ARCPs, Interim Reviews and Revalidation

Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)

An ARCP is the mechanism for recording the review of trainees’ progression throughout their training programme. It will take place generally towards the end of the training year and trainees’ portfolios need to be up to date two weeks before the ARCP, so that the panel can then review it before the ARCP meeting.

Although this is usually an electronic process done remotely, trainees may be called for interview (usually planned at the Interim Review).  If a trainee’s attendance is required at the ARCP, trainees will be expected to confirm their ability to attend as soon as possible after the notification.

Trainees will be assessed for the time they have spent in programme at that level of training, i.e. if you are in the programme for only three months you will be expected to achieve competences relevant for that period of time. The ARCPs are centrally assessed by a panel consisting of the Head of School and/or Training Programme Director (TPD), lay external representative and an academic representative where required.

Please note that registering with a specialty college is a Gold Guide requirement. Trainees are reminded to ensure they have registered before their forthcoming ARCP and to speak to their local TPD or college tutor if they have any queries.

The ARCP Panel will review training to date (particularly since the previous ARCP) and ensure that future training will be of maximum benefit. It will identify any deficits in knowledge and skills, to ensure that all requirements can be satisfied before the completion of the training programme. The process is two-way (for instance looking at whether career plans are realistic) and is also an opportunity for the TPD to establish whether trainee requirements are being met.

If trainees do not provide evidence by the ARCP date, they cannot be issued with a satisfactory outcome.

Interim Reviews

The Interim Review is a formal face-to-face meeting where a panel, including at least one of the TPDs, will review all the evidence in a trainee’s portfolio partway through their training year. This allows the panel to check that trainees are on track for a satisfactory ARCP outcome. It also allows trainees the time to discuss training and experience with a consultant who is not their assigned Educational Supervisor. Every trainee will be invited to attend an interim review.

It is expected that the ePortfolio will be up to date, and that a proportionate number of WPBAs (usually 50%) will have been completed. Trainees should talk to their Educational Supervisor and TPD early if they are having difficulties with this. The panel may suggest steps still needed to achieve a satisfactory subsequent ARCP, or conclude that a face-to-face ARCP interview will be needed. The expected competencies will reflect the stage the trainee is at.

Interim reviews are usually held locally and in January and June.

Revalidation

Newly appointed trainees should receive an Enhanced Form R from the KSS Deanery to register their details with the school. The enhanced form R has two purposes; to allow trainees to register with the Deanery and specialty training programme, and to allow trainees to self-declare for revalidation.

Trainees are reminded to ensure the following are available on their e-portfolios for the ARCP panel to review 7-10 days before your ARCP:

1. ARCP structured report (which emphasises the learning, experience and competencies met through the training received to date).
2. Current curriculum vitae (dated).
3. Relevant part of college examination (for Core Psychiatry doctors; this is now uploaded automatically by the College).
4. Form R part A&B – completed with revalidation questions, amendments and signed.
5. List of absences (relating to sickness, parental, carers or maternity leave) taken over the year (entered  in Form R).
6. Current GMC certificate
7. GMC National Trainee Survey completion
8. Letters of thanks/commendation (anonymised)
9. Letters of complaints/grievance s(anonymised)
10. Participation in clinical leadership – LEADER evidence Form – (see download below)
11. WPBA, audit, teaching, reflection etc.
12. Psychotherapy progression; Balint group, or long and short cases
13. Previous ARCP outcomes for each completed training year – (entered by the School after the ARCP)

For all revalidation queries, please see the revalidation section in the London and South East Support Portal here.