The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) looks at your progression through your year of training.  

An ARCP needs to take place annually, and at the end of each ST year; this can sometimes mean that you have more than one ARCP per year. For example, if you are going out of programme or starting maternity leave you will have an ARCP prior to the start of this or as soon as possible on your return. This will review the period from your last ARCP to the start of your OOP/paternity leave etc. Sometimes there are additional reasons that the panel may recommend that you have an additional ARCP in the year (e.g. moving up to the next level of training, or earlier completion of training) – the ARCP panel and/or your TPD recommending the additional review will have told you about this. You should be notified of the date of your ARCP at least 6 weeks beforehand. 

It is really important that you know what you need to do for your current year of training based on the PROGRESS curriculum and your own training needs, and look at this with your educational supervisor early on in your training post.  By working towards this throughout the year, and by keeping your ePortfolio organised, you should be prepared for your ARCP. 

Early in 2020, the 4 Statutory Education Bodies (SEBs) across the UK had discussed the disruption to training and the challenges caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.  Working with GMC they agreed that there needed to be changes to the ARCP s during this time to accommodate the challenges trainees (and trainers) were faced with in preparing and providing evidence for ARCPs.  The ARCPs are normally carried out in line with the Reference Guide for Postgraduate Foundation and Specialty Training in the UK (Gold Guide 8th Edition). Three derogations were agreed from the Gold Guide: composition of ARCP panels, new ARCP outcomes and the evidence to be considered by ARCP panels 

An agreement was reached for all specialties to wherever possible (and patient safely permitting) enable trainees to continue to progress through clinical training at the normal rate providing there were no concerns about their capabilities and competency acquisition pre-Covid (see Enabling Progression at ARCP).   

Following the SEBs guidance, the RCPCH put in place the following changes to paediatric ARCPs: 

• Defining critical progression points for each Specialty Training Programme.  The RCPCH defined critical progression points as the end of level 1 (ST3 trainees moving into ST4) and end of level 3 (trainees completing training and about to CCT) 

• Prioritisation of ARCPs for trainees at these key progression points in their training and for trainees where there are pre-existing concerns about their clinical capability/fitness to practice. 

• Defining the use of minimum curriculum requirements and pared down evidence which are compatible with maintaining patient safety for each year of training to inform when a trainee can progress.  The RCPCH has issued specific guidance for each level of training (there is a section on this further down). 

• The composition of ARCP panels has been changed to allow a minimum of 2 panel members. All panels will include the Head of School and/or Training Programme Director. 

• Two new ARCP Outcomes-Outcome 10.1 and 10.2  have been introduced, which are to be used where a trainee was achieving progress and developing competencies and capabilities at the expected rate previously (prior to the 17th of March 2020) but this has been curtailed or disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

For all ARCPs up to and including Spring 2021 we will continue to use an abridged RCPCH COVID-19 Educational Supervisor Report. This is trainee-led and will reduce the time required for completion for both parties. (Sample ES Form enclosed). 

ST3 middle grade suitability: compensatory evidence in absence of MRCPCH 

In addition to the educational supervisor report, grid trainees should also ensure that they have a CSAC progression report on Kaizen that has been completed within 6 months of the date of the ARCP.  This is required annually for sub-specialty trainees. 

Grid trainees will receive their ARCP outcome based on the recommendation from their CSAC progression report and their general level 3 progression  Remember to keep putting evidence on your ePortfolio tagged to both your specialty curriculum and also the level 3 generic curriculum. 

Please contact your CSAC ASAP to arrange a CSAC review with a recommendation for the subspecialty component of ARCP outcome if you have not had one recently. 

An academic supervisor report is necessary to document your academic progress through the year. If any time has been agreed to count toward your training and CCT, please state this and upload the approval letter from the Regional Adviser. During the pandemic, you may not have been able to undertake your research and may have been redeployed into a clinical service. This will need to be discussed with your TPD outside of your ARCP. 

All trainees on OOPE, OOPR and OOPT should also complete the Form R and CCT calculator as well asthe Exams & Courses Pro Forma. 

Trainees on OOPC should complete and submit a Form R. 

Trainees who are not currently actively in the programme due to parental leave/ long-term sick leave are not required to maintain their ePortfolio or participate in the ARCP process.  We will still require you to submit a Form R. 

You will be issued with an Outcome 0 and the relevant ‘N’ code to indicate why you were not reviewed this year. 

At the time that the ARCP panel conducts the eportfolio review, all necessary assessments and reports etc. must be clearly evident. If this is not the case, trainees will be issued with an Outcome 2 or infrequently, an Outcome 5. 

 An Outcome 5 is an outcome issued when trainees have not provided evidence of all of the requirements for a satisfactory outcome. 

The outcome summary will specify what requirements have not been met/ what evidence is missing. 

Trainees have 2 weeks from the date on which the Outcome 5 is issued in which to submit the outstanding information requested 

The ARCP panel chair will then review the eportfolio, complete another ARCP form and hopefully issue a satisfactory outcome. Failure to provide the evidence will result in an Outcome 2 or 3. 

Outcome 1 
Satisfactory progress-achieving progress and the development of competencies at the expected rate 

Outcome 2 
Development of specific competencies required-Additional training time not required 

Outcome 3 
Inadequate progress-Additional training time required 

Outcome4 
Released from training programme-With or without specified competencies 

Outcome 5 
Incomplete evidence presented-Additional training time may be required. You will have 2 working weeks from your ARCP to provide the required evidence in order for you to receive a satisfactory outcome. 

Outcome 6 
Gained all required competencies-will be recommended as having completed the training programme and recommended for the award of a CCT 

Outcome 8 
Out of Programme for clinical experience (OOPE) research (OOPR) or a career break (OOPC) 

N Codes 
No Outcome issued as trainee is not actively in the training programme (parental leave or other statutory leave)