Your training will be supported by the Foundation Programme Curriculum and you must gain all the competences detailed in the curriculum before you can complete the Foundation Programme. This section explains more about your education and training, assessments and your Foundation Programme e-Portfolio.
Foundation Programme Curriculum
This Curriculum reflects a developmental approach to postgraduate medical education. Under the Curriculum, foundation doctors have to demonstrate that they are competent in a number of areas including communication and consultation skills, patient safety and team work as well as the more traditional elements of medical training.
The framework for this structured two-year training programme gives foundation doctors exposure to a range of career placements across a broad spectrum of specialties, including accident & emergency, obstetrics & gynaecology and anaesthetics.
You will be assessed against the competences in the Curriculum and you should keep all of your assessments (not just the good ones) in your Foundation Programme e-Portfolio. Click here to download a list of competences that you will be expected to gain during your F1 and F2 years.
Foundation Programme Curriculum 2010 Resource
This resource aims to assist foundation doctors in improving their knowledge and understanding of the generic and clinical topics as set out in the Foundation Programme Curriculum 2010; use of it by educational supervisors, clinical supervisors and other key members involved in delivering foundation training is also encouraged.
The document holds a wealth of web links and guidance notes, and draws on a range of sources. However, we are always looking for ways to improve and update it so please email any suggestions for additional sources to enquiries@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk
Key Meetings
You are required to meet with your clinical and educational supervisors at regular intervals throughout your training. The table below shows what you should be doing at each stage of a placement, including the meeting you should have and the forms you should complete.
| Timing | Foundation Doctor | Education supervisor & foundation doctor | Clinical supervisor & foundation doctor |
| Recommended in first week of placement, but must be completed within three weeks (mandatory) |
Review Curriculum Review Personal & Professional Plan (PDP) Sign educational agreement/conditions of taking up a training post (at the beginning of your foundation programme) Sign health declaration (at the beginning of each training year) Sign probity declaration (at the beginning of each training year) |
PDP reviewed and completed Initial meeting form completed |
Review PDP and discuss placement specific objectives Clinical supervisor's induction form completed |
| Thereafter |
Continue reflective practice Gather evidence of achievements |
||
| Mid-point of placement (desirable - either with clinical or educational supervisor) |
e-portfolio reviewed PDP amended Mid-point review form completed |
e-portfolio reviewed PDP amended Mid-point review form completed
|
|
| Thereafter |
Continue reflective practice Gather evidence of achievements |
||
| Within last three weeks of placement (mandatory) |
Review e-portfolio Clinical supervisor's report completed |
||
| End of placement (mandatory) |
Reflect on achievements and remaining personal and professional development needs |
Progress reviewed End of placement review form completed |
|
| Mid-year review (desirable) |
Reflect on achievements and remaining personal and professional development needs |
Portfolio reviewed Mid-year review of progress form completed |
|
| End of year (mandatory) |
Ensure that e-portfolio is up-to-date |
Review e-portfolio Complete end of placement form |
Review e-portfolio Clinical supervisor's report completed for final placement |
Foundation Programme e-Portfolio
All foundation doctors now have access to an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio). For more information please go to the E-Portfolio page
Assessment and assessment tools
Workplace-based assessment and feedback are central to the philosophy of foundation training. Regular assessment ensures you are progressing, provides documentary evidence of your achievements and can be used to identify any problems you are having early on. The goal is to help you provide better care to patients; and to help you strengthen any areas of weakness that are identified.
You will be assessed against the standard of competence that is expected of a doctor completing the F1 year. This means that, in your first days as a foundation doctor, you may not reach the standard required. Don’t worry, this is to be expected and is NOT a failure. The assessments are designed to measure your progress through the year. At the end of F1, you will be expected to have progressed to a satisfactory level.
Below is a list of the six assessment tools applying to F1 doctors commencing in August 2010.
- Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX)
- Team Assessment of Behaviour (TAB)
- Case-Based Discussion
- Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)
- Core Procedures (formlery the Procedural Logbook)
- Developing the clinical teacher assessment
To see a sample PDF of what each form looks like please go to the E-Portfolio page.
