GP Trainer Training

Becoming a GP Trainer

Introduction

Being a trainer is an enormous privilege and challenge. It means accepting personal responsibility for the development of a doctor aspiring to be a good general practitioner and trainers in KSS will be expected to have the skills, attitudes and competencies to be able to deliver adequately, for this demanding role.

In summary the pathway to becoming a trainer is:

Have active registration of the RCGP

Undertake all two modules of the GP educator pathway

Act as a Foundation Clinical Supervisor (FY2CS) for a minimum of one 4/12 FY2 placement

Participated in supporting the FY2 Community Educational Supervisor (FY2CES) role locally

Where neither of the above criteria has been met you must be able to demonstrate you have undertaken sufficient practical teaching, under the supervision of an established educator, to put into practice the learning on the modules. You must also produce some reflections on your educational activity

Have developed a portfolio of evidence to support your educational activities – for guidance on what this might contain please see the Guidance to a first visit form and the trainer application form

From December 2010 a GP educator who wishes to become a GP trainer will also need to undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development (GP Educator) which KSS is developing with the University of Kent

As a trainer we would expect you have good communication skills, use adult educational theory to inform your teaching practice and be learner-centered in your teaching.

You should also be actively engaged in developing yourself professionally. You and your practice should be delivering health care to a good standard.

Trainers need to work in practices that are supportive, well organized and have good protocols for clinical governance. The practice needs to be a supportive environment in which staff and attached GP Speciality Registrars (GPStR) can learn.

GP Speciality training has undergone recent changes as part of Modernising Medical Careers. Doctors currently undertake a 3 year training programme with a series of shorter 4 month rotations in hospital posts and currently from 12-16 months in general practice.

All doctors wishing to become GPs now have to undertake MRCGP in order to qualify for independent practice. The MRCGP has also undergone change and more details can be found in our GPStR section of the website and on the Royal College of General Practitioners website.

During the time a GPStR is in hospital they have Clinical Supervisors who oversee their work in each department. However, each GP trainee also has an Educational Supervisor who is a GP Trainer and who oversees their progress throughout the three years. As a trainer you will be expected to undertake this role.

Module 2

This 5 day module builds on the previous modules and allows you to reflect on your practical experience as a Foundation Clinical Supervisor and how you have applied the educational principles introduced in earlier modules.

Through the module you will gain a fuller understanding of educational principles and develop a range of interventions to facilitate teaching and learning. You will be encouraged to develop your skills through reflective practice.

Each Trust has three Programme Directors (formerly Course Organisers) who support GP training locally. Their contact details can be found in the GP recruitment section linked to the KSS map.

Locally trainers come together in groups to support each other and develop teaching skills. The leader of the group (a Programme Director) will also appoint you a more experienced trainer as a buddy.

The next steps

Once you have completed Module 2 you will need to apply to become a trainer.

In brief the process comprises of:

Completing and returning a summary of experience form

Completing the 1st trainer application form

Completing an educational appraisal form

Have developed a portfolio of educational activity to support your application

Have a visit to your practice by your patch Associate Dean either alone or accompanied by a Practice manager

Have undertaken an observed teaching episode eg a tutorial which you have reflected on using the KSS Video guide and received feedback from a peer

A report will be compiled by your patch Associate Dean which is then submitted to the Trainer Selection Committee for review. The TSC makes a decision which is then conveyed to the GP School meeting for final ratification.