Trainees in the School of Psychiatry have appraisal and assessment built into their training.

Appraisal

Appraisal is usually a discussion between the trainer and a trainee about goals to be set or those that have been achieved. It should be a two-way communication that is informal, non-threatening, and confidential. The main aim of appraisal is to encourage and support the trainee. It is designed to help fine-tune the training to the particular needs of individual trainees.  One of the outcomes of appraisal is the PDP. For each placement, a Annual Learning Agreement must be completed.

Assessment

Assessment assures and improves the quality of medical training, of qualified doctors and so of clinical practice.  It is the formal measurement of performance by specially developed and validated methods for the purposes of classifying an individual against a standard. Trainees will experience local assessments when they undertake Workplace Based Assessments and external assessments in the form of the College examinations. Workplace Based Assessments are described and recorded on the Royal College of Psychiatrists website.

Submission of Evidence for ARCP Panels

The lockdown date for e-portfolios is 2 weeks prior to your ARCP panel date.  This date will be details on your ARCP notification email that you will receive no later than 8 weeks prior to the panel.

Any additional ARCP evidence submitted after the deadline may be discounted altogether unless supported by the educational supervisor with extenuating circumstances being evident.

All trainees who started after 2007 will have an Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) at the end of the training year.  For full details of the process, please see the Gold Guide.The majority of ARCPs are held in June and July.  A small number will take place in January to take into account February New Starters or those who are out of sync due to Sick or Maternity Leave. Trainees who are not due to receive an ARCP Outcome 1 will be invited to an NHSE ARCP panel. It is essential every trainee (even those on OOP or Maternity Leave etc) have an ARCP each training year so a CCT can be obtained at the end of training. It is your responsibility to liaise with your TPDs regarding arrangements for local ARCP panels.

Please see our Appraisal and Assessment webpage for more information. Please ensure you submit your Form R by the deadline date via TIS Self Service