Each Higher Level Outcome (HLO) encompasses several Foundation Professional Capabilities (FPCs). You will need to record and link evidence to each FPC. A range of evidence is expected, including Supervised Learning Events (SLEs), attendance at learning, simulation and reflections.
Evidence to be saved in your portfolio is explored below.
Supervised learning events (SLEs)
- You should aim to complete lots of SLEs during your training year to ensure you can show curriculum coverage – there are no exact numbers and the types of SLEs will be dependent on the types of activities you undertake.
- Make sure you have a range of evidence for both physical and mental health, they are spread evenly across all your posts and are reviewed with feedback from a range of assessors.
- If you only provide evidence for physical health, it is likely your educational supervisor (ES) will ask you to complete more SLEs to show you have covered the curriculum requirements.
- Your evidence must also cover a range of specialties, including medical, surgical, mental health and community – not all of which you are required to undertake a whole placement in.
- Record your SLEs on the most appropriate SLE form:
- Mini-CEX
- Directly Observed Procedures (DOPs)
- Case Based Discussion (CBD)
- Developing the Clinical Teacher (DCT)
- LEADER (Clinical leadership (work-based review))
- LEARN (learning event and reflection note)
Further information about SLEs, including specific requirements for their completion, is on the supervised learning events page.
Personal learning log
- Alongside SLEs, the personal learning log provides a record of learning and therefore of curriculum coverage.
- The Foundation Programme has a syllabus that builds on undergraduate learning and is wide ranging, to ensure the foundation years prepare doctors for future healthcare needs, although no programme of learning can cover the whole range of medical practice and knowledge that continues to develop.
- A programme of teaching and further learning opportunities is provided by your hospital, trust or health board, and/or foundation school for this purpose.
Further information about the personal learning log, including the mandatory learning requirements, are on the personal learning log webpage.
Reflective practice
You should aim to reflect on your SLEs, learning activities and simulation activities. These can be recorded on the reflection form or on the LEARN form.
Further information about reflection during the Foundation Programme is on the reflection webpage.
Simulation
You should be attending simulation events as part of your educational programme. These may be high or low fidelity activities. All simulation events should be recorded and you should reflect on your learning and performance.
The LEARN form is an ideal place to record these.
Quality improvement (QI)
Understanding QI is a requirement and you should attend learning on this and record this in your portfolio. All foundation doctors should “take an active part in processes to improve the quality of care” (FPC 9), which could include completing or contributing to a QI project.
Leadership
As part of the curriculum, you are required to demonstrate leadership. This might be ward-based, such as guiding medical students in your ward, or leading multidisciplinary teaching. This could be recorded on the LEADER form.
Tasters
If you undertake a taster, complete the taster form to reflect on and evidence your experience, and map it to your curriculum.
Further information about tasters is on the specialty tasters for foundation doctors webpage.
Summary narrative
The summary narrative is a form of written reflection that encourages you to reflect on your overall practice and development. The concept is also used by non-training grades, including consultants, when preparing for annual appraisal to review practice against the four domains of Good Medical Practice, and thus seeks to encourage reflective practice and prepare you for future requirements.
Further information about the summary narrative is on the Curriculum guidance for foundation doctors webpage.
Additional achievements
A number of optional additional achievement forms are available in the e-portfolio. These are to support you by showcasing any achievements that you’re proud of, have learned from or would otherwise like to record in your e-portfolio but which don’t naturally fit into any of the other forms or tools described above. This could include research or conference activity, compliments from patients or colleagues, or achievements in hobbies or non-clinical work that you feel could be relevant to your overall development as a doctor.
These are just examples – it’s your portfolio and you should be proud of what you achieve, so feel free to put anything in that you think might be relevant!