Please see below for our KSS November bulletin.
New Updates
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.
SDT Access for Foundation Doctors
UKFPO Fellow Dr Devon Ward is currently working with the UKFPO to improve access to self-development time for foundation doctors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Two separate surveys are now available to help better understand how self-development time is distributed and accessed in different regions:
Survey for foundation doctors: https://forms.office.com/e/jAg912MLjk
Survey for postgraduate departments: https://forms.office.com/e/hh4nt0ArEk
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.
UKFPO 2025 F2 Career Destination Survey – results published.
The results of the UKFPO 2025 F2 Career Destination Survey have now been published. The report is available on the UKFPO website: UKFPO reports [under “F2 Career Destinations Reports (2024 onwards)”].
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
***UPDATE FROM THE SCRIPT TEAM***
- 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 below.
Discretionary Study Leave should be applied for prospectively and not retrospectively:
1. Foundation Resident Doctor (FRD) seeks support from Educational Supervisor.
2. FRD completes the Discretionary study leave form before sending to the local FTPD for approval (so that all details are available to consider prior to approving).
3. Local FTPD sends completed Discretionary Study Leave form to area Foundation School Director (FSD) to request approval.
4. FSD/Head of School (HOS) approves?
Yes – FSD/HOS forwards the FTPD and HOS approval by email to england.studyleave.kss@nhs.net
No – FSD/HOS informs FRD and FTPD of reason why not approved.
5. If approved, the KSS Study Leave team assigns the Discretionary Approval Code and emails it to the FRD along with information of the expenses available to them.
This process is shown on the flow chart in the Study Leave pages SE Study Leave .
**Please note that the management of KSS Study Leave has changed from 01 April 2025. From this date, KSS Resident Doctors link to the SE Study Leave team for guidance on travel and accommodation and subsistence**
2024-25 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 1
Opens: Friday 3 October 2025
Closes: Monday 1 December 2025
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 November 2025 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.
| Name | Grade | |
| Nicola Gallagher | F1 (Lead) | nicola.gallagher5@nhs.net |
| Keshav Harivardhan | F1 (Deputy) | keshav.harivardhan2@nhs.net |
| Dr Heloise Metzger | F2 (Lead) | heloise.metzger@nhs.net |
| Dr Ramaa Parulekar | F2 (Deputy) | ramaa.parulekar@nhs.net |
| Dr Preeyan Shah | F2 (Deputy) – LTFT | preeyan.shah2@nhs.net |
Courses, events, surveys and webinars
UKFPO webinars
Held recently:
- GP as a career – Pathways, possibilities and perspectives. Held on 15 October 2025; recording is available on UKFPO Webinars page under Education and Support.
- Making the most of your e-portfolio – Tips, tools and reflections. Held on 22 October 2025; recording is available on UKFPO Webinars page under Education and Support.
Please keep an eye on the UKFPO Webinars page for future webinar dates and recordings.
Eye Juniors – ST1 Ophthalmology Application 2025-2026 – Free Webinar & Interview Course for Foundation Doctors
Eye Juniors are a group of Ophthalmology resident doctors in North London and KSS. They are running their free ST1 Ophthalmology Application Course for a fourth year. This webinar is being held on Wednesday 27th November 7pm to help walk this year’s applicants and any future budding Ophthalmologists through the application process. For further information please see ink below.
NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration – FY1 Doctor Mental Health Research Taster Days
The NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission’s Capacity Development workstream have announced that their FY1 Doctor Mental Health Research Taster Day(s) programme is now live. This placement programme offers FY1 doctors insights into current mental health research initiatives, opportunities to engage with experienced researchers and clinicians, alongside a chance to develop their research skills and explore future academic career pathways.
For information on how the programme works and how to apply, see link below:
MH-TRC Mission Capacity Development FY1 Research Taster Day(s) Programme – Fill in form
British Association of Dermatologists – Foundation Year Doctors Masterclass in Dermatology course
The British Association of Dermatologists have announced that their in-person Foundation Year Doctors Masterclass in Dermatology course is taking place at Willan House, London, W1T 5HQ at 9.30 am – 4 pm on 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
Registration and further information is available on the British Association of Dermatologists website.
Research survey – Confidence and knowledge in prescribing continuous subcutaneous infusions (CSCI) during end-of-life care
Dr Shifona Kumarasingam is the Co-Investigator for this research project, which is sponsored by University Hospital Southampton. A national survey is now live examining the confidence and experiences of resident doctors in prescribing continuous subcutaneous infusions (CSCI) within end-of-life care. The team are particularly keen to hear from foundation doctors. This research is being conducted to see if further undergraduate and postgraduate education is required on the topic, and what factors impact confidence and knowledge on syringe driver prescribing.
The survey and more detailed information are available on the below link:
ACCS-EM Application advice webinar – Pearls and Pitfalls
Dr Alex Ip, ST4 in EM, will be hosting a free 1-2 hr webinar on 13th December 2025 at 18:00 to provide some advice on applying for ACCS-EM specialty training.
For further information and registration, please see the below link:
https://www.tixtree.com/e/dr-alex-ip-explains-getting-into-accs-em-pearls-and-common-pitfalls-0cb769229734
IMT Recruitment Webinar – free webinar for Foundation doctors and prospective IMT applicants who are preparing for the upcoming recruitment cycle.
Webinar Details:
- Date: Sunday 30th November 2025
- Time: 19:00-20:00 GMT
- Platform: Online via Zoom
- Cost: Free of charge
Content Overview:
The webinar will cover essential topics to help candidates strengthen their applications and interview performance, including:
- Maximizing points in the self-assessment
- Strategies used by successful candidates
- Interview scenarios with structured answer techniques
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Q&A session with former IMT doctors
This session is designed to support applicants in understanding the competitive IMT recruitment process and preparing effectively for both the application form and virtual interviews.
Registration:
Interested candidates can register using the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/um5Jf230QJqULMxqiRp8_Q
Reminders and Guidance
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 trainees 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:
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
- KSS Website (home page) https://kss.hee.nhs.uk/
- KSS Foundation webpage https://kss.hee.nhs.uk/kss-foundation/
- KSS Bulletin https://kss.hee.nhs.uk/kss-foundation/kss-bulletin/
- Careers, Professional Support & Wellbeing Service Careers, Professional Support & Wellbeing Service – Working across Kent, Surrey and Sussex
- Forms, documents and useful links https://kss.hee.nhs.uk/kss-foundation/useful-links-and-documents/
- Foundation programme curriculum & foundation programme rough guide https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/curriculum/uk-fp-curriculum/
- KSS Foundation reps KSS Foundation Doctors in Training Representatives – Working across Kent, Surrey and Sussex
UKFPO Bulletin:
- Read the latest UKFPO bulletin (November 2025)