Report for College Council Meeting 14Th September 2012
Report for College Council Meeting 14th September 2012
1. Introduction
Revalidation is progressing, with a timescale now in place. Doctors have been encouraged to “make their connection” with a Designated Body, and a Responsible Officer. Revalidation for responsible Officers commences prior to April 2013, with doctors now preparing for revalidation in either 2012-13, 2013-14 or 2014-15. Though the process sits primarily with the GMC, Colleges have a defined role in setting standards for CPD and supporting information and offering specialist advice in remediation. Colleges also have a unique opportunity to ensure that the process does more than tick the box – hopefully aiding quality improvement in all settings where mental health services are provided and adding sustainability to psychiatric careers.
2. College Guidance
The core College guidance for revalidation is available on the website, CR172, dated March 2012. It includes supporting evidence to be reviewed at appraisal, a summary of supporting information and templates for recording this information. It also includes some frequently asked questions and specific advice about non-clinical activity such as teaching, research, medical management and expert advice. This will be updated as required and aligned with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges format.
3. Specialist Advice
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is currently providing an overview of revalidation to Regional Advisors, who may be called upon to give advice to members who are employees, Responsible Officers or self-employed. Initial advice may simply involve directing the doctor to the relevant guidance from the GMC, Revalidation Support Team, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges or the College. However, more complex advice may be sought, especially where there are problems with revalidation and this advice needs to be given impartially, without discrimination, possibly anonymously. This task should only be undertaken by those with training and support from the College. In some cases advice may need to be given by an Advisor outside the area from which the enquiry arises. Consideration needs to be given to a secure web forum to disseminate advice given and to ensure some standardisation. The Associate Registrar for Revalidation would provide a point of contact and regular support.
4. Recommendation
Council notes the timescale for revalidation and the proposed role of the College.
Appendices provide an update for members and Regional Advisors and will be available on the College website.
Dr Ellen Wilkinson, Associate Registrar for Revalidation
Appendix 1: A quick update on revalidation for Regional Advisors – August 2012
Introduction
Guidance available to support revalidation is available from the GMC website, the revalidation support team (RST) in England and the appraisal webpages in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, in common with the other Medical Royal Colleges, there will be a need for specialty specific advice for fellows, members, associates and colleagues within psychiatry. Requests for advice might originate from Responsible Officers, Lead Appraisers, Appraisers and doctors of any grade.
What is the adviser role?
The Medical Appraisal Guide (England) includes the statement that “The General Medical Council has set out its generic requirements for medical practice and appraisal in three main documents:
· Good Medical Practice (GMC, 2006)
· Good Medical Practice Framework for Appraisal and Revalidation (GMC, 2011)
· Supporting information for appraisal and revalidation (GMC, 2011).
These are supported by guidance from the medical royal colleges and faculties, which give the specialty context for the supporting information required for appraisal:
Specialty guidance from the relevant college or faculty.
Doctors should also have regard for any guidance that the employing or contracting organisation may provide concerning local policies.
Though details vary in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, the principles are the same.”
What are the principles of giving advice?
The principles of giving advice are:
Impartiality /
externality - without conflict of interest or vested interest, may sometimes need to come from outside the doctor’s local area.
Generality – advice in relation to a set of circumstances or situation and not to an individual
Informed – the adviser must be knowledgeable and trained.
Consistency – advice to ROs, appraisers and doctors must be consistent with advice from key partners, based on published standards and guidance, consistent between different advisers and consistent across the home nations.
Commonality – common processes across specialities
Legality – Colleges must not become involved in the revalidation recommendation.
It will be helpful to be up to date with diversity training and to be familiar with the generic guidance issued by the GMC, RST and home nation bodies.
What is the process?
Colleges are expected to provide a specific email address and a dedicated telephone number. Ideally, all advice should be given or confirmed by email, copied to this address. The College address is: .
This will allow a knowledge base of frequently asked questions to be developed and assist with quality assurance of advice.
Revalidation will commence in April 2012, with recommendations being made for 20% of doctors in the first year, 40% in the second year and the remaining 40% in 2015-16. All doctors, whether employed, self-employed or locums will be linked with a single Designated Body and Responsible Officer. The College is not a Designated Body. To be recommended, doctors must have annual appraisal, at least once based on Good Medical Practice and to collect and reflect on all six types of supporting information, including 360 degree feedback in the previous five years.
The Responsible Officer will either make a:
· Positive recommendation
· Deferral
· Inform the GMC of failure to engage
Responsible Officers are preparing to fulfil their requirements through an Organisational Readiness Self Assessment (ORSA), which sets requirements for appraisal systems, clinical governance systems and employment policies.
How can I prepare to give advice?
· Attend the training offered by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges on 30th September or ??November
· Become familiar with the websites for the GMC, RST and Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
· Remain up to date with the College Guidance on Supporting Information
· Undertake or update your appraiser training
· Ensure you are up to date with diversity training
· Be an appraiser within your organisation, even if only for a limited number of doctors
· Get to know your local Responsible Officers
Where can I get further advice?
Contact the College at:
http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation.asp
http://www.aomrc.org.uk/revalidation.html
http://www.revalidationsupport.nhs.uk/index.php
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/training/revalidation.aspx
Appendix 2: Getting ready for revalidation – what should I be doing?
Revalidation starts for some doctors as soon as April 2013. There are a number of things you can be doing now to prepare:
1. Set up your GMC Online account
GMC Online is a secure area of the GMC website to manage your registration. Everyone will need an account before revalidation starts. You can set up your account using this link.
2. Confirm your designated body
Over the course of this year, the GMC will confirm with every licensed doctor the organisation that will support them with their appraisal and revalidation. This organisation is called your ‘designated body’. For more information, including the rules to help you find your organisation, visit the GMC 'My designated body' page.
3. Talk to your organisation about timing
Soon you will know when you will revalidate for the first time – your Responsible Officer will be planning the dates very soon.
4. Prepare with your peer group
If you are not yet in a peer group, the College advises that you join one. Your Regional Adviser may be aware of peer groups in your area. If you are already in a peer group, ensure it is supporting your CPD programme and engaging in Case Based Discussion sessions. It might be helpful to run through the College Guidance on revalidation with your peer group.
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/collegereports/cr/cr172.aspx
5. Have a regular appraisal
You won’t be able to revalidate without having an annual appraisal. Your appraisal needs to be based on the GMC core guidance for doctors, Good Medical Practice. Generic guidance on appraisal is at: http://www.revalidationsupport.nhs.uk/CubeCore/.uploads/RSTMAGforReval0312.pdf
Your appraiser needs to be trained with recent updates. For details, see: http://www.rst.nhs.uk/CubeCore/.uploads/Documents/RSTQAMATrainingSpecV2apr12.pdf
6. Collect your supporting information for appraisal
The GMC supporting information guidance tells you the information you need to take “reasonable steps” to collect for your appraisal. File your information as you go, either in an electronic portfolio or on a memory stick. Ensure the versions you retain do not contain any confidential patient or staff identifiable information.
The latest College Guidance on revalidation is at:
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/collegereports/cr/cr172.aspx
7. Ask your organisation for supporting information
If you are not already receiving this, ask your organisation for information about serious incidents, complaints, national audits and plaudits which relate to you. If you are not directly employed, consider how you might source this information.
8. Ensure you have completed a Multi Source Feedback
There are a number of products available. You must choose one which meets the GMC requirements. The College has its own product, ACP 360, which is validated for use with psychiatrists and was developed with patient and carer involvement. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/crtu/centreforqualityimprovement/acp360.aspx
9. Find quality improvement information
Get in touch with your trust audit lead to find out which clinical audits are planned and how you could get involved. If you are not employed, consider how you might audit your practice. The College Centre for Quality Improvement is a useful source of advice:
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/quality.aspx
10. Contact us
If you have specialty specific questions about revalidation, or concerns not answered in these links, please contact us at: