Training roles will exist, with minor, locally agreed variation, in all deaneries/schools and are a requirement of the ISCP.
In accordance with GMC and curriculum standards, the following hold true:
- There must be an adequate number of appropriately qualified and experienced staff in place to deliver an effective training programme.
- Trainers must have the time within their job plan to support the role.
- Subject areas of the curriculum must be taught by staff with relevant specialist expertise and knowledge.
- Individuals undertaking educational roles must undergo a formal programme of training and be subject to regular review.
- Training programmes should include practise exercises covering an understanding of the curriculum, Workplace Based Assessment methodology and how to give constructive feedback. They should also include equality and diversity training.
The main surgical training roles fall into one of the two following broad categories:
- Those to do with managing individual trainees (i.e. Clinical Supervisor, Assigned Educational Supervisor, Training Programme Director).
- Those to do with managing the system. Included within these roles would be important aspects such as the provision of common learning resources and quality control of the training being provided. Training Programme Directors would fall into this category.
It may be entirely appropriate for a surgeon involved in training to hold more than one role (e.g. Assigned Educational Supervisor, Clinical Supervisor and Assessor) where the workload is manageable and the trainee continues to receive training input from several sources. The role of assessor is not intended to be used as a formal title, but describes a function that will be intrinsic to many of the roles described in the ISCP.
The ISCP requires adherence to a common nomenclature for the trainers who are working directly with the trainee and these are highlighted on the website. These roles are Training Programme Director (core surgical training or specialty training), Assigned Educational Supervisor, Clinical Supervisor, Trainee and Assessor. This is to support the interactive parts of the website, access levels etc. and it is strongly recommended that deaneries/LETBs use the titles outlined here in the interests of uniformity.
There is great variation in the number of trainees being managed at the various levels within deaneries/LETBs/Schools of Surgery. This is particularly the case during the early years of training. For this reason, many deaneries/LETBs will find that the Training Programme Director roles may have to be subdivided. It is recommended that the suffix or prefix ‘deputy’ is used in conjunction with the main title rather than devising a completely new title. This will make clear the general area in which the surgeon is working and should help to avoid confusion.
Wherever possible these roles are harmonised with the Gold Guide but there may be minor variations in nomenclature and tasks that reflect the intercollegiate approach to surgical specialty training.
Training Governance Structure
