SAS Doctors revalidation and development

Revalidation

The process of ‘revalidation’ was introduced by the GMC. All licensed doctors are required to revalidate every 5 years. 

The process of Revalidation requires doctors to have regular appraisals with their employer based on the core guidance for doctors, Good Medical Practice.

Development opportunities

Top up training and CESR

In order to become a consultant in the UK you are required to be entered onto the Specialist Register.

There are three routes to the Specialist Register

  1. Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT): Available only to doctors who have satisfactorily completed a GMC recognised training programme leading to the award of CCT.
  2. Certificate of Eligibility to the Specialist Register (CESR) / Certificate of Eligibility to the General Practice Register (CEGPR): Available to those have met the specialty college curriculum requirements of a CCT specialty outside of UK GMC recognised training programmes or for those who can demonstrate that they have equivalent skills, knowledge and experience to current NHS consultants in a non-CCT specialty.
  3. Certificate of Eligibility to the Specialist Register Combined Programme (CESR CP): Available to those who entered a specialty training programme leading to the award of CCT at ST3 level or above and have evidence that they have met some training requirements in non-training grade posts.

SAS doctors who wish to enter the specialist register will need to apply to the GMC to do so via option 2 – the Certificate of Eligibility to the Specialist Register (CESR). This was previously known as Article 14. Full details are available on the GMC website application section.

If you are interested in applying for CESR please speak with the SAS tutor at your trust. They will be able to provide you with support and advice on the process and may be able to access funding to support you through the process.


The CESR process:

  1. The application from individual doctors requesting support from HEE KSS needs to be supported by the local trust and letter of support from Director of Medical Education and Medical Director will be required
  2. Letter from the GMC outlining what training requirements are specifically needed will also have to be submitted along with the application.
  3. In all cases advice may be sought from the HEE KSS SAS advisory group (who will advise on the feasibility of the application). Where required further advice from Head of School may also be sought.
  4. Where HEE KSS agrees to support, funds can only be released on the basis of matching funds from the employer (applies to article 14 top up funds only).
  5. Funds will always be paid to the employer not to the individual and overseas travel and accommodation will not be funded.

Further information is available on the NHS Medical Careers website here.


Embedded Clinical Leadership in Practice Scheme (eCLIPs)

This scheme is funded by the HEE KSS Deanery and supported through the SAS Doctor Committee. The tailored eCLiPs programme is offered to support SAS psychiatrists in their leadership development for one year, commencing in January 2020. 

eCLiPs is designed to build participants’ confidence, knowledge and essential skills to take on the challenges of medical leadership. Participants are assigned to a ‘live’ work-based project matched to their interests and skill set, which is sponsored within their trust by a senior leader.

Previous projects have involved quality improvement (QI), service redesign and clinical IT/analytics perspectives. eCLiPs provides access to leadership tools, coaching, and tuition through a modular leadership development learning support programme. This includes classroom based learning, peer to peer mentoring, NHS Leadership Academy e-learning, use of Healthcare Leadership Model 360 degree feedback tool and group/1:1 supervision and reflection. To find out more, view the eCLIPs film.


Upskilling programme for SAS doctors working in emergency departments

HEE KSS will be running another upskilling programme for middle grade doctors working in emergency departments. This year, an element of the programme will be delivered via e-learning.

Please note that the allocation of places will be first come and first served basis.


SAS Doctors development funding guidance

Please note the SAS Doctors guidance is not exhaustive and may be subject to change in the future in keeping with national and regional priorities.

Funding guidance process

  1. SAS funds are to be used in addition to the normal study leave budget of the Trust and are not meant to be a replacement for that.
  2. The use of funds can be a combination of HEE KSS and Trust-based activities.
  3. It should generally be used to fund for specific career development opportunities as opposed to maintaining current professional practice, which should be funded by the Trusts’ study leave budget. So conference attendance would not normally be funded.
  4. The SAS Doctors funding will be subjected to strict and regular scrutiny measures.
  5. The SAS Tutors/ Trust Leads should discuss the priority of allocation of funding with the SAS doctors and any special needs/ developmental requirements should be in keeping with the departmental and Trust objectives. DMEs should be kept up to date with the local requirements.
  6. Allocation is not generally for the individual SAS doctors, which allows the funds to be used more flexibly.
  7. This funding is to be used for the development of Staff Grade doctors, Specialty Doctors and Associate Specialists who are in substantive posts.
  8. This funding is not for locum posts.
  9. The SAS Tutors/ Trust Leads, in consultation with the SAS doctors in their Trusts can organise local study days and courses which would be offered to SAS doctors in the region.

The following categories are usually not funded by HEE KSS from SAS developmental funds:

  • Fees for Article 14/CESR applications
  • Travel expenses including substinence allowances and overseas courses
  • Back fill for posts
  • Courses which are funded centrally by HEE KSS
  • ATLS/APLS/Paediatrics life support courses (not an exhaustive list)- these are usually through trust funds
  • MSc courses – the SAS doctor and the trust need to be aware that funding is only for one year. There should not be an expectation that funding will follow in subsequent years as it is subject to the allocation of future funding
  • In accordance to guidance from COPSAS group, Developmental funds are restricted to doctors in the SAS grade, which includes Staff Grade, Associate Specialists and Specialty doctors and cannot be extended to other non-standard grades or trust appointments
  • Leadership courses which are already delivered by HEE KSS
  • RCP Educational Supervisor Training (formerly known as QESP) which is delivered in conjunction with HEE KSS.