Meeting Notes 15th May 2024

Peninsula Foundation School Committee Minutes

Wednesday 15^th May 2024
Plumer House, Plymouth and via MS Teams

 

1. Apologies         

2. Agree meeting notes from March 2024 Foundation School Committee Meeting.

Local Foundation Reps – SM received details from Cornwall. ACTION Local trust teams to send the contact details of any informal foundation doctor representatives/mess reps etc. to SM who will contact them and ask if they are willing to be put in contact with our FSC reps.

Future funding for Enhance projects/posts has not been confirmed for 24/25.

There are still some Job Descriptions that are outstanding. ACTION SM to send NDHT template to all trusts. All trusts are asked to return as soon as possible.

LTFT completion date was clarified at the last meeting. When foundation doctors apply for LTFT they need to understand that their end date will change. There will be a new application form created by the Deanery. FS LTFT approval letters have been amended to highlight change of end date. Due to the volume of questions from current LTFT foundation doctors this is being discussed further at COPMED.

The FS team has been reviewing the F2 regional teaching programme to rebadge any sessions that can be counted towards Enhance.  F2s will know what sessions can be counted towards Enhance. The presentation video was sent to all F1s for information. ACTION AC has asked all trusts to promote Enhance amongst their foundation doctors.

3. Trainee Rep Matters

RW would be really keen to work with local reps in each trust as her and Alice have really struggled to reach anyone further than their own hospitals.

There has been some concern due to ongoing pressures that foundation doctors wouldn’t have chance to do any clinics ad hoc if they were not timetabled into their rotas. Results of a national survey confirms that lots of foundation doctors do not have scheduled opportunities and less likely to be able to do them ad hoc. RW mentioned that in the North West Foundation School they are trialling scheduling clinics into generic timetables. AC said that attendance at clinic is part of F2 so should be in their timetables already. ACTION All FPDs to find out if F2s have clinics scheduled in their job plans and confirm this to AC.

Torbay Wellbeing survey

Torbay have introduced a mentoring scheme following feedback from the previous cohort who reported feeling that they didn’t have anyone to talk to and felt they were struggling to cope. All F1s were assigned F2 mentors before starting in August 2023. The project was quite easy to set up; F2s were asked to write a small bio and F1s were then asked to preference the mentors and were then matched accordingly. 23 F2s signed up to be a mentor and have had 1-3 mentees across the year. There have since been less reported incidences of struggling to cope. Mentors were F2s only as they are best place to know how F1s will be feeling and use their own experience to guide but they did not have any formal training. It has been very varied on how much time each mentor has spent with their mentees and a suggested improvement has been to have semi regular meet ups and a more detailed expectation of mentors. If any issues arose, they were referred to the welfare reps in the trust. ACTION SM to send feedback to all trusts.

MO reported that IMGs have different levels of experiences. F1s have protected teaching for 1 hour a week but would suggest that this includes more practical skills teaching to help build confidence. To learn on placements like ED or MAU it is very difficult due to number of patients and is difficult to attempt procedures and end up observing. There was a similar experience in other trusts with Exeter and Plymouth putting on extra practical teaching. Extra induction for IMGs should cover more practical procedures and not just what to expect. ACTION All trusts are asked to incorporate extra clinical procedures during induction or teaching. NBo suggested that all IMG leads across all trusts come together to discuss ideas ACTION All teams to inform the school of the IMG lead in their trust.

4. ARCP 2024 Update

ARCP presentation from AC. (Attached to the minutes)

All trusts were reminded that it is important to follow guidance to ensure consistency across the South West. Adverse outcomes should not be a surprise to foundation doctors and FPDs must be in discussion with any that might be affected by this. Outcome 5 forms must not be converted, Foundation doctors must have a new form completed after the two-week period. If someone goes on sick leave after ARCP they would need to have another panel review and their outcome can be rescinded. Form Rs must run concurrently for revalidation purposes. RCHT reported that they had a number of F1s who said they completed ILS in Medical School which has now expired. The curriculum doesn’t state that ILS or ALS are needed but the trainee must be able to evidence the FPC to pass ARCP. A statement/evidence from a consultant or appropriate senior clinician can be used to confirm the doctor is competent. ACTION SM to send statement wording to the team in Cornwall.

SIM requirements are vague in the curriculum. In the Foundation review it states that foundation doctors should have 3 sessions per year but doesn’t expand on length of sessions. As a committee it was agreed that 6 hours would be the requirement, but foundation doctors can’t be penalised if they do not meet 6 hours.

5. Education Update

TF gave an update. First joint F1 teaching session was held in Plymouth last week with 85 F1s providing feedback. Very positive response and feedback has been shared with the trusts. Technology worked well without any issues.  All dates have been confirmed for next year. TF noted that the feedback needed to be streamlined and he was working on this. TF will repeat the survey for F1s that was sent at the beginning of the year and feedback the results.

The annual development plan (ADP) is a record of all the F2 teaching that requires funding. For 24/25 there will be changes to the way that regional teaching is funded and how facilitators are paid. Each course will have to have a nominated trust and the trust will need to pay the facilitator invoices. Trusts do not need to submit individual trainee names and GMC numbers when submitting the claims for facilitator payments as it will be recorded under trust courses instead of study leave claims. Each trust will be asked to host a course and facilitate the invoices. Only those that are organised by the school e.g. Human Factors, which are run by external facilitators are included in this change. Course facilitators who are consultants from the trust where the teaching is taking place cannot be added to the claim form. Remote & Restorative course has become too expensive to be run by the school. If we continue to host the overnight courses, we would need to reduce the number of other courses run due to the limited funding budget. The R&R courses will be added to the approved course list and will go under CAT 3 and the foundation doctors can claim for funding for 50% of the course. From August 2024 F2s will have to apply for study leave to attend one of these courses. CAT 3 courses are 50% funding of course fees but 100% of accommodation and travel can be claimed if it’s within the limits set out in the travel and accommodation policy. The trusts reported having had an update which states that course fees must be reimbursed immediately.  ACTION KT to send the email to SM.

6. General Practice Update

No representative present at the meeting.

The school have recently hosted a GP Supervisor update day for all South West F2 supervisors which was very well received.

7. Psychiatry update
No representative present at the meeting.

The school have recently had a meeting with Psychiatry consultants and DMEs and a decision has been made to have a regular meeting but remove the representative for this meeting.

The meeting was called to discuss supervision requirements across the South West and the FS are in the process of writing a document to clarify this. The Psychiatry trusts made it clear that the current posts are more suitable for F2s than F1s so will only be looking to expand F2 posts. There was a lack of clarity of where the foundation doctors were based, the specialty and who supervised them. The Psychiatry trusts are going to send a full list into the school. When changes are made, they have been asked to let Acute trust and the Foundation School know. A peer teaching network is going to be set up – the MEM for CPT is going to contact all other MEMs to co-ordinate this. The option of a Prison Psychiatry post was explored but due to the trust not providing the care this was not possible but there is a forensic psychiatry post that might be a possibility.

 

 

8. Recruitment Update

AC thanked everyone for work they have done regarding expansion and placeholders. The hard work from all the trusts was recognised and appreciated.

F1 2024
302 new F1s were allocated to the school in March, 36 were put into a placeholder programmes and 266 programmes were filled. The school have had 5 withdrawals so far – 4 placeholders and 1 substantive programme. The school still has 32 applicants in a placeholder programme including one that will go into a job share if they start. 7 applicants were pre-allocated to the school due to their circumstances. The school had 60 linked applicants of which 56 continued the link - 3 were broken as one person in the pair was allocated to a placeholder programme. 4 applicants applied for an inter foundation school transfer (IFST) but only one was approved to move to London but at the moment there are no vacancies so it is likely that the applicant will still start F1 in the Peninsula. The school have 2 IFST coming in, one F2 allocated to RCHT and one incoming F1 after an appeal but there are no available posts yet for the incoming F1.

F2 Stand alone

The school have entered 23 programmes into the process. There are 239 vacancies nationally and 511 passed the interview stage. The first programme offers have gone out today and 9 have accepted but 8 have accepted with upgrades. Process will conclude on 28^th June.

It is likely that the school can inform the trusts of any programmes that have been filled by 3^rd June before the clearing round opens.

Placeholders

As of Friday 10^th, May the number of posts available per trust was confirmed. The next step was to ask placeholders to rank the trusts in the Peninsula in order of preference. Being allocated to a placeholder programme has caused an awful lot of concern amongst applicants. The school are following guidance from the UKFPO on how we need to complete the allocation process which follows the same 2 pass PIA system used for 2024. We plan to inform the applicants on Friday 17^th May which trust they have been allocated to allow them to start to look for accommodation. These new allocations will then be released to the trusts as soon as possible so HR can onboard the new F1s. ACTION all trusts were reminded that specific programme details are required by 7^th June. Preferably the programmes would contain both F1 and F2 posts but F1 as a minimum.

AC explained the UKFPO Preferenced Informed Allocation (PIA) process. ACTION AC has asked all trusts to offer extra support to those allocated late.

The UKFPO have had a lot of feedback on the new allocation process which will be discussed nationally. There will be no reintroduction of the SJT or deciles, but the GMC have a medical licencing assessment that is being introduced. PIA is a two-pass system. For 2/3 of applicants allocated to the Peninsula it is their first-choice school.

 

9. A.O.B

Joint SW FSC 20^th November 2024

Face to Face joint meeting with Severn Foundation School in Taunton – full day. Would be great to get as many as possible to come. Need to gauge numbers for venue so the Foundation School will send a form around for all to complete.

LTFT for Visa Applicants

Minimum salary requirements for visa applicants have changed. F1s must work a minimum of 80% and F2s 70%.

• The UKFPO are redesigning their website and are looking for volunteers for a working group. FPDs, CS and ES members required. ACTION anyone interested in joining the working group to contact SM.
• The school have inherited 2 resus dummies which need to be removed from Plumer house. Plymouth would be happy to take them ACTION NB/SM to arrange a delivery time with KT.
• AC said a huge thank you to Suzanne, Natalie and Rhea who are all working under immense pressure at the school.
• AC wanted to say a big thank you to Kathryn Eccleston who is resigning from her post as F1 FPD in Cornwall – huge thank you for all the work you have done and for the support you have given to all trainees.
• AC wanted to thank all trusts for their hard work under difficult times.
• Uplift in foundation admin fee has been agreed but AC and SM were not sure what this uplift was. Neil Squires has been working on the figures and will send asap. With the restructure Neil is being stretched very thinly so please bear with us. Details will be sent out as soon as possible.

Future meetings dates

Wednesday 18^th September 13:30 – 17:00 (will be afternoon but timings to be confirmed)

Wednesday 20^th November JOINT MEETING WITH SEVERN FOUNDATION SCHOOL – FACE TO FACE VENUE/TIMES TBC

 

 

Actions for Review:

 

Agenda Item	FSC Member	Action	By When
2	SM	Local trust teams to send the contact details of any informal foundation doctor representatives/mess reps etc. to SM who will contact them and ask if they are willing to be put in contact with our FSC reps.	Next meeting
	SM/ All trusts	SM to send NDHT JD template to all trusts. All trusts are asked to return as soon as possible.	Ongoing
	All trusts	AC has asked all trusts to promote Enhance amongst their foundation doctors.	Ongoing
3	All FPDs	All FPDs to find out if F2s have clinics scheduled in their job plans and report back	Next Meeting
	SM	SM to send feedback to all trusts. (Torbay Mentor Programme)	ASAP
	All trusts	All trusts are asked to incorporate extra practical procedures during induction or teaching	Next meeting
	All trusts	All teams to inform the school of the IMG lead in their trust.
4	SM	SM to send statement wording to the team in Cornwall.	ASAP
6	KT	KT to send the email to SM. (reimbursing course fees)
8	All trusts	All trusts were reminded that specific programme details are required by 7th June. Preferably the programmes would contain both F1 and F2 posts but F1 as a minimum.	7th June
	All trusts	AC has asked all trusts to offer extra support to those allocated late.	7th August 2024
9	Everyone	Anyone interested in joining the working group to contact SM. (UKFPO Website redesign)
	NB/SM	NB/SM to arrange a delivery time with KT. (Resus dummies)	ASAP

This page was last updated August 5th 2025 (8 days ago)