North West School of Ophthalmology - Resources for Doctors in Postgraduate Specialty Training

The e-portfolio for ophthalmology is the FourteenFish. All postgraduate doctors in ophthalmology training are expected to engage with the e-portfolio to provide evidence of their progress in training which will be assessed at Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP).

There is a help section on the e-portfolio, or you can contact the Education and Training department at portfolio@rcophth.ac.uk

Early Certification / Accelerated Training

4.11 There will be occasions when a postgraduate doctor in trining progresses more rapidly than the expected rate of progress and in such cases, the award of an Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) Outcome 6 can be brought forwards. However, this can only occur if:

the individual has gained all the relevant capabilities required in the curriculum

the individual has completed all the necessary examinations and assessments

4.12 The early achievement of CCT needs to be planned via the ARCP process and would not normally be advanced by more than one year, the final opportunity to bring forwards the CCT date would normally be at the penultimate ARCP.

The Gold Guide 10th Edition - Section 4: Progressing as a specialty postgraduate doctor in training or foundation doctor

Updated 23 Oct 2023

The RCOphth have reviewed their accelerated training policy in view of the transfer to a new curriculum in August 2024. Both application form and the revised guidance documents are once again available on their website.

Enhancing Junior Doctors’ Working Lives

Enhancing Junior Doctors’ Working Lives - a progress report 2018

HEE and EJDWL 2018 presentation by Dr Alistair Thomson

GMC Survey

In 2023 the GMC survey will be available to complete from 21 March to 2 May 2023.

Gold Guide

The Gold Guide is a Reference Guide for Postgraduate Specialty Training in the UK and is applicable to all resident doctors in training (StRs) taking up appointments in specialty training which commenced on or after 1 August 2007. The nineth edition was published on 3 August 2022 replaces all previous editions of the Gold Guide with immediate effect and can be downloaded from the COPMeD website.

Induction Toolkit

BMJ and HEE - Junior Doctor Induction Toolkit.

Letters to Patients

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Guidance - “Please, write to me”: Writing outpatient clinic letters to patients

Locum Policy

Guidance for resident doctors and trainers on undertaking additional work whilst in a postgraduate medical education training programme

Out of Programme (OOP)

The Out of Programme (OOP) application form and information on the OOP process for NHS England – North West can be found on the Out of Programme pages of our website.

Once your OOP application form has been signed by you, your AES and your TPD, please send the form and the supporting information to the NHS England – North West School of Ophthalmology Admin Team who will seek approval from the Associate Postgraduate Dean.

Please be aware you will also need to apply to the RCOphth for them to approve your OOP, details of what they require can be found on the OOP pages of the RCOphth website.

If your post requires GMC approval, this will be applied for by the NHS England – North West admin team once your application has been approved by Associate Postgraduate Dean and the RCOphth.

Cancellation or Curtailment of OOP

If you want to cancel your OOP after it has been approved, or if you want to shorten your OOP, please complete the "OOP Cancellation and Curtailment form" available on the Out of Programme pages of our website.

Extending your OOP

If you would like to extend your OOP, you should complete the main OOP for the extension period (start date should be the day after the currently approved start date) and you should submit documentation explaining the reason you want your extension. Please note that an Educational Supervisors signature is not required for an OOP extension application.

Period of Grace

A six-month Period of Grace (sometimes referred to as POG) is available to all resident doctors on a higher training programme (ST3+) or run-through training programme.

From August 2020 the way in which NHS England – North West manages Period of Grace changes to be in line with the NHS England's National policy. Doctors in run-through or higher training programmes with a CCT date is after 1 February 2021 must give six-months notice of whether they would like their period of grace. Doctors will be contacted approximately seven months before their CCT date to complete a Period of Grace Request form. If no form is received, it will be assumed that the period of grace is not required and their employment will finish on their CCT date. If a doctor who indicate they would like a period of grace but subsequently changes their mind, they will need to ;give the standard three months notice of resignation.

The period of grace policy can be found on the policies and procedures page of this website.

Please see the Resignation section below for further details on resigning.

Reflective Practice

You must ensure that all reflections in the portfolio, and used as evidence for appraisal and revalidation, must have any personal information that can identify individuals (including patient identifiers) or organisations removed prior to loading.

Improving feedback and reflection to improve learning, A practical guide for resident doctors and trainers

Recording of reflective practice - letter from Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

Recording of reflective practice - Academy of Medical Royal Colleges - Guidance for entering information on e-portfolios

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and COPMeD Reflective Practice Toolkit

GMC - Reflective practice guidance

Resigning from a Training Programme

Upon resigning from a Training post, the following notice of resignation is required from a resident doctor:

Type	Notice Period
Core Training (CT)	1 month
Specialty Training (ST) - including run-through doctors at grade ST1 and ST2	3 month

Doctors resigning from their training programme must advise Lead Employer of their resignation by emailing lead.employer@sthk.nhs.uk within the above timescales.

Where a doctor wants to leave the training programme before completion of the required notice period, they must complete an Early Resignation Form and obtain approval from the Host Trust they will be based at on the date of leaving.

Please visit the Lead Employer's Online Forms page on their website to complete the Early Resignation Form.

If you have any queries about resigning, please contact the Lead Employer Team at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (formerly St Helens and Knowsley Teahcing Hospitals NHS Trust).

Returning to Work/Training

Please visit NHS England – North West's Supported Return to Training page.

Revalidation

Please see the NHS England – NW Revalidation pages for information.

The Revalidation team can be contacted by email on england.revalidation.nw@nhs.net

Study Leave

Please see the NHS England – North West Study Leave pages for guidance, application forms etc.

The Study Leave team can be contacted by email on england.studyleave.nw@nhs.net

Support for Doctors

Support for doctors - Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

Support for Doctors with Mental Health or Addiction Concerns

NHS Practitioner Health is a free and confidential NHS service for doctors and dentists with issues relating to a mental health concern or addiction problem, especially where these may affect their work.

The service is open to any medical or dental practitioners in England, who are GMC or GDC registered, or those looking to return to clinical practice.

NHS Practitioner Health Leaflet

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-2pm

Telephone: 0300 030 3300

Email: prac.health@nhs.net

Website: www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk