UKFPO Bulletin

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November Bulletin

Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month

Self care week (Mind and Body)

Other national campaigns this month

Introduction

With the end of the first placement for most FDs looming, it’s probably time to put my curriculum hat on and issue a few reminders of what is required.

Most FDs undertake their multisource feedback in the first placement and most CSs obtain a formal PSG report.  The curriculum requirement is for one of each of these per year although sometimes more are undertaken.  FDs can send out tickets from their eportfolio for TAB.  There are specific requirements in terms of the mix of people that need to respond, and these can be seen in the portfolio.  (See page 37 of the 2021 curriculum).  The usual recommendation is to invite at least 15 respondents to achieve the required 10 responses.  There are no specific numbers for the PSG but a minimum number of 3 raters is usually considered adequate although more provide a broader view of the FD’s abilities.  (See page 39 of the 2021 curriculum).

Some FDs and supervisors sometimes struggle to understand the difference between TAB and PSG.  This was discussed at our recent webinar.  For those that missed it, you can catch up by selecting the link.  The MSF TAB/PSG comparison may also be helpful.

It is also time for FDs to look at the contents of their eportfolio and review their SLEs, teaching and other evidence with a view to linking this to the curriculum outcomes.  CS (and ES) should be doing the same and offering advice on filling any gaps.  The summary narrative is designed to help the FD review their evidence and summarise it for their ES to help draw up a personal development plan (PDP) for the next placement.

As a reminder, the 3 Higher Level Outcomes of the curriculum are for FDs to show they are:

  • an accountable, capable and compassionate clinician;
  • a valuable member of healthcare workforce;
  • a professional, responsible for their own practice and portfolio development.

With this in mind, I wanted to draw your attention to GMP2024 which comes into effect from the end of January and I’m pleased to announce we have a very special guest editorial next months to help introduce it.

As always, there is information on all this on the website. You can also email questions to educationandsupport@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk

Best wishes
Tony Choules, Operational Advisor to the UKFP

Reflection

If you were interested in any of our webinars but were unable to attend, you can find the recordings on our website.

Events

National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day – 19 January 2024

The abstract submission window is now closed and notifications of acceptance will be sent on Monday 27 November 2023. Registration for the event will also open on this date.

eLearning

New trauma informed care elearning programme now available

NHS England’s elearning for healthcare and Mental Health team have worked together to develop a new elearning programme about trauma informed care.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a growing need for health and care professionals to understand the dynamics and impact of trauma on the lives of individuals, families and communities.

Whilst embedding trauma informed care requires a systematic multi-faceted approach, the aim of this programme is to support the learner in deepening their understanding on the importance of becoming more trauma sensitive in the way care is delivered, both as an individual and within a team or service.

The programme, which is aimed at frontline health and care professionals, emergency services colleagues, violence reduction units and education staff, consists of 5 modules:

  • Human Development and Responses to Threat 
  • What Do We Mean by Trauma? 
  • Basic Awareness, Concepts and Challenges 
  • Public Health and Prevention, Personal Capacity 
  • Making Trauma Informed Approaches Part of Healthcare 

On completion of the programme learners will have a greater understanding of trauma and its impact on the lives of everyone who encounters services, including those who work within it. It will help learners to recognise and sensitively respond to people who have experienced trauma.

For more information and to access the resource, please visit the Trauma Informed Care programme page.

Good communication: Foundation update (November 2023)  

Welcome to your November 2023 update from the Foundation elearning programme. This month focuses on good communication. 

From discussing issues such as treatment risks or organ donation with patients; to breaking bad news or supporting the bereavement process, communication skills are key to your success as a doctor. Please read the full update for direct links to training sessions that can support you to sell your diagnosis, your treatment, and most of all yourself, to your patients. 

The Foundation elearning programme covers key areas in your Foundation curriculum. It has been developed specifically for Foundation doctors by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in partnership with NHS England elearning for healthcare (NHSE elfh), and is approved by the UK Foundation Programme (UKFPO).