Curriculum insights

The Foundation Programme (FP) curriculum, which underpins the training and professional development of newly graduated doctors, relaunched for the first time in five years in summer 2021. The curriculum sets out a holistic approach to care including physical health, mental health and social health and the skills required to manage this in both acute and community settings and for patients with chronic conditions. Foundation doctors must demonstrate that they are competent in the practice of medicine as defined by the GMC in Good Medical Practice (2024) . The curriculum provides a framework for educational progression that will help them achieve these skills and supports them through the first two years of professional development after graduation from medical school.

“The last curriculum was published in 2016 and a lot has happened since then, not least the coronavirus pandemic. To remain fit for purpose, the Foundation Programme must evolve with medical practice and training, so our doctors are properly equipped to practice in a range of healthcare setting, now and in the future.” Dr Tony Choules, Chair of the AoMRC Foundation Programme Committee and Operational Advisor to the UKFPO.

Non-urgent advice: The curriculum

– UK FP Curriculum (interactive pdf) –> We recommend users access the curriculum document through Adobe Reader or an up to date browser (for example Chrome or Firefox). Users accessing the document through Microsoft Edge may not get the full experience of the interactive PDF.

– The Gold Guide (9th edition) –> A reference guide for postgraduate foundation and specialty training in the UK

– Rough guide to the curriculum –> written by foundation doctors, for foundation doctors

– Curriculum resource -> This guide highlights national guidance and protocols available to support each of the curriculum’s foundation professional capabilities. It lists many of the freely available evidence-based resources, including helpful web links (such as e-lfh and BMA) and guidance notes.

YouTube

– What does the Curriculum mean for a supervisor?

– What does the Curriculum mean for a foundation doctor?

Factsheet

– The 2021 Curriculum

– Introduction to 2021 Curriculum for educators

Webinars

See our Webinars page to access the recordings of webinars supporting the Curriculum.

Podcast

– New UK Foundation Programme Curriculum

Patent reps consultation on the new curriculum

– The FP Curriculum

Educational supervisor (ES)

– The ES Factsheet

– The ES Podcast

Clinical supervisor (CS)

– The CS Factsheet

– The CS Podcast

Factsheet

– The foundation doctor

– Self development time

Guidance

– Personal learning log

– ARCP

– SLEs

Representation options for Foundation doctors

The AoMRC have produced an overview of membership and representation options for Foundation doctors

The role of a doctor

– Factsheet

– The role of a doctor podcast

Building a portfolio

– Factsheet

– Building a portfolio YouTube video

Curriculum mapping

Foundation doctors can map:

2021 Foundation Programme Curriculum

• a maximum of 10 portfolio items to a foundation professional capability (FPC)

• each portfolio item to a maximum of 3 FPCs

2016 Foundation Programme Curriculum

• a maximum of 5 portfolio items to a FPC

• each portfolio item to a maximum of 5 FPCs

The summary narrative

The summary narrative is a live / working document and foundation doctors should start / update their narratives towards the end of each placement. It is for the foundation doctor to critically appraise their placement/year. The summary narrative is not pass/fail but formative; it is another form of reflection. Foundation doctors should complete one summary narrative for each of the 3 HLOs, approximately 300 words per HLO.

– The summary narrative YouTube video

– Factsheet

– Example 1 – Summary narrative for HLO 1

– Example 2 – Summary narrative for HLO 1

F1 doctors and locum work

Provisionally registered doctors (foundation year one/F1) must not undertake formal locum posts or activities.

Provisionally registered doctors can undertake occasional ad hoc additional/overtime shifts on their current FY1 placement or previous FY1 placements that have formed part of their F1 rotation, where such work is undertaken only within the limits of their current competence and with the support of their educational supervisor. When undertaking such occasional ad hoc additional/overtime work provisionally registered doctors should be clear with other members of their team about their current experience and level of competence.

Time Out of Foundation Programme (TOFP) Request Form

Foundation doctors should discuss their intention to take time out of programme (OOP), also known as Time Out of Foundation Programme (TOFP), with their medical school/training programme director and review the form below. Completed forms should be sent to their foundation school for consideration.

Time Out of Foundation Programme (TOFP) Request Form

– Factsheet

– Supporting inclusion and equity YouTube video

The PSG is a group of individuals allied to the FD’s placement, who interact with the FD on a daily or weekly basis and who can provide constructive senior feedback on the FD’s clinical performance both to the FD themselves and the clinical supervisor (CS).

The PSG collection of rater feedback works in a similar way than Team Assessment of Behaviour (TAB), but the information that is collected, and its purpose, is different. The development of the PSG feedback process has been driven by foundation doctors. While TAB provides FDs feedback on their general behaviours, PSG provides feedback on their competence as a doctor and how well they understand clinical aspects / situations.

There is no minimum number of members needed in the PSG, but ideally at least 3 colleagues will contribute. The clinical supervisor can ask senior nursing staff, senior consultants, GPs, or other members of the multidisciplinary team. The PSG is driven by the supervisor (not the foundation doctor) and the information gathered can help inform the end of placement report.

– The Placement and supervision group YouTube video

– Factsheet

– PSG feedback tool guidance

– Factsheet

Foundation doctors giving feedback

The AoMRC Foundation Programme Committee have produced guidance supporting foundation doctors on giving written feedback to their colleagues

Our Careers page contains information on life after the Foundation Programme.

UKFP Curriculum & e-portfolio webinar

See below recording of the UKFP Curriculum & e-portfolio webinar on 26 October 2022, focusing on exploring the Placement Supervision Group (PSG) and and e-portfolios.