If you see yourself as a researcher, a medical educator, a Specialised Foundation Programme, SFP (formerly AFP) may be for you.

Specialised (formerly Academic) foundation doctors are required to follow the same curriculum and to meet the same foundation outcomes as other foundation doctors, but must also complete additional academic work within the same two-year period. Therefore, SFP applicants should have excellent clinical skills and a strong record of academic achievement.

The UKFPO has a helpful document on the additional competencies for the Academic programme

We have a variety of different academic programmes running within the East of England. These cover research, education and education/simulation. These are based in both our schools. We would suggest that all medical students consider where they would like their future career to lead, and consider applying for an academic programme with us as well as the standard foundation application. A taste of research, or an early exposure to educational principles may help direct the course of your future career, even if not directly academic!

Application:

Please carefully read the UKFPO applicants handbook.

You will need to complete the Specialised foundation application within the standard foundation application form. In the specialised application you can apply for 2 schemes [specialist units of application or SUoA]. These do not need to be part of the same foundation school that you rank for the general application

Our 3 specialist units of application in the East of England are:

Cambridge (CATO) - linking with DGH posts in F1 in either EAFS or EBH with the second year at Addenbrookes and a 4 month research block.

EoE Education (EOEEd) formerly EBH - based at either EAFS or EBH dependent on your ranking, with an educational F2

Norwich (NATO) - based entirely within EAFS at NNUH

Please note that 2 units of specialist application  are spread across the East of England rather than specifically to one of our foundation schools. However, for ease of review, we have then highlighted this as foundation schools below.

The specialised programme has additional White Space Questions on the ORIEL form, which are marked as part of a shortlisting process. 

IMPORTANT: ALL White Space Questions are mandatory. 

However, within the 'Programme Interests' section there are 3 elements which require a yes or no answer.  If 'Yes' is selected further questions/information required will appear.  These are Research, Leadership, Education and Teaching.  If 'No' is selected no further request for information will appear.  As some or all the answers to these questions may be required for the shortlisting process specifically by Norwich, Cambridge or EOEEd, these are listed below. 

The extra White Space Question 'Programme Interests' required by each vacancy for shortlisting purposes are set out below.

You are required to answer 'Yes' to the following programme interest choices for the vacancy or vacancies you are applying to.

Norwich - Research

Cambridge - Research

EOEEd - Leadership, Education and Teaching

If you are also applying to an SFP vacancy in another region please check their website for specific 'programme interest' use information.

Successfully shortlisted candidates are invited to interview by the respective specialist team. We are not able to share with applicants the specific shortlisting criteria for any of the posts.  Each of our three specialist units of application have their own shortlisting criteria and this is not undertaken by the Foundation School. Applicants are not required to upload a curriculum vitae with their application.

All interviews for 2023 places will take place remotely. 

 Essex, Beds and Herts Foundation School (EBHFS)

 EBHFS are pleased to offer two programmes giving an educational specialist placement, and one giving a research placement. The EoEE is the educational specialist unit of application, and replaces the previous name of EBH now placements in East Anglia are included

 Educational  SFP - East of England Educational specialist SUoA [note this is the same specialist unit of application for EBH and EAFS, placements are within the East of England]

Your F1 programme is like the normal scheme, though you may be asked to consider and draft some elements of the project and teaching plan. You will also be asked to attend the general welcome and also the poster presentation.

You will complete a PGCert in your F2 year, where you will work approx 60% clinically and 40% in education on your PGcert, completing a project and working predominantly with your local education team, the hub and sim delivery teams and potentially some university teaching if agreed by HEI partner and trust. Please see the handbook below of the appropriate activities. Your trust will provide you with an academic supervisor who will complete the correct form to confirm that you have covered the requirements. Projects are usually pilot studies or evaluations and are discussed in F1 to find suitable projects, supervisors and review outcomes. The majority of your time is within your trust, improving and evaluating within the foundation programme.

• As part of a two year Foundation Programme, Anglia Ruskin University provide 8 Foundation doctors with placements at Basildon and Southend. At least 4 of these will be simulation based
• The University of Hertfordshire provide 6 foundation doctors with placements in F2, at East and North Herts or Luton.

Specialties include geriatric medicine, trauma and orthopaedics, vascular surgery, respiratory medicine and general practice.

Please see the prospectus available for both below.

Research SFP - Cambridge (CATO) [note that this research specialist unit of application has posts that commence at EAFS or EBHFS, placements are within the East of England]

Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge 

Foundation doctors with the opportunity to undertake a four month specialist research placement in F2 at Addenbrookes as part of a two year Foundation Programme. 

F1 is spent at E and N Herts, Bedford or at PAH, Harlow.

Please see the prospectus available below

 East Anglia Foundation School (EAFS)

 EAFS are pleased to offer one programme giving an educational academic placement, and two giving a research placement. 

Educational  SFP - East of England Educational specialist SUoA [note this is the same academic unit of application for EBH and EAFS, placements are within the East of England]

Your F1 programme is like the normal scheme, though you may be asked to consider and draft some elements of the project and teaching plan. You will also be asked to attend the general welcome and also the poster presentation.

You will complete a PGCert in your F2 year, where you will work approx 60% clinically and 40% in education on your PGcert, completing a project and working predominantly with your local education team, the hub and sim delivery teams and potentially some university teaching if agreed by HEI partner and trust. Please see the handbook below of the appropriate activities. Your trust will provide you with an academic supervisor who will complete the correct form to confirm that you have covered the requirements. Projects are usually pilot studies or evaluations and are discussed in F1 to find suitable projects, supervisors and review outcomes. The majority of your time is within your trust, improving and evaluating within the foundation programme.

As part of a two year Foundation Programme, University of East Anglia provide 8 foundation doctors with placements at Ipswich and Kings Lynn.

Please see prospectus below.

Although the following jobs 23/EAN/01/SFP/RCX00/01/04 – 07 and 23/EAN/01/SFPed/RGQ00/01-04 are recruited via the EBH AUoA, successful candidates will train under the EAFS while in post.

Research Specialist SFP -

Cambridge (CATO) [note that this research academic unit of application has posts that commence at EAFS or EBHFS, placements are within the East of England] Academic unit of application

 Norwich (NATO)  Specialist Unit of Application [based in EAFS only]

Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich provide 33 foundation doctors with the opportunity to undertake a four month specialist research placement in F2 as part of a two year Foundation Programme. The F1 programme is as standard, though you may be asked to consider your research options and attend some study dates. All the Norwich (NATO) programme is based at NNUH hospital for F1 and F2, however, the Cambridge (CATO) programme spends F1 at a number of DGH in EAFS including West Suffolk, Kings Lynn and Peterborough as well as EBH foundation school.

Specialties include medicine, surgery, neurosciences, perioperative medicine, general practice and public health. Please see prospectus below.

Please contact Foundationrecruitment.eoe@hee.nhs.uk with any queries.

• The interview structure at Cambridge consists of a single panel with both clinical and academic questions. The interview structure in Norwich consists of three different stations: a clinical scenario, critical appraisal of an RCT and research plans.The interview structure for the Education Academic Programme consists of a single panel with questions covering relevant experience. No presentation is required. Your interview will be a maximum of 15 minutes. Please note there is no written or reading element to the interviews.

Life following a specialised programme

We are keen in the East of England to promote your career in your specialist programme field. We have an array of clinical fellow posts advertised, which are very successful. Many Academic trainees moved to do a PhD , or Dip Ed and MEd. In our region we support clinical fellows in simulation and education to work less than full time clinically, and the rest in education. Our educational fellows help support the specialist educational foundation doctors, so will be able to provide you with careers help, as well as project help and a wider faculty.