In line with HEE policy, the ARCP will be conducted in absentia, therefore you are not required to attend. To ensure the effectiveness of the ARCP process, please ensure your ISCP is up to date for your current stage of training according to your Global Objectives. Please upload all the required documents to your ISCP by the published submission date. You will receive an email on this nearer to the time. Trainees should note that any documents uploaded after the submission date may not be considered.
In addition, please also upload any completed documents to your ISCP under ‘Other Evidence’ section:
Should you have any questions about your ARCP, please discuss this with your Educational Supervisors, College Tutors, or TPD who will be able to advise you accordingly.
The ARCP review will chart your progress to date and will identify any specific training needs for the future. The results of the review will be recorded on your ISCP within the ARCP section. We advise you share the information relating to your ARCP outcome with your Educational Supervisor to facilitate further Educational Supervision.
New Curriculum Requirements for ISCP
The ARCP review will chart your progress to date and will identify any specific training needs for the future. The results of the review will be recorded on your ISCP within the ARCP section. We advise you share the information relating to your ARCP outcome with your Educational Supervisor to facilitate further Educational Supervision.
You must have 2 MCRS completed and signed off for every placement during your Core Training. This means you will need 4 in a year. Remember, it takes 2 weeks from the MCR taking place before it can be signed off and you have you placement meeting with your AES. It is your responsibility to ensure this happens and you have a final placement meeting signed off before the next ARCP. Please ensure you plan this in advance with your supervisors. July will mean an increased amount of annual leave and you will not be able to complete the process at short notice.
You must treat the ISCP portfolio as you would a paper portfolio. If evidence is not uploaded, it doesn’t exist. If you do a course, get a certificate, pass an exam, have an abstract accepted etc you must upload evidence of this on ISCP. Having it written on your CV is not enough for it to count for your ARCP from now on. This includes the deanery provided teaching sessions, lap ox trainers, incision.care, elearning modules that you should be taking part in. If its not uploaded on ISCP it essentially didn’t happen!
You must have a valid ATLS to complete core training. If you don’t already have it, book a course asap and upload booking conformation to ISCP. If you do have it, make sure the certificate is uploaded on ISCP.
You must complete at least one MSF per year, most of you haven’t done one yet so please do so asap. There is no longer an absolute requirement for a mid-point MCR. You do require a Final MCR at the end of your placement. However, if you are able to complete a mid point MCR during your post, this does remain a useful option for you to obtain feedback as you progress. This is primarily for 4 and 6 month posts. If you are in a 12 month post, you do need to complete a mid point MCR at 6 months. In your ISCP portfolio, you are able to bypass the mid point MCR and select the final MR. The requirements for each placement are shown below. Please ensure you have all the mandatory evidence available for the year end ARCP.
Your log books must be up to date. Please don’t wait to upload cases and miss the deadline. It is also important that you accurately reflect on whether you have been trained and therefore an STS case or just assisted. Many of you have lots of assisted cases and I wonder if you haven’t accurately recorded the STS elements of each case you record. From now on, I would expect the vast majority of your cases to have an element of STS and be recorded as such.
Please continue to record WBAs. They are an essential way of ensuring and recording your progress. While there is no minimum number anymore (outside the mandated WBAs), the more the better. You must also ensure that you have the mandated WBAs to the correct number and level which I include as an attachment.
New Curriculum Portolio evidence for the ARCP
The ARCP content and process have not changed. However. the portfolio evidence of trainees who have transitioned to the new curriculum will be different as tabled below.
| Mandatory Evidence in each Placement |
|
| Optional Evidence in each placement |
|
| Evidence at the end of Core Surgical Training (Section 5.4 of core curriculum) |
|
For those of you who have not completed MRCS part A, the deanery have arranged for a specific part A revision course and I very strongly encourage you to attend it. Details will be circulated shortly.
Those of you have not been successful in either part of the exam please contact the deanery professional support unit (PSW.sw@hee.nhs.uk) for additional support and advice. I would strongly advice that you make a note that you’ve sought their support in ISCP as well, although no details are required as anything you discuss with them is confidential and can stay that way.
Finally, please look at the requirements for completing Core Training and use it as a way to ensure your portfolio and uploaded evidence meets the criteria.
Exam Survey document (for both CT1 and CT2 trainees)
Form R +/- Wider Scope of Practice forms (in the scope of practice include any past and present employers/ host training organisation placements/ time out of programme/ advisory/ voluntary roles or any other activity undertaken in your capacity as a registered medical practitioner including all locum and non-NHS work even if these are with current employer/ host training organisation (an example to include could be acting as a medical officer at a sports event).
All such roles should also be declared in the Scope of Practice section of the Form R. Please be aware your Form R and whole scope of practice must mirror the ARCP period under review. The form R should be completed & uploaded onto your ISCP but no earlier than 30 days before the ARCP date. The Form R is a mandatory requirement at each ARCP for revalidation purposes and failure to submit the form may result in receiving an outcome 5. A copy fo the Form R must also be sent to the Education Programme Manager.
https://www.severndeanery.nhs.uk/about-us/revalidation/show/documents-and-guidance
More information can also be found on the College website , or in this video
An ARCP Panel Guide for Core Surgical Training (taken from ISCP website)
| Syllabus area | Required Evidence | Suggested Evidence |
| Common content module |
Certificate of completion of MRCS or MRCS ENT) Mandatory WBAS (appendix 3) Current approved trauma providers status (section 5.3.7) Completed AES Report and at least one CS report from each placement Up to date Logbook MSF from each whole time equivalent (WTE) Training Year MCR from each placement |
Logbook Evidence of >120 cases per year WBA Portfolio covering particular areas of interest as agreed with AES, or to evidence progress in targeted training areas as required by a previous ARCP panel |
| Core Specialty Modules | Completion of at least one module | Logbook, WBA portfolio and CS report covering specified syllabus areas - see syllabus for details |
| ST3 Preparation Modules |
Completion of one module Final MCR showing capability at required supervision levels or batter (Section 2,3, table 2) |
Logbook, WBA portfolio adn CS report covering specified syllabus areas - see syllabus for details |
| Annual Appraisal | Completed enhanced Form R or equivalent | Engagement with training programme |
| Teaching and Training | Evidence of teaching delivery within AES report, other evidence or as OOTs | |
| Keeping up to date and understanding how to analyse information | Evidence of engagement with audit,medical literature and guidelines within AES report, other evidence or as AoAs | |
| Leadership | Evidence of engagement with local clinical governance and faculty groups within AES report or other evidence |
Critical Skills
Basic critical skills have been identified which are of significant importance for patient safety and demonstration of safe practice. Across surgery, these generic skills lie at the heart of the patient assessment and good practice in the operating theatre, where mistakes can be associated with devastating consequences for patients. These critical skills are assessed individually by means of WBA. They provide formative feedback to the trainee and collectively contribute to the summative assessment of the trainee's performance in the clinical environment and should inform the AES report and ARCP.
| Competency | Form to use | Indicative Number | Level of Performance Required |
|
Take a tailored history and perform a relevant examination in an outpatient clinic |
CEX (Clinic, History & Exam) | 3 | 2 |
| Take a tailored history and perform a relevant examination for an acutely unwell patient | CEX (A&E/Ward. History and Exam) | 3 | 2 |
| Effective hand washing, gloving and gowning | DOPS (Surgeon Preparation) | 3 | 4 |
| Accurate, effective and safe administration of local anaesthetic | DOPS (Administration of local anaesthetic) | 3 | 3 |
| Preparation and maintenance of aseptic field | DOPs (Preparation of aseptic field) | 3 | 3 |
| Incision of skin and subcutaneous tissue | DOPS (Incision) | 3 | 3 |
| Closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue | DOPS (Closure) | 3 | 3 |
| Completion of WHO check list (time out and sign out) | DOPS (WHO checklist completion) | 3 | 3 |
Next ARCP in 2023
The next Core Surgical Training ARCPs will be held on 1st February 2023