F1

1. Where can I find out more about the Foundation Programme?
2. What happens in my Foundation Year 1 (F1)?
3. How will my competence be assessed?
4. What is in the Foundation Programme e-Portfolio?
5. Who has access to my e-Portfolio?
6. What study time will I get in F1?
7. When will I get full registration with the GMC?
8. What help for the disabled is available on the Foundation Programme?

F2

1. Can I apply for an F2 programme if I have not done an F1 year?
2. Is F2 structured differently to F1?
3. How are rotations allocated in my F2 year?
4. Will I have a placement in primary care?
5. What F2 placements are available?
6. What if I satisfy the competences before the end of the two years?
7. What if I do not satisfy the competences by the end of my F2 year?
8. What if my domestic responsibilities require me to change foundation school or deanery?
9. What if I move abroad after graduating from medical school, start training abroad and decide to return to the UK?
10. What if I only want to work for one year and then travel?
11. Can I still do the Foundation Programme if I want to work part-time?
12. What happens if I have to take sick leave?
13. What should I do if I'm asked to perform procedures which are inappropriate or beyond my competence?
14. Am I allowed to undertake F2 abroad?

F1

1. Where can I find out more about the Foundation Programme?

   The new edition of the Rough Guide to the Foundation Programme (2010 provides a comprehensive overview of what you can expect during your Foundation Programme. It's also a good idea to read the FP Curriculum (2010) and FP Reference Guide (2010). These resources will help you understand what is expected of you, how the assessments work and how to gather evidence for your e-Portfolio.

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2. What happens in my Foundation Year 1 (F1)?

   In most cases, you will undertake three four-month placements in different specialties. For each one, you will need to show you meet all the outcomes of the FP Curriculum (2010) which can be achieved through assessments, teaching programmes and learning on the wards. You will also be advised on what is required from you to complete F1 and to be recommended to the GMC for full registration. The FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 10.-10.13)) contains full details of all these requirements.

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3. How will my competence be assessed?

   There are six assessment tools which have been designed to measure your progress and enable structured feedback:

   • Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX)
   • Team Assessment of Behaviours (TAB)
   • Case-Based Discussion (CBD)
   • Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)
   • Procedural log book
   • Developing the clinical teacher assessment.

   Each assessment you undertake should be recorded in your e-Portfolio. Click here for more details. Please note, these tools won't be used as part of the specialty selection procedure but you may be invited to use your e-Portfolio to provide evidence of your commitment to a particular specialty.

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4. What is in the Foundation Programme e-Portfolio?

   Your e-Portfolio will help you manage your learning and demonstrate your progress. It will enable you to show that you are meeting the requirements for satisfactory completion of F1. It contains:

   • Personal and Professional Development Plan
   • Record of meetings with your educational and clinical supervisor(s)
   • Workplace-based assessments
   • Reflective reports and other evidence
   • Sign-off documents

   It should also include summaries of feedback from your educational and clinical supervisor(s), significant achievements or difficulties. It is your responsibility to keep your e-Portfolio up to date. Without it, you will not be able to satisfactorily complete F1 and the Foundation Programme as a whole. Your e-Portfolio will be reviewed at the end of each year to check whether you have reached the required level of competence to progress. Your Foundation Training Programme Director or Tutor (FTPD/T) is responsible for this and will use your e-Portfolio as evidence in this process

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5. Who has access to my e-Portfolio?

   Your clinical supervisor, educational supervisor, Foundation Training Programme Director or Tutor (FTPD/T) and Foundation School Director (FSD) all have access to your e-Portfolio. However, there are some sections which you can keep as private such as your reflective learning reports.

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6. What study time will I get in F1?

   You will have up to three hours per week of protected ('bleep-free') teaching through an in-house, formal educational programme and this time may be aggregated to release whole days for generic training during F1. You are not entitled to study leave in F1 but you may be able to undertake tasters towards the end of the year. See the Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 9.27-9.30) for more information.

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7. When will I get full registration with the GMC?

   In order to apply for GMC registration, you will need a 5.1 Document and a Certificate of Experience (both issued by your FTPD/T and FSD). You are responsible for applying for full registration yourself; the form and comprehensive details are on the GMC website.

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8. What help for the disabled is available on the Foundation Programme?

   Current UK laws on employment and equal opportunities apply to the Foundation Programme. Further information and guidance can be found in the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 8.68-8.70)

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F2

1. Can I apply for an F2 programme if I have not done an F1 year?

   Yes. You can apply for a stand-alone F2 programme as long as you are eligible for full registration with the GMC. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 4.1-4.15) more information.

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2. Is F2 structured differently to F1?

   Like F1, your F2 rotation will typically consist of three four-month placements. You may have increased opportunities to undertake embedded tasters which involve working for a week in a specialty that would not normally be available to you. The UKFPO has published guidance aimed at supporting the development of high-quality tasters in both F1 and F2 years – click here for more details.

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3. How are rotations allocated in my F2 year?

   If you are in a two-year Foundation Programme (rather than a stand-alone F2 programme), then your rotation will be allocated in one of two ways. Some foundation schools allocate both years of the Foundation Programme at the outset; others allow F1 doctors to express their preference for F2 placements some time during their F1 year. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 4.1-4.7) for more information on this process.

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4. Will I have a placement in primary care?

   If you wish to undertake a placement in primary care, you should check the websites of the schools you wish to work in as there is considerable variation across the UK. See individual school's websites for more information.

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5. What F2 placements are available?

   Some foundation schools have placements available in acute trusts, mental health trusts, and in some areas, general practice, academic medicine and specialties that are actively recruiting, such as psychiatry, radiology and chemical pathology. See individual school's websites for more information.

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6. What if I satisfy the competences before the end of the two years?

   Even if you satisfy the clinical competences prior to completion of the F2 year, you cannot be signed off before the end of the year. One of the compulsory requirements for sign-off is that you have completed one year of foundation training at the level of F2. If you complete an F2 stand alone rotation, you will qualify for your Foundation Achievement of Competence Document (FACD) at the end of the year provided you have met all of the requirements for satisfactory completion of the Foundation Programme. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 10.15-10.22) for more details.

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7. What if I do not satisfy the competences by the end of my F2 year?

   The vast majority of doctors will complete the Foundation Programme successfully within two years. If you are having problems, these will have been identified by your foundation school which will support you. It may mean you are required to spend additional time as a F2 doctor. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 10.29-10.31) for more details.

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8. What if my domestic responsibilities require me to change foundation school or deanery?

   Foundation doctors wishing to change foundation schools will need to satisfy the criteria laid down in the document entitled Inter-Foundation School Transfers. Click here to download this document.

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9. What if I move abroad after graduating from medical school, start training abroad and decide to return to the UK?

   Specialist and GP training programmes will only be open to those who have acquired and satisfactorily demonstrated foundation competences. Prospective approval must be sought from your medical school and postgraduate deanery for your training as a provisionally registered doctor abroad to be recognized. Many medical schools and postgraduate deaneries will not prospectively approve training as a provisionally registered doctor abroad. Unapproved training abroad will result in you having to undertake your pre-registration year again regardless of how much training abroad you have undertaken.

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10. What if I only want to work for one year and then travel?

    The Foundation Programme is designed to deliver generic competences in a range of settings over a two year period. It would be advisable to complete the whole of the two-year programme before you take a break. However, if you wish to take a break after F1, you should first discuss it with your educational supervisor to see if you can take time out of programme or alternatively, you can resign from your post.

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11. Can I still do the Foundation Programme if I want to work part-time?

    If you have a well-founded personal reasons for wishing to work part-time you should discuss your requirements before you begin your foundation training with the person responsible for flexible/part-time working in your deanery/foundation school. It is possible to move from part-time to full time-training (and the other direction) within your two year Foundation Programme. Reasons for undertaking part-time training include: disability or ill-health; caring for an ill/disabled partner, relative or other dependent; or childcare. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 8.60-8.67) for more details.

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12. What happens if I have to take sick leave?

    You should inform your employing organization (eg. trust or board) if you have to take sick or compassionate leave and follow their processes. If you take more than four weeks extra leave on top of your annual leave entitlement you will have to extend your time as a foundation doctor. You should discuss the implications of taking sick leave with your educational supervisor or FTPD/T. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 10.32-10.35) for more details.

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13. What should I do if I'm asked to perform procedures which are inappropriate or beyond my competence?

    Patient safety is of paramount importance and you should only undertake tasks in which you are competent or are learning under supervision. If you are at all concerned, discuss the situation with your supervisor using GMC guidance if necessary. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 9.37-9.42) for more details.

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14. Am I allowed to undertake F2 abroad?

    If you wish to do this, you must discuss it with your foundation school during F1 as there is considerable variation across foundation schools. See the FP Reference Guide (2010) (Paras 7.38-7.40) for more details.

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