This brief guide is aimed at Specialist Registrars and is intended to give a
picture of how postgraduate training and education is managed, and how important
these processes are for efficient and successful progress through training.
Further information is available in the Guide to Specialist Registrar Training
(Orange Book).
Key personalities and bodies
The General Medical Council (GMC) maintains the register of
practitioners. Doctors must be registered with the GMC in order to practise.
They are also responsible for maintaining the register of those who have
completed specialist training - the Specialist Register.
The Specialist Training Authority (STA) has the statutory responsibility
for the standards of specialist training, and it awards the Certificates of
Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) to doctors successfully completing a
higher training programme.
On behalf of the STA, the medical Royal Colleges and Faculties are responsible
for the educational approval of posts for training purposes, and publishing
curricula which determine the training necessary within a particular specialty.
Postgraduate Deans manage postgraduate education within the NHS,
including seeking and enforcing agreements with Trusts that provide training.
Each specialty has a Speciality Training Committee (STC) within the
Deanery. They organise higher specialist training programmes and conduct the
annual assessments for Specialist Registrars (RITA). Each STC’s membership
includes junior doctor representation.
Trusts employ trainees and have an educational contract with the Dean to
provide training. They provide the work environment in which training is
provided.
Postgraduate Tutors are the Deans’ representatives at Trust level. They
are usually responsible for managing a Trust’s postgraduate medical centre, for
providing career advice and guidance, for monitoring the performance of
educational supervisors and organising teaching programmes.
Educational Supervisors are Consultants with a responsibility to oversee
the teaching and training of juniors, and be closely involved in it. They
conduct appraisal and ensure service commitments do not interfere with training.
They must be familiar with training requirements and curricula.
Clinical Supervisors are those Consultants directly involved with the
day-to-day work and training of trainees. The clinical and educational
supervisor may often be the same Consultant.
Trainees must take responsibility to participate in teaching and
educational programmes provided, and be responsible for their own learning and
professional development, and the maintenance of learning records as required by
their post, programme or College.