ARCP panels

The main panels are held in June and July each year as, for most, the year end is in August. For registrars who are out of phase, there are panels held every two months. The relevant panel for you will be the one that is within eight weeks of your year end.

You should receive notification via the eportfolio but you are advised to contact your Area Programme office (you can via this website) to ensure that you are listed. Remember that your progress through training depends on the ARCP panel.

In 2012, the main ARCP panels will be held on 14 and 21 June for ST3s, 28 June and 5 July for ST2s, and 12 and 19 July for ST1s. All trainees whose year end is August should ensure that they have had the educational supervision meeting at the right time - between eight and two weeks before the panel.

Remember that it is your responsibility to arrange the meeting with your educational supervisor. You should not wait until you are chased though, if you are offered a date by your ES, you should make every effort to attend. The same applies to the six monthly ESR which should be in late November or early December in time for the relevant panel.

Those trainees who are out of phase, usually as a result of maternity or sickness leave, should check their dates with the eportfolio or you can ask our office. Dates for other panels in 2012 are 9 February, 8 March, 19 April, 23 August, 11 October and 3 December. For further information and advice, download the latest Deanery ARCP newsletter.

The ARCP panel process ensures careful review of all eportfolios to check that all workplace based assessment tasks have been achieved and that entries are suitably thorough and reflective. The judgements are made by an external panel (from another part of the West Midlands rather than Herefordshire or Worcestershire). The panel members will not know you and can only make objective assessments based on what is in your eportfolio.

Most trainees will be judged to be making satisfactory progress or have completed training successfully. Information should be available on the eportfolio shortly afterwards.

Those with unsatisfactory outcomes may be required to attend for an interview on the day of the panel so YOU MUST ENSURE THAT YOU ARE AVAILABLE ON THAT DAY. Remember that your career may depend on it.

Vic Schrieber attended each of the scheme residential in September to let trainees know about the requirements for workplace based assessment and ARCP. His presentation is available for download here.

R7 form

Before you start your ST2 or 3 GP placement, you must complete the R7 form. You can download it from this website by clicking on the hyperlink above. It must be completed by the trainee, countersigned by the trainer and sent, as it says on the form, to the HWGPE office.

Do not ignore the performers list question. You cannot work as a registrar in a general practice if you are not on the performers list. If you are on the list, say so. If not, take it as a reminder to apply. If you don’t know how to get onto the list, the manager at your practice will explain what to do.

Remember, if you don’t send in the properly completed form in good time, you won’t get paid (neither will the practice and that will upset them).

Study leave claim form

There is now a form for trainees in GP posts to claim study leave course fees. (If you are in a hospital-based post, ask your clinical supervisor and the clinical tutor.) The course must be relevant to your professional development in general practice. If in doubt, speak to one of the training programme directors (course organisers) for advice and approval before booking. You must also ensure that your practice agrees to you taking leave at the time. We would expect your current trainer to complete the clinical / educational supervisor section and your cluster TPD to complete the TPD section.

This claim is for reimbursement of fees that you have paid so you must send a receipt with the claim form. The maximum amount claimable per trainee per year is £300. In a six months post, normally, the limit would be £150. You can claim only the course fee. Travel and subsistence are not included

To download a form, click here. When completed, send it to the HWGPE office as directed on the form.