Foundation


Key People:

  • Foundation Year 1 Programme Director:

    Dr Mathias Toth 

  • Foundation Year 2 Programme Director:

    Dr Shahinul Khan

  • FY1 Medical Education Officer:

    Dee Jessup

  • FY2 Medical Education Officer:

    Tracy Belcher

The Foundation programme was introduced in 2005 as a stepping stone from medical school to speciality/GP training and consists of a two-year programme.
Each foundation year (FY1 and FY2) is divided into three placements and provides trainees with a safe environment to build on medical school learning, while developing the additional skills, knowledge and experience needed to begin speciality training.

At Darent Valley Hospital we are committed to helping Foundation doctors develop all their skills to deliver high quality medical care. The Training Programme Directors work with college tutors across all departments to formulate a robust education programme and deliver excellent support to trainees.

Our foundation training is delivered alongside principles set out by the South Thames Foundation School and further information can be found via: www.stfs.org.uk

Clinical Support and Guidance


Educational Supervision

All Trainees are allocated named Educational and Clinical Supervisors for their training period, these Consultants work in collaboration with the Foundation Programme Directors and Clinical Education Department to provide a fulfilling educational experience in a supportive environment.

The Educational Supervisor is usually the supervising Consultant of the first post, who is allocated to each Foundation Programme doctor for the whole of their year at the Trust. They remain linked to the trainee for the entire training period and ensure the teaching of specific skills and competencies assist the trainee to develop confidence in the ongoing acquirement of skills and knowledge, and ensure the required assessments and feedback are in place and appropriate. In addition, the Educational Supervisor provides career advice, pastoral care and general guidance.

Clinical Supervision

A Clinical Supervisor is allocated for each individual training post and is the Consultant who provides the everyday supervision for a trainee. This includes on-going clinical teaching and support in clinical activity via developmental conversations, regular feedback and the provision of a rapid response to issues as they arise.

e-Portfolio, Assessment and ARCP


e-Portfolio

Trainees are encouraged to keep their e-Portfolios up to date, and these are regularly monitored by the Clinical Education Department. Trainees will meet on a regular basis with their Clinical and Educational Supervisors as well as the Training Programme Directors who will help provide support, guidance and encouragement if required.

The e-portfolio can be found here: https://horus.hee.nhs.uk/login

 

Supervised Learning Events (Assessments)

The Foundation Programme requires that all Foundation doctors complete supervised learning events (SLEs) and formal assessments as evidence of their professional development.
The current requirement is as follows:
Supervised learning event Recommended minimum number

Direct observation of doctor/patient interaction:
Mini-CEX
DOPS

3 or more per placement*
(minimum of nine observations per year; at least six must be mini-CEX)

Case-based discussion (CBD)
2 or more per placement*
Developing the clinical teacher
1 or more per year
*based on a clinical placement of four month duration

Safe Prescribing

At the start of the training year, all Foundation trainees are asked to sit the Prescribing Assessment, which was designed to ensure that newly employed Foundation doctors are competent to prescribe safely and secondly to identify any additional training and support required to enhance prescribing skills.
Foundation doctors are also expected to complete 6 SCRIPT modules each year. SCRIPT is an innovative e-Learning programme that provides trainees with a series of modules to explore prescribing and therapeutics. SCRIPT is an easily accessible web based programme comprising 41 modules, divided into 7 units covering competencies defined by the GMC and those required within the Foundation curriculum.

SCRIPT Foundation Trainee National Guide

Foundation ARCP

The Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) provides a formal process for reviewing a Foundation trainee’s progress. This is done by reviewing evidence gathered from the e-Portfolio against the requirements. With insight a trainee will be aware if they are on course for successful sign-off or if they will be required to be given specific targets and additional training time.

The ARCP process is often perceived as a difficult time for trainees. The help and support provided throughout the year will allow this process to run smoothly and for trainees to feel there is a positive outcome. Trainees will be encouraged to meet regularly with their Clinical and Educational Supervisors to help them support and develop their e-Portfolios.

Teaching and Taster Days


Teaching

The Foundation Trainees will be expected to attend a minimum of 70% of the teaching programme, however the foundation rotas have been designed to allow a greater attendance. In exceptional circumstances, if the 70% attendance has not been met for good reasons, it may still be appropriate to confirm that the Foundation doctor has met the required standard by making up 20% of the missed sessions by completion of appropriate on-line learning modules or attendance to alternative teaching programmes.

The teaching programme is based directly on the STFS curriculum. Trainees are expected to provide feedback on the education received to help further develop the education programme. We have developed a high-tech modern simulation and skills suite which will allow doctors to further enhance their practical skills and help build their team working abilities and decision making progress.

Taster Days

Taster days allow Foundation Trainees to spend a period of time in a specialty which is not included in their Training Programme and they have not previously worked in. They enable the development of insight into the work of a specialty and promote careers reflection.

In addition to allowing a trainee to consider if a certain speciality is of interest to them, the completion of a taster suggests to future recruitment panels the trainee is dedicated and committed to their chosen specialty.

Whilst STFS encourages F2 trainees to complete a taster in their first F2 rotation, they also allow F1 trainees to ‘borrow’ up to five days of their F2 study leave allowance in order to complete a taster in their last four months as an F1.

To apply, trainees should complete the below Taster form and submit this to the Medical Education Officer at the Trust.

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