Less Than Full Time Trainees now only have to do pro rata number of assessments

Good news for ‘less than full time trainees’ - you now only need to do a pro rata number of assessments and the new rules apply from now! Below is the full text of a press release from the RCGP:

'Trainees will continue to have regular educational reviews (usually a minimum of once a year). For these interim reviews, supervisors make a judgment of progression for stage of training normally based on pro rata evidence as a minimum. However, there may be situations dependent on individual trainees performance and progression where more than the minimum evidence is required.

'The General Medical Council (GMC) has offered interim guidance to say that for those trainees who are ‘less than full time trainees’ (LTFTTs) evidence can be gathered on a pro-rata basis. This approach means that LTFTTs will collect the same amount of evidence as full time trainees, but over a longer period of time.

The RCGP is in full agreement with the GMC that this recommendation is a fairer approach for those trainees affected and is encouraging GP Deaneries to implement the guidance as soon as possible.

At present, LTFTTs have to collect the same amount of evidence for their ARCP as their full time peers. The RCGP agrees that the new approach will ensure that assessment does not take up a disproportionate amount of trainee learning time.

The purpose of the ARCP is to ensure that trainees are engaged with the training process have undertaken appropriate workplace-based assessment and are making satisfactory progress for their stage of training.

The RCGP Postgraduate Training Board (PTB) has agreed that for gateway ARCP reviews between specialty training years, a trainee must provide the minimum amount of evidence specified by the RCGP. For example, for a trainee working at 50 per cent of full time the required evidence at the end of their ST1 year may be compiled over the equivalent period - i.e. two calendar years.

The RCGP Assessment Committee recommends that this guidance be applied immediately. Since many LTFTTs are not synchronised with the usual assessment cycle of transition in specialty training years in August, the RCGP recommends that the Workplace Based Assessment guidance be applied from the next review scheduled. For the majority of LTFTTs this will be a ‘gateway’ ARCP in the summer of 2012.'

The full RCGP guidance can be viewed here: http://www.rcgp-curriculum.org.uk/Docs/WPBA%20%20LTFTT_guidance%20January%202012.doc

The GMC guidance document can be viewed on the GMC website at http://www.gmc-uk.org/LTFT___WPBA_and_ARCP___Additional_position_statement___Feb_2012.pdf_48095387.pdf'