Working abroad during F2
Overview The overseas post F2 Trainee's commitments Approval process Overview F1 trainees who wish to undertake their second year of Foundation Training (F2), subject to achieving full or limited registration (with the GMC letter confirming eligibility for F1 training), outside the UK must obtain Deanery approval.   A deadline for submitting final approval is likely to be set in October: in the meantime, applicants who are interested in applying to train abroad in year two, should contact Dr Anne Edwards to discuss their proposed overseas placements.  Trainees should recognize that there are substantial administrative commitments to organizing F2 posts overseas and that they will be responsible for ensuring that relevant paperwork is processed by due deadlines. An alternative option available to trainees is to take a year out between FY1 and FY2.  Experience gained by trainees during the ‘gap year’ would not contribute towards foundation training.  Trainees should discuss possible plans with their Educational Supervisor and FTPD before raising them with Dr Edwards. The overseas placement must be certified as equivalent to an F2 placement undertaken in the UK and applicants must agree the following with their Foundation School Director: 1.    The educational objectives and assessment methods of the non-UK placement(s) in order to demonstrate that all the competencies required for satisfactory completion of the Foundation Programme in the UK can be achieved. 2.    How the non-UK placement will integrate with the UK foundation training. The F1 trainee must supply the following documentation to their Foundation School Director: Draft educational objectives for the non-UK placement and the overall plan for the integration of the non-UK placement with the second year of the UK foundation programme. The written commitment of the non-UK educational supervisor to work with the trainee in the completion of the Foundation Portfolio; detailed information from the supervisor as to the arrangements for clinical supervision. A job description, including weekly timetable. The trainee’s written commitment to completion of the Foundation Portfolio during the placement. The Overseas Post 1.    Prospective approval of an overseas placement for F2 training will require the overseas hospital to provide evidence that: it delivers high quality training programmes for doctors at a similar stage of experience it is in a position to enable UK F2 doctors to develop skills and achieve the required F2 competencies it can deliver the F2 curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk) it will provide appropriate clinical and educational supervision it will provide a named educational supervisor/trainer who will provide supervision/mentorship for the F2 doctor and ensure that, with colleagues, the F2 doctor will undertake the necessary assessments it will provide the doctor with access to career advice and support 2.    Programmes that will be considered for approval must usually be for one year, and should include: substantive posts in at least two, and ideally three but no more than four, specialties one post in an acute speciality – for example Accident and Emergency or Medical Admissions unit 3.    The Doctor must whilst in the placement, cover the topics outlined in the F2 curriculum including:  Management of the acutely ill patient Decision-making through communication with patients Team-working and communicating with colleagues Understanding consent and explaining risk Managing risk and complaints and learning from them Ethics and law as part of clinical practice Using evidence in the best interest of patients Taking responsibility for the future of healthcare: teaching others effectively Patient safety and quality improvement 3.    The doctor must undertake a supervised audit project. 4.    A record must be kept of all annual, sickness and study leave. This should be forwarded to the Foundation School Director. 5.    A report on the Doctor’s progress should be agreed with the Doctor and sent back to the Foundation School Director at agreed intervals (eg 4 monthy if the placements are for 4 months) 6.    The Foundation School Director must be notified if there are any significant educational or training concerns. The F2 trainee's commitment whilst training abroad 1.    The doctor seeking to undertake F2 outside the UK must agree to: continue to complete their learning portfolio undertake all assessments and submit to Sheffield follow the F2 curriculum keep in contact with their Foundation School Director 2.    The doctor must obtain evidence that: the F2 competencies have been achieved; they have attended regular educational meetings with the Clinical and Educational supervisors, they have completed  360º appraisal and other assessments, they have attended teaching sessions and/or any other educational activities.  The trainee should also be assessed in accordance with documentation required by the overseas programme. Through the log book that the F2 curriculum has been delivered 3.    The Educational portfolio must be kept during the year and this must be submitted at appropriate and agreed times to the trainee’s Foundation School Director. 4.    The doctor must also undertake the assessments that are required by the local (overseas) programme 5.    The Doctor needs to be aware that sometimes between appointment to a placement overseas and taking up the post (as well as during the placement itself) fundamental changes – such as to the clinical content of the post, the consultants and educational supervisors, the rota worked, the educational component, even the hospital involved – can occur.  It is the responsibility of the trainee to notify any such changes as soon as possible to the Foundation School Director.  Failure to do so may threaten the successful completion of the placement. The approval process Application should be made by submitting an Application to work abroad during F2  form and a Host Insititution Agreement Form along with the relevant documentation to the Foundation School Director.  Completed applications and supporting documentation should be submitted to the Foundation School Director by the end of January proceeding the F2 year, e.g. 31 January 2007 for F2 posts in 2007-8.   Please note that retrospective approval will not be granted. The application must be approved by both the Foundation School Director and Postgraduate Dean.  If the application is approved by the Dean, he will notify both the Foundation School Director and trainee that satisfactory completion of the non-UK training will normally be accepted towards the Foundation Programme. On completion of the overseas placement the Foundation School Director will, if satisfied that the training has been completed in accordance with 1 and 2 above, notify the Post-graduate Dean and send written confirmation to the trainee that the placement can contribute to the Foundation Programme.