see new emails below (emails sent previously to former email address will automatically be forwarded on):

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

Team Assessment of Behaviour (TAB)

PSA sittings 2024-2025

All sittings are scheduled to commence at 13.00

• Tuesday 10 September 2024
• Thursday 20 March 2025
• Thursday 1 May 2025

Reminders and Guidance

Useful Websites and Contacts

Courses and events