Supporting Trainees Entering Practice (STEP)
All applicants to the Foundation Programme are encouraged to make full use of the process for Supporting Trainees Entering Practice (STEP) by completing the relevant form. This process is intended to support the transition from undergraduate medical education to postgraduate training and employment as a doctor. This form is completed in advance of the start of the programme to allow Foundation Schools and employers time to identify suitable adjustments, if necessary, and prepare for the arrival of trainees by ensuring appropriate support mechanisms are in place. Please refer to the full guidance below.
The STEP form should be completed and submitted by all new foundation doctors once they are allocated to a foundation school.
- UK graduates/applicants should complete the online form via the STEP portal which can be accessed via this link.
- Non-UK graduates and applicants who have applied via the eligibility process should complete the offline Word version of the form and email this directly to their allocated Foundation School.
STEP Guidance for Medical Schools 2023
Resources to help doctors in Foundation Training
Life as an F1 doctor
Real Stories
Representation Options for Foundation Doctors
For information on membership offers for foundation doctors, as of April 2021, please review this Overview of Membership and Representation Options document.
Advice from current foundation trainees
Be kind, be friendly, be approachable. Learn the names of your peers, your colleagues, the cleaner, the ward clerk – everyone in the NHS workforce should feel valued and a hello and a smile can go a long way.
Katie, Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
I believe the most important piece of advice I can give you is a good foundation doctor isn’t someone who knows everything, it’s someone who is organised, approachable, honest and knows when to ask for help.
Adam, Prince Charles Hospital Wales
Know the common diseases (like sepsis) and their treatment like the back-of-your hand; practice prescribing common drugs e.g. paracetamol and do a good A to E assessment. These skills are invaluable. Furthermore, whenever you see a patient on your own and you feel something is not right, chances are it is not and ask for help.
Nino, South Thames Foundation School
For more information about life as a Foundation Doctor, please have a look at our case studies.