NHSE East of England is co-ordinating the national process for recruiting trainees into Community Sexual and Reproductive Health ST1 level posts.
Community Sexual and Reproductive Health ST1 interviews will be hosted online and candidates will be able to preference all available posts in Community Sexual and Reproductive Health ST1 across England and Scotland.
This is for completion of CCT/ CESR subject to satisfactory progression.
Before applying please read the Specialty Training person specification to assess your suitability for the post.
In the event of further training opportunities becoming available within this specialty in any of the programmes managed by NHSE East of England, shortlisted candidates may also be considered for these posts.
Please upload all required evidence of competences to the Oriel application form when completing the application form online.
How does the recruitment process work?
Applications must be made using the online application system, Oriel. Applications can only be accepted if made through the online system – we cannot accept postal/e-mail applications.
Once the application window has closed, applicants will have their eligibility assessed against a range of essential criteria outlined in the person specification.
Multi -Specialty Recruitment Assessment: All eligible applicants to Community Sexual and Reproductive Health will be required to take a Multi - Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA). The test is a mandatory computer based assessment, and candidates who fail to attend the test will be removed from the selection process. The tests are at Pearson Vue Centres.
Selection Centre – Please see Selection Centre tab further down for more details.
Please see the Specialty Recruitment Applicant Guide for more information.
Applications must be made using the online application system, Oriel. Applications can only be accepted if made through the online system – we cannot accept postal/e-mail applications. Some fields are mandatory and must be completed and some questions have a word limit. You will need to complete all parts of the Application Form (including the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion section, standard across all specialties) before you can submit your application.
Applications are equally open to those who may, either from the outset or subsequently, wish to train less than full time or job share.
Please ensure you have uploaded the necessary forms with your application if applicable to you, these could include:
- Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training 2024 (CREST) Please note the CREST 2024 must be attached at the time of submission and only the 2024 version will be accepted.
- Support for Reapplication to a Specialty Training Program
- Support for Continuing/Reapplication of Specialty Training in a Different Region
These forms are available on the Specialty Training Resource Bank:
Special Circumstances: If you are intending to apply with special circumstances please ensure you provide the evidence required within the national time frames. Please refer to the Specialty Training Special Circumstances webpage
You can only defer your start date due ot statutory reasons Maternity leave and Ill health.
You will need to SUBMIT your application form. Application forms that are completed but not submitted will NOT be considered.
Application forms will NOT be accepted after the deadline, whatever the reason. To ensure fairness to all candidates, there will be absolutely no exceptions to this rule. Candidates are advised to submit their application form well before the deadline.
NHSE East of England is unable to provide copies of application forms after the relevant recruitment period is completed. Therefore candidates are advised to keep a copy of their application form(s).
Once your application has been submitted you will receive an automatic reply from Oriel. This will also be visible in ‘my applications’ that you have submitted an application.
The application form is designed to be straightforward to complete. In some sections you may be asked for a ‘named Consultant’. If you did not work for a named Consultant, please enter the details of the relevant clinical/educational supervisor.
Support for Reapplication to CSRH
One of the declarations in the application form is has the applicant previously relinquished/ released/removed from any specialty or core training programme. If the applicant answers yes then they will need to provide full details on the relevant form below which has been signed by the region where training was previously undertaken and submit with their application form the form below.
Support for Reapplication to a Specialty Training Programme
Trainees currently working in the specialty, applying to continue their training in another region, without a break in service will be required to submit a Support for Reapplication of Specialty Training in a Different Region form below
Support for continuing specialty training in another region
References
Contact them at the earliest opportunity to check that they will be happy to support your application, and they will be available to do so within the application timeframe.
You will need to provide details, including up to date email addresses, of three referees who have supervised your clinical training within the past three years. If you are applying to more than one specialty, you may opt to nominate different referees for each specialty. If you have recently had a career break and cannot nominate referees from the past three years, then your referees must include your two most recent supervisors.
It is important that you confirm with your referees the email address that they would like you to provide on your application form. Referees will be contacted by email via Oriel with details of their referee accounts, so it is important that the contact details provided are correct.
If you are offered, and accept a training programme, your employer will not be able to issue a contract without references.
Conscientious Objection Statement
Doctors who, for reasons of conscientious belief, have reservations about aspects of sexual and reproductive health care should take particular care to make a detailed study of the entire curriculum in CSRH before considering an application to the Specialty Training Programme.
We would draw attention to the fact that the only exemptions relating to conscientious objection permitted within the curriculum are within CiP 8. Exemptions are permitted around participation in abortion only (in line with Section 4(1) of the 1967 Abortion Act). There are no exemptions to competencies relating to management of unplanned pregnancy, follow-up of women after abortion, nor to any knowledge components of the curriculum.
If potential candidates would like further advice on this matter they are encourage to contact the Specialty Development Officer (specialty@fsrh.org) at FSRH who will put them in contact with a Specialty Training Programme Director in their area for further assistance.
Who is eligible to apply?
Before applying to this specialty please refer to the CSRH Specialty Training Person Specification to assess your suitability for the post.
Demonstration of Foundation Competences
Please refer to the Specialty Training Foundation Competencies webpage for further detailed information.s
Due to the number of posts available in 2024 and selection centre capacity NOT ALL applicants will be invited to attend the selection centre. The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) will be used to determine the candidates invited to the selection centre. Following the results of the MSRA, candidates will be invited to the selection centre based on ranking order and places available. The number of candidates to be invited to interview in 2025 is currently TBC.
Previous experience in the specialty is not required for application to ST1, and so questions will reflect generic competences that you would be expected to have. As applicants for CSRH come from a range of backgrounds and experience ie: from Foundation to substantive posts in this and related specialties, the interview is not to test advanced knowledge as this would disadvantage less experienced candidates but should test generic skills required for clinical practice and leadership in this field.
Documents
Candidates will be required to provide photographic ID prior to the interview commencing ie, passport/driving licence
Interview structure:
One single 20 minute online video interview using Qpercom Vids Interviewing System. The panel will have two assessors, administrative support and lay representative input.
The interview will consist of the following four domains: -
1. Communication: (Presentation) Details to be provided in due course
2. Specialty Interest
3. Data Handling
4. Teamwork
The total marks possible will be 60 x 2 interviewers = 120 marks
Programme Allocation
Applicants will be asked to preference their preferred programmes on ORIEL, this will not be until nearer the interview date. The exact details of the programmes will be confirmed directly with the candidate by the appropriate Deanery should candidates be successful at interview and accept a post.
Successful candidates are allocated to regions based on their ranking, by their total score achieved and their preferences. For more information regarding the offers process please visit Specialty Training website
Offer of Employment and Pre-Employment Checks
The offer and allocation of a Programme referred to above is NOT an offer of employment. An employment contract detailing the terms and conditions of employment will be issued by the responsible employing organisation and is made subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks. The employing organisation will carry out a number of pre-employment checks before an offer of employment can be confirmed. These will include verification of identity, registration and qualifications, right to work (immigration), employment history and employment reference checks a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and an occupational health check. Some of these, verification of identity, registration and qualifications and right to work for example, may also be undertaken by the Deanery during the recruitment process.
Please note: Once you have been offered and have accepted a post in Round 1, Oriel will automatically withdraw your applications for other specialties that you have applied to within that round.
Feedback on your CSRH application will be provided at each stage of the recruitment process, this will be provided to you via Oriel or emailed from The Recruitment Team and QPERCOM. Please note that when your application status changes denoting at what stage you are in the recruitment process this will be displayed on ORIEL.
1. Longlisting - via Oriel
2. Multi - Specialty Recruitment Assessment - via Oriel/Email
3. Interview - via QPERCOM
How do I find out more about training in Community Sexual and Reproductive Health?
Information about the Specialty can be found on the FSRH website
How will I know that my submitted application has been received?
Once your application has been submitted you will receive an automatic reply from Oriel. This will also be visible in ‘my applications’ that you have submitted an application.
When is the NTN awarded?
The NTN is awarded on appointment to ST1.
Can I accept an offer of an ST1 post and defer the start date?
The start of training may only be deferred on statutory grounds (e.g. maternity leave, ill health). See the Applicants Guide for further information.
I will finish my FY2 year at the end of July 2024. I have not done any Community Sexual & Reproductive Health, can I still apply?
Yes, we would encourage you to apply at ST1 level. No prior experience is required for application to ST1.
When will the CCT or CESR (CP) be awarded?
The CCT (or equivalent CESR) will be awarded at the successful completion of a minimum of six years (wte) specialist training and the attainment of all the requisite components/competences of the programme and curriculum.
What is the difference between Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR)?
CCT: All specialty training programmes lead eventually to a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or other certificates which qualify you for entry to the Specialist or GP Register held by the General Medical Council (GMC), subject to the successful attainment of required competences. See the Gold Guide glossary section for details of various certificates.
Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR): CESR is an alternative qualification to the CCT for those who have undertaken a non-standard training pathway. It is awarded after an applicant has successfully applied to have their training, qualifications and experience assessed against the requirements for the CCT in which they have undertaken training (as this is a handbook for those in UK training reference has not been made to those applying in a non CCT specialty, for details of this evaluation please refer to the GMC website. The majority of trainees on standard training programmes will apply for a CCT.
Can I apply to other specialties as well?
Yes. This is purely for Community Sexual & Reproductive Health, but you are also able to apply for as many other specialties as you wish (using the relevant application process).