Appraisal and Assessment
A summary of the required supervised learning events (SLEs) can be found in the JRCPTB ARCP decision aids (www.jrcptb.org.uk). Descriptions of each SLE can be viewed when logged in to NHS e-Portfolio. Assessments should spread throughout the year, with a variety of assessors, and recorded in the e-Portfolio.
Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)
The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) is the formal method by which a trainee's progression through their training programme is monitored and recorded as described in The Gold Guide (https://www.copmed.org.uk/images/docs/publications/Gold-Guide-6th-Edition-February-2016.pdf)
2019 ARCP Dates:
Remote Reviews - 17th May (West Trainees), 22nd May (West Trainees), 24th May (East Trainees), 4th June (South Trainees)
Face to Face - 26th and 28th June
Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE)
Trainees must pass the Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) in Geriatric Medicine before a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) can be awarded. The exam is based on the Geriatric Medicine curriculum, and is held annually at a number of centres across the UK. Most trainees sit the exam in ST5 year, although it can be attempted earlier.
Further information about the exam ‘blueprint’, dates, fees, sample questions etc. can be found at www.mrcpuk.org. There are also some practice questions in the trainees section of the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) website www.bgs.org.uk. The BGS also organize an annual trainee’s weekend (typically January), which includes a mock examination and feedback.
Useful texts:
- ‘Best of Five MCQs for the Geriatric Medicine SCE’ (Oxford Higher Specialty Training Higher Revision) - Forsyth D, Wallis S
- ’Essential Geriatrics’ 3rd Ed - Woodford H
(Candidates can apply for tax relief on the examination fee via HMRC).
Penultimate Year Assessment
All medical specialities require penultimate year assessment (PYA). This typically takes place 12-18 months before completion of training (and may need to be repeated if it occurs more than two years from completion of training).
The process involves an external assessor (a Training Programme Director from another region) reviewing a trainee’s ePortfolio followed by a face-to-face meeting where the trainee is expected to give a short presentation describing their training. A number of recommendations are usually given, detailing the things that still need to be done in order to complete training (see also the School of Medicine section on PYA).
Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)
At the final year ARCP, trainees are required to have gained all required competences (an ‘Outcome 6’) for both Geriatric and General (Internal) Medicine before applying and paying for a Certificate of Completion of training (CCT). This enables entry to the specialist register for Geriatric and General (Internal) Medicine and will show on a physician’s GMC registration.
Trainees can apply for and be interviewed for a consultant job up to six months before the date of CCT. Most trainees in geriatric medicine in Yorkshire and the Humber are successful in securing a consultant post during their training or opt to take up a locum consultant post. However, there is a six month ‘grace’ period following CCT where trainees can continue to work at registrar level should they be unable to secure a consultant position.