RCOG Curriculum, Progression and Trainee Resources
Throughout training the national curriculum as prescribed by the RCOG is followed.
This curriculum currently comprises of the core curriculum including ultrasound training which is designed to ensure trainees develop the skills they need to use and understand ultrasound in clinical O&G practice. Trainees are required to pass Part 1 MRCOG to progress from ST2 to ST3. Part 2 and 3 MRCOG are required to progress from ST5 to ST6. The annual expectation of educational progress is assessed at Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP). The minimum requirements can be found in the RCOG training matrix.
In the last 2 years of the training programme trainees undertake Advanced Training Skills Modules (ATSMs) or Sub-Speciality Training (SST) to develop the high-level skills they will need for a consultant post in their specialist area of interest.
It is likely that there will be a new RCOG curriculum being launched in 2019 with a new portfolio platform to support this. Trainees will be informed in this change as information is available from the RCOG and supported in the process of using the new portfolio platform.
This section of the website is designed to contain resources for prospective and current trainees in order to successfully progress through the RCOG curriculum.
The RCOG provides all new trainees with an ePortfolio to allow practical, portable recording of competency development.
When a trainee joins the Trainee Register the RCOG will email trainees with how to access the ePortfolio.
For further information on the RCOG ePortfolio please click HERE.
Useful info:
essential-curriculum-2024-guide.pdf (rcog.org.uk)
SITMs: registration and completion | RCOG
special-interest-training-2024-definitive-document.pdf (rcog.org.uk)
SIPMs: registration and completion | RCOG
O&G Curriculum 2024 | Special Interest Professional Modules (SIPMs) | RCOG
The Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) process is the means by which doctors in training are reviewed each year to ensure that they are offering safe, quality patient care, and to assess their progression against standards set down in the RCOG curriculum and RCOG training matrix.
Information on understanding how to prepare for your ARCP, the ARCP meeting and how to intepret your ARCP outcome can be found HERE.
ARCP documentation is an important component of authorisation that is recorded as evidence for your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
Further information regarding the ARCP process can be found HERE.
Our training programme welcomes requests to consider time Out of Programme (OOP).
If you are considering time OOP this should be discussed with the Training Programme Director and your Educational Supervisor as early as possible.
Time OOP is a privilege and is granted on an individual basis at the discretion of the Training Programme Director, Head of School and Health Education England (HEE).
For further information please visit HERE.
Our training programme welcomes requests to consider LTFT training.
Further information can be found HERE.
HEEoE provide a fantastic support system for trainees that are struggling with any aspect of their development including exams, clinical ability, communication, professional development.
Further information can be found HERE.
To ensure all trainees are clinically confident and fully supported when returning to training following a sustained period of absence, HEE EoE is committed to offering a number of mechanisms in order to support the return to clinical practice.
These include:
Individualised SuppoRTT plan
Access to ring fenced places on pre-existing specialty specific courses and regional teaching days
Period of enhanced shadowing 2 weeks prior to the trainee’s return date
Return to Clinical Practice Days
A contribution towards childcare costs when attending shared parental leave in touch (SPLIT) days & keeping in touch (KIT) days may be available
Please see below feedback from one of our trainees Natasha Reed about her experience with RTW in the EOE deanery:
"I just wanted to write with my feedback for the supported return to work 'package' which is now available through the deanery. I had a total of 18 months out of training for maternity leave and to accompany my husband study abroad, so nothing medical! I utilized the available KIT days and found these really useful for keeping up to date with clinical knowledge, seeing colleagues and continuing good working relationships.
I attended the Return to Clinical Practice study day at the deanery and found this very useful. It was nice to be around other trainees from other specialties and to hear their stories, and know that there were lots of other people in the same boat. The topics covered including childcare, LTFT, staying up to date were all very relevant! I felt much more confident about returning after this, and had lots of people to ask if I encountered any problems.
Also I met with my college tutor and arranged my enhanced shadowing period back at work for the first weeks. Having a policy available on the deanery website and a flowchart made this really easy to do and I was able to forward this to medical staffing and rota coordinator to make sure I was given appropriate duties. I was able to design a rota myself tailored to my learning needs and felt very supported during this time, whilst able to get back into work in a useful way.
All in all it was a very smooth transition back to work which was safe for patients and beneficial for me and I'm really enjoying being back at work!"
Further information can be found HERE.
The HEE EoE Reimbursement of Removal or Rotational Travel Expenses Policy aims to provide assistance to junior doctors that are required to relocate or commute due to the rotational nature of their training programme. It is not intended to fully cover the costs incurred due to a relocation or commute to new place of work, but aims to offer financial assistance when eligible.
Further information can be found HERE.
The APM has been developed by the RCOG to help trainees develop professional, non-clinical skills in a structured training package. The APM can be undertaken at any stage of career development from specialty trainee through to consultant level.
Clinical Research APM will provide an alternative option for completing the research component for those O&G trainees who are undertaking subspecialty training and who are not research exempt.
The APM is not required to be eligible for CCT and does not replace an ATSM (i.e. Two ATSM are still mandatory to obtain a CCT).
There is no named regional preceptor for the APM. The application should be signed by the APM ACADEMIC EDUCATIONAL SUPERVISOR who is in charge of training (and he/she has sought approval by ATSM Director).
Please complete and sign the RCOG application form. Ensure the APM ES has signed the form and send it to erika.manzo@nhs.net, together with a brief description of how you intend to achieve the learning objectives set out in the APM.
- Understanding of clinical research methodology
- Competence to participate as an Investigator in Portfolio research studies
- Good Clinical Practice research certification
- Competence to undertake the critical review of a research topic/idea
- Understanding of medical statistics for clinical research
- Knowledge of participation in writing up research protocols and peer-reviewed paper
Once you have completed an APM, you’ll need to complete APM notification form available on the RCOG website.
You’ll need to sign the form, and also obtain signatures from:
- Your APM Academic Educational Supervisor
- Your clinical educational supervisor (for NTN holders only)
- Your regional ATSM Director (erika.manzo@nhs.net), together with the supporting evidence of how you have achieved the learning objectives.
