Meeting Notes 22nd May 2025

Peninsula Foundation School Committee Minutes                                                                          

Thursday 22^nd May 2025 13.30 – 17:00.

via MS Teams 

 

1. Apologies noted and introductions for new staff made

2. FP ARCP Presentation (NB)

NB presented an update on the ARCP process, covering the purpose, timing, panel composition, outcomes, and evidence required. She emphasised the importance of accurate documentation and the need for foundation doctors to be informed of their ARCP date at least six weeks in advance.

• Purpose: NB explained that the ARCP process reviews evidence presented by foundation doctors to document their progress in the training programme, ensuring they meet the required capabilities.
• Timing: ARCP panels should be held in the summer, after May, with most completed by the end of June to allow F1s to complete their registration process before starting F2.
• Panel Composition: Each ARCP panel must have a minimum of three members, including an FPD and two others, ensuring diversity and avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Outcomes: NB detailed the different ARCP outcomes, including satisfactory progress (Outcome 1), inadequate progress requiring additional training (Outcome 3), and release from the programme (Outcome 4).
• Evidence Required: Foundation doctors must provide evidence of their capabilities, including educational supervisor reports, clinical supervisor reports, assessments, and engagement with the programme.

BW asked are the FDs allowed to be present in their ARCPs? AC advised most trusts have their own post ARCP meetings after the panel has met separately to discuss the Doctors outcome.

Query what if F2s don’t pass ALS? AC advised the FPC2 states clear guidance with what capabilities the Doctors need to be able to show to pass – e.g. providing evidence/SLEs of holding the crash bleep or resuscitating their patient, of which their CS should be able to sign off. If they cannot demonstrate this then they will not be able to achieve their competency.

ARCP Process and Extensions: AC discussed the importance of following the ARCP process and highlighted the need for foundation doctors to be aware of their portfolio status before the ARCP. She also mentioned the significant number of appeals related to extensions and the need for clear communication with foundation doctors.

• Process Importance: AC emphasised the importance of accurately following the ARCP process to ensure fair and consistent assessment of foundation doctors' progress.
• Portfolio Awareness: Foundation doctors must be aware of their portfolio status and any potential issues before the ARCP to avoid surprises and ensure preparedness.
• Appeals: AC highlighted the significant number of appeals related to extensions, often due to foundation doctors being unaware of their portfolio deficiencies.
• Communication: Clear communication with foundation doctors about their portfolio status and potential outcomes is essential to manage expectations and reduce appeals.
• ES/CS Reports TPDS should support colleagues who are unsure whether FDs have satisfactorily completed Foundation, they should mark as unsatisfactory and then it is up to the panel to make the decision on whether they are Satisfactory or not.  There have been some instances where an ES/CS has marked portfolio as satisfactory, but it is quite clear that there are a number of unaddressed concerns on the portfolio

3. Extension Requirements

AC presented a chart showing the predicted need for extensions across trusts, highlighting the significant number of short-term and long-term extensions required. She emphasised the importance of identifying placements for these extensions and managing expectations for less than full-time doctors.

• Predicted Extensions: AC presented a chart showing the predicted need for extensions across trusts, including 11 short-term extensions for F1s and several long-term extensions.
• Placement Identification: Identifying placements for foundation doctors requiring extensions is crucial to ensure they can complete their training and achieve the required competencies.
• Managing Expectations: Managing expectations for less than full-time doctors are important, as their completion dates and placements may vary, and guarantees cannot be made. Departments may not be able to pay for Oncall supplements so LTFT may have a different experience.

TPDs asked to start to identify posts and departments with more capacity for these Doctors to be put into.

NW queried the response we should be advising Doctors who are asking where they will be going. AC advised we are unable to give them specific detail and there is no guarantee where and what their placement will be.

4. Minutes from previous meeting

Goal posts seem to be changing re accelerated training. F1s can’t accelerate, F2s are able to if they are identified as exceptional however must align with the gold guide and Copmed Guidance which states acceleration should be requested at their penultimate ARCP (F1 ARCP) and the minimum period for acceleration is 4 months – this effectively rules out acceleration in Foundation training.

Actions from minutes:

-        Job Descriptions/Placements: AC highlighted the need for outstanding job descriptions to be submitted as soon as possible to provide incoming doctors with necessary information. There is one F1 placement still to be confirmed in RCHT this needs to be finalised as soon as possible.

-        Placeholder Feedback: No further placeholder experience feedback was received since the last meeting.

-        ARCP FPD Pre Meeting: The pre-ARCP meeting was valuable, and AC thanked the FPDs for their hard work in preparing for the meeting.

-        Welcome Event: The welcome event was successful, showcasing the region and Ac thanked the trusts for their high-quality presentations.

-        Forensic Psychiatry: AC mentioned forensic psychiatry posts, which still need to be explored the Peninsula currently does not have any Foundation jobs in Forensic Psych and she would be keen to explore possibilities.

-        GP Parking: F2s in GP placements can claim transport expenses but not parking expenses.

-        No other queries from the previous minutes, can be signed off.

5. Trainee Rep Feedback

AM and HZ shared feedback from a survey, highlighting the need for protected training opportunities in the rota, such as clinic time and theatre time. They also mentioned the positive feedback for ENT at Torbay and the challenges in other specialties.

• Protected Training: AM and HZ highlighted the need for protected training opportunities in the rota, such as clinic time and theatre time, to enhance learning experiences.
• Positive Feedback: ENT at Torbay received positive feedback for scheduling clinic time, which was appreciated by foundation doctors.
• Challenges: Other specialties, such as orthopaedics, gastroenterology, and general surgery faced challenges in incorporating clinic and theatre time into the rota, impacting learning opportunities.

It was suggested that perhaps it started with say 2/3/4 protected sessions in their 4-month placement. GD suggested taking study leave to attend a clinic/surgery time. AC voiced concerns about taking personal study leave as it is part of the curriculum that they have clinic experiences. They could take SL in other specialties for further experience. NW agreed that he does not approve study leave requests for clinic attendances. NW asked is this mandatory as if it is a mandatory requirement or recommendation in the national curriculum it would give TPDs more scope to be able to implement this. AC agreed and will check the wording of curriculum requirements.AC pointed out that not all speciality clinics are educationally valuable for Foundation Doctors. AM currently on Gastro agreed that rather than spending a whole afternoon watching the same procedure she would go and watch one, but it is ad hoc depending on how busy the ward is, and it is not protected time. AK mentioned that some UHP departments run WBA clinics using money from the education tariff and trust funding. E.g. someone takes an extra half a ward round to take a group of trainees around this benefits patients and doctors in training.

b. SFP Doctors feeling unsupported

Feedback identified that through August and September in their F2 year the SFP Doctors had less to do in their academic post especially those completing PGCerts. AM has set up a mentoring scheme locally in Torbay where an F2 SFP is paired with an F1 SFP to aid the F1s transition to F2. She has also created a resource guide to support this and is keen to see this support disseminated more widely. AC agreed this would be good and asked that AM share with other SFP doctors in the region. EH advised they have tried to roll this initiative out in the past but found that no-one linked up with their mentor. AM explained this scheme was specifically for SFP doctors only and this was more successful than her trusts general mentorship programme run by their doctors' mess.  AR contributed that to Plymouth, Doctors interested in mentoring or educational support wear yellow lanyards, so they are easily identified. AC thought this was a great idea and something that could be considered by other trusts for implementation more widely in the future. AC reported that there had been some positive feedback from RCHT Foundation doctors in RCHT that have been attending ARCP drop-in sessions they have found these very beneficial

 

c. Regional Teaching

Continual issues raised with teaching across F2. AC advised reinstating a local F2 teaching programme at each individual trust would be very difficult however acknowledges that regional teaching needs to provide enough opportunities for Resident Doctors.

NW advises they deliver bi-weekly teaching however noted challenges faced such as room bookings. Queried whether removing local biweekly teaching and focusing more on regional teaching could be the best course of action. NW advised the other issue is non-attendance, also they very often don’t have their camera or microphone on the Teams’ link meaning little to no engagement in the session. Consultants give up their time to deliver this teaching but are becoming more reluctant with the lack of engagement. AC agreed with these issues.

RCHT TE confirmed they deliver weekly teaching for their F2s. They provide a link if they are in community placements. Torbay not doing any weekly teaching.   RCHT confirmed no SL taken for regular weekly teaching.  AT confirmed that when Regional Teaching came in, they stopped F2 teaching.  SB also confirmed the same in North Devon.

AC expressed her concern with the lack of parity with the Severn Region where all trusts provide weekly teaching and F2s can obtain all their core hours without using SL and booking Regional Teaching.

AC wondered if we consider a similar model to F1 Regional Sessions so some local F2 teaching sessions could be shared with other trusts.

AC clarified the suggestion was not to reintroduce F2 teaching where there isn’t any but to use existing teaching in other trusts and offer some sessions to other trusts where the session would be shared online but they would attend in person at their own trust with a facilitator in the room.

AC confirmed no eLearning that counts as Core and that there is no upper limit for the number of eLearning hours, they can count but there needs to be a balance – not all eLearning.

6. FSD Update

• New Curriculum: No major changes patient safety and sustainability and more Enhance topics now included.
• Recruitment & Placeholder Update: We are doing well in comparison with other regions.  We have 5 Placeholder applicants, and we were waiting withdrawals to accommodate these applicants.  We now have 5 withdrawals 3 in UHP, 1 in Torbay and 1 in North Devon.  We spoke to our Placeholders, and they have voted to wait a week to see if any more withdrawals are forthcoming. Any subsequent vacancies arising will be used for extensions and or Inter Deanery Transfer Requests.
• GP Placement Shortage:  Particularly short in Cornwall and North Devon. North Devon met with community AD and Mark Fresch to look at innovative ways to provide hybrid GP posts to increase capacity. RCHT we still need one 1 placement for August we are contacting existing F2 practices to see if they can use a hybrid model to increase capacity.  Feedback from Reps states that F2s are asking to be allocated to their GP practices earlier as some do not have transport.  SM has requested that trusts let her have the details of which practices the F2s have been allocated too as soon as they can.  The school will look into starting the allocation process earlier, but we are reliant on practices knowing their future capacity when we go out to them which is for some practices more challenging. AC will discuss with RCHT contacting the community dean Chris Ireland to discuss hybrid community placements.  AC highlighted it is very difficult to predict capacity as it changes every year.  RS suggested approaching RETRIVE – who do inter hospital transfers for critically ill placements– through ED.
• UKFPO Webinar Series: AC shared the UKFPO produced webinar series – some good topics covered
• ENHANCE:  Change to funding, modules are probably going to be incorporated into the curriculum.
• UKFPO National Fellowship: Peninsula underrepresented.  National role for F2 doctors so please mentions it to F1s, similarly the UKFPO National FDNPD annual event.

7. Foundation Fellows

AC introduced the idea of foundation fellows in the Peninsula, similar to the Seven Foundation School. These fellows would have roles in education, sustainability, and leadership providing leadership opportunities for F1s. Roles: Foundation fellows would have roles in education, sustainability, and leadership contributing to various projects and initiatives. Voluntary role, no additional time they need to use SDP time. Leadership Fellow will be the FDAB rep for the region. AC, CVH and Jess Daniels will be the mentors so no additional time for TPDs

• Selection: Incoming F1s would be approached for interest, application form to fill in with white spaced questions, selection process run by HoSs in SW Region. Role for 2 years.
• Support: The TPDS supported the idea, recognising the benefits of providing leadership opportunities and enhancing the training experience for foundation doctors as long as they do this role in their own time and does not put any additional pressure on them.

 

8. Future SFP (Specialist Foundation Post) Recruitment

• Proposal: AC proposed recruiting into groups for both SFP and non-SFP posts, allowing foundation doctors to choose their trusts earlier and reducing the risk of being placed in the placeholder pot if they rank SFP jobs.
• Risk Reduction: This approach would reduce the risk of foundation doctors being placed in the placeholder pot if they are not successful in obtaining an SFP post.
• Support: The TPDS supported the idea, recognising the benefits of early trust allocation and reduced risk for foundation doctors.
• RDUH: AC to discuss 1 trust or 2 this outside the FSC

9. Regional Teaching Non-Attendance

Significant problems with doctors signing up to regional teaching on Maxcourse and then not turning up. NB/SM to look into a new process ensuring Doctors are emailed if they do not turn up, with the FPD being copied in. NB confirmed the Doctors currently receive a confirmation email a week before the course, and the Trust also send reminders.

BW asked is there a sanction for repeat offenders? AC advised there is nothing in place yet however this is under review based on the increase in non-attendance. NW contributed to say that these courses have huge waiting lists and its unfair on others to just not turn up. Probity issue also raised as if they are not turning up, are they going back onto the ward to work, or just taking the day off?

10. Psychiatry Update (LB)

LB provided an update on psychiatry, mentioning the new quality lead at DPT (Dr Emily Ramsey) which will be a positive step for Foundation Training Psych posts e.g. attending Quality Panels and acting on action. LB and Dr Ramsey have also set up a development of a learning objective sign-up system thinking about learning objectives at the beginning of placements.   They have also set up a Learning Resource bank and Baliant group FDs are able to access.

Recent NETS feedback for learning experience for FDs nationally was 95% for overall experience.  A regional Teaching Day was well attended 85% said it was excellent. AC also discussed the importance of shadowing for F2 Stand alone and F1s in their first August placement foundation doctors transitioning from psychiatry to acute trusts.  LB agreed to mention in the induction that they receive in Psychiatry.  HZ confirmed as a F2SA who had her first placement in Psychiatry her consultant gave her the last 2 days to shadow in her next placement, and this was invaluable. The clash between the F2 SA trust induction and the local Psych induction was discussed.

AL asked if LB liaised at all with CPFT, AC said that she would put LB in touch with her counterparts in CPFT and perhaps hold another joint FS and Psychiatry meeting.

 

 

11. A.O.B.

AC announced the dates for future FSD meetings, including a joint meeting with the Seven Foundation School on our planned November FSC date. She thanked everyone for their hard work and support, especially during the run-up to ARCPs.

Actions for Review:

 

Agenda Item	FSC Member	Action	By When
4	All Trusts	Submit outstanding job descriptions for August 2025 to ensure incoming doctors have necessary information. (All Trusts)	ASAP
5	F2 Reps	Expand the mentorship programme for SFP doctors to other areas and create a resource guide for new F1 SFP doctors. AM to share details with other SFP doctors in other trusts	Before August change over
6	All Trusts	Send a list to SM when F2s have been allocated to individual practises as soon as possible. (All Trusts)	June 30th
6	SM	Review timing of GP Allocation process	Ongoing
7	SM & HR	Recruit foundation fellows from incoming F1 cohort for the Peninsula, including educational, sustainability, and leadership fellows on the same basis as Severn Foundation School and update website	August 2025
9	SM & HR	Email foundation doctors who do not attend regional teaching sessions and copy in the FPD to address non-attendance issues.	Starting from August 2025
10	LB & AT	LB to Coordinate with AT to ensure F2 standalones do not miss important parts of psychiatry induction.	August
10	LB	Mention the importance of shadowing in acute trusts during the last weeks of psychiatry placements at induction.	Ongoing
10	AC/LB	Joint psychiatry collaboration across all Trusts Link up with CPFT to discuss and share developments in psychiatry placements for foundation doctors. Consider another joint Foundation/Psychiatry meeting	Nov 2025

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