The ARCP for trainees undertaking joint clinical and academic training Programmes
7.91 Some doctors will undertake joint clinical and academic training programmes. Appointment to such programmes will involve allocation of a National Training Number [NTN (A)]. Trainees in such programmes will have to complete both the full training programme and meet the requirements of the academic programme.
7.92 Individuals undertaking academic training must have an academic educational supervisor who will normally be different from the trainee’s clinical educational supervisor.
7.93 The academic supervisor is responsible for drawing up an academic training programme with the trainee, and a realistic/achievable timetable with clear milestones for delivery. Training goals relating to generic academic competencies and specific academic goals appropriate to the trainee should be explicitly identified. These targets will be summarised within the overall personal development plan for the trainee, which should be agreed within a month of commencing work and annually thereafter.
7.94 On entry to the training grade, the academic supervisor should agree explicitly with the trainee the criteria for assessing their academic progress. This should be within the framework of a general statement about the standards expected of the trainee if they are to make satisfactory progress throughout the programme and should reflect the fixed time period of the combined programme. The educational supervisor and academic supervisor should be certain that clinical objectives are complementary to the academic objectives. Both supervisors and the trainee should be aware of the trainee’s overall clinical and academic requirements.
Recording academic and clinical progress – academic assessment
7.95 At the start of the academic placement, and annually thereafter, the academic trainee must meet with both their clinical and academic supervisors to agree objectives for the coming year. Regular meetings with the academic supervisor should take place through the year to review progress, and decisions taken should be agreed and documented for later presentation to the academic assessment panel.
7.96 An annual assessment of academic progress must be undertaken, and ideally should take place at least one month before the joint academic/clinical annual review panel convenes. Those present at this assessment should include the trainee and educational supervisor together with the director of the academic programme, and other members of the academic unit as appropriate.
7.97 The academic supervisor is required to complete the Report on Academic Progress form (Appendix 6), which needs to be agreed and signed by the trainee for submission to the annual panel. The form must include details of academic placements, academic training modules and other relevant academic experience, together with an assessment of the academic competences achieved.
7.98 The report and any supporting documentation should be submitted to the annual panel as part of the evidence received by it. The annual review panel for academic trainees, in addition to the membership described above (Para 7.51) should also include two academic representatives who have not been involved in the trainee’s academic programme.
7.99 The trainee should not attend the panel unless there are concerns about either or both clinical or academic progress. Plans for academic trainees to meet with the panel should only be made if the Training Programme Director or the academic educational supervisor indicates that Outcomes 2, 3 or 4, for either clinical or academic components (or both), are a potential outcome from the panel.
7.100 Since the assessment process jointly assesses academic and clinical progress, the trainee must also submit evidence of clinical achievement.
7.101 The outcome of this joint process should be recorded using the outcome documentation as described above, which allows for both clinical and academic outcomes to be recorded. The academic report should be attached to the outcome document.