Workforce, training and education
Yorkshire and Humber

Yorkshire and the Humber Foundation School Director Welcome 
Dr Shane Clark, Interim Foundation School Director

Dear Foundation Trainee

Congratulations on your recent appointment to the Yorkshire and the Humber Foundation School (YHFS); we are part of a wider organisation called Health Education England, Yorkshire & the Humber (HEE YH).

We have compiled some vital information that will help you to prepare for and guide you through the early days of your foundation training programme and beyond.

There is some guidance on this page and links to other pages on this and other relevant websites with more detailed information. There is also a document with useful links at the bottom of the page.

Getting Prepared

Before you start your foundation programme, and in order to ensure that you are armed with as much information to help you succeed as an outstanding foundation trainee, we recommend that you read the following documents (these documents are available from the UKFPO "Resource Bank"):

The Rough Guide to the Foundation Academic Programme
The Foundation Programme Curriculum

Timeline, Applicants Handbook and other useful guidance

Foundation training used to have its own reference guide. This has now been incorporated into the Gold Guide

There is a copy of the Rough Guide to the Curriculum and the HEE Foundation Training Pack at the bottom of this page.

Overseas Induction / Trainees new to the NHS

We annually host an induction day for all non-UK medical school trainees and those new to the NHS. Please see the Overseas Induction/Trainees New to the NHS page on this website

Update of Personal Details

We know a lot of your personal information may have changed from when you completed your Oriel application whilst at university. If any of your personal details have changed, please let us know via the generic email address (foundation.yh@hee.nhs.uk) as soon as possible and also make sure you keep your ePortfolio up to date with a current email address. It is essential that you regularly maintain and check the email address that you have provided us. Failure to do so may mean that you miss important communications about your rotations, training, and ARCP’s.

Trust Induction

You will be contacted by your Trust with further information regarding your induction dates, and the National shadowing requirements. If you don’t hear from them, please contact the Postgraduate Centre Foundation Administrator at the Trust where you are commencing your foundation programme.  Your Trust is your employer not HEE. Mandatory “shadowing” takes place in the 4 days before your first F1 placement.

Organisation of Foundation Training in Yorkshire and the Humber

There are three foundation school groups or schemes in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Yorkshire and the Humber Foundation School (YHFS)
Health Education England
Yorkshire and the Humber (HEE YH)

West Yorkshire
(WY)
(Leeds Medical School)

East Yorkshire
(EY)
(Hull York Medical School)

South Yorkshire
(SYFS)
(Sheffield Medical School)

Airedale
Bradford (T)
Calderdale & Huddersfield
Harrogate
Leeds (T)
Mid-Yorkshire
LWYFT

Grimsby
Hull (T)
Scarborough
York (T)
Scunthorpe
TEWV
Humber

Sheffield (T)
Rotherham
Barnsley
Doncaster Bassetlaw
Sheffield Children's
SHSC
RDASH

Key: (T) This indicated that these hospitals are teaching hospitals

The Trusts within the schools work together on many issues, for example generic skills training and the process for transition between F1 and F2.

The Foundation School

Medical Schools and Local Education Training Boards (LETBs) around the country have formed Foundation Schools to allocate places in Foundation Programmes. The Foundation School brings together medical schools, the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, trusts, mental health trusts, GP practices and other organisations operating under the Postgraduate Dean.

It is the organisational unit responsible for the operational aspects of delivering Foundation Training Programmes and is responsible for the management of the organisational framework within which foundation training is delivered, ensuring that appropriate processes and protocols are in place.

Members of foundation school meet quarterly at group Foundation School Committee meetings (WY / SY / EY). The committees facilitate a coordinated approach across all Trusts, ensuring that the Foundation Reference Guide is implemented across the School. It also oversees the running of the Trust Programmes and sets the strategy for the development of programmes in line with national standards. Committee meetings are chaired by the Foundation School Director or one of the Deputy Foundation School Directors.

Each Trust or hospital will appoint foundation trainee representatives at F1 and F2 level to represent the views of foundation trainees at Foundation School Committees.

Local Education Providers

All Trusts have a Medical Education Centre, with experienced staff who provides information, support and advice for your Foundation Training. They should be your first port of call should you have any concerns regarding any aspect of your training. Responsibility for Foundation education and training is undertaken by the following roles:

Foundation Training Programme Directors (FTPD) are consultants appointed jointly by the Trust and HEE YH to ensure the delivery of the foundation programme curriculum in accordance with the standards set by the GMC. They are one of your key contacts within the Trust for all matters relating to foundation training.

The Director of Postgraduate Medical Education is appointed to provide educational leadership in the Trust, and they work closely with the FTPD.

Educational Supervisors

Every Foundation trainee will have a named Educational Supervisor, who is responsible for their training for the whole training year (F1 or F2). Responsibilities include:

1. Overseeing training, appraisal and progress with foundation curriculum
​2. Assisting the trainee to create and update their personal development plans
3. End of placement educational supervisor reports; end of year educational supervisor report
4. Where necessary, complete an additional action plan
5. Appraisal and sign off of relevant parts of the ePortfolio including specific curriculum sign off.

Clinical supervisors

Every foundation trainee will have a named Clinical supervisor for each post. This supervisor is responsible for:

1. The day to day clinical supervision of trainees during the working week
2. ​The provision of training and education opportunities
3. Providing constructive feedback and undertaking workplace-based assessments
4. Safe clinical oversight of trainees
5. Liaising with Placement Supervision Group to obtain feedback regarding the trainee’s performance in the post
6. The completion of an end of post assessment / report

Foundation School Administrators

Foundation administrators are your personal first point of contact for the following areas; face to face advice, ePortfolio queries, PEP days (booking, swaps etc.), completing your assessments, getting your sign off paperwork completed, talking to your Foundation Training Programme Director and any problems or concerns with your placement.

Foundation Learning ePortfolio

All foundation trainees use an online ePortfolio platform called Horus. If you are experiencing issues using the Horus ePortfolio, please first visit the Horus support site. This has lots of frequently asked questions and instructional videos.

The Foundation Learning ePortfolio has been designed to help foundation doctors plan and manage their Foundation Programme and get the most from the opportunities available. The portfolio is based around the Foundation Programme Curriculum. The Foundation Programme is driven by the foundation doctor, supported by supervisors. Within the ePortfolio you will find tools that will help identify your educational needs, set goals and plan how to achieve them.

The ePortfolio also contains:

1. Guidance around how you can demonstrate the competencies you have achieved
2. List of competencies required to successfully complete the Foundation Programme
3. Example forms to record meetings with your Educational Supervisor, reflective practice and self-appraisal
4. Personal development plan
5. ARCP forms
6. Revalidation form R

The ePortfolio will become a record of your achievement throughout your foundation training. When you set up your ePortfolio you must ensure that the Educational Agreement and Health and Probity Declarations are completed.

For each placement, it is mandatory to complete either; “Induction meeting with Clinical Supervisor”, “Initial Meeting with Educational Supervisor” and “End of placement review” OR “Combined: Induction meeting with Clinical Supervisor & Initial Meeting with Educational Supervisor” and “End of placement review” (this is more likely to be used if your ES and CS are the same person).  It is also strongly recommended that you complete the “Mid-point meeting” for each placement.

During these meetings your portfolio will be reviewed to ensure you are on target to complete each placement. These meetings will be recorded on your portfolio, which will also periodically be reviewed and audited by your Deputy Foundation School Director. At the end of each of your foundation programme years, you must complete an Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP). There is a guide to the ARCP process on the UKFPO website in the “Resource Bank”.

e-Learning for Healthcare’s (e-LfH) Foundation e-Learning Programme

This e-Learning Programme is a free resource available to all F1 and F2 doctors in the UK and currently comprises content relating to Foundation Induction, the Foundation Curriculum, Safe Prescribing, Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety and Infection Control. This resource will continue to expand to support the entire foundation curriculum.

Learning is accessed via the internet using a dedicated Learning Management System (LMS) which records progress in a secure online database. The programme is interactive and allows you to test your knowledge and get immediate feedback using images and cases that might be encountered during their clinical practice.

All trainees are provided with a username and password to access the programme via their website. This information is sent to your email address used to register on ORIEL.  Anyone who has not received login details should contact the support desk 

Towards the Future

F1 – F2 Transfer of Information Process

F1 and F2 posts in HEE YH are linked. You will know where your posts will be for the full duration of your 2-year foundation training. This is designed as a supportive process to aid your transition between F1 and F2. If you are to move trusts for your F2 year, Trust staff will transfer your information to your subsequent Trust. This includes any details of any adjustments you have in place. This is designed as a supportive process to aid your transition between F1 and F2.

Taster Training Days

The UKFPO has published guidance aimed at supporting the development of high-quality tasters in each area of every foundation school. A taster is a period of time, usually 2-5 days, spent in a specialty in which the Foundation trainee has not previously worked. 

It is intended to enable the development of insight into the work of the specialty and to promote career reflection. You should speak directly to your Trust if you are interested in completing a taster day. There are already many examples of good practice in this area and this document aims to support all Foundation Programmes in developing career exploration for their trainees. Further information is available on the Taster Sessions section on this website 

Study Leave

Although FY1 trainees can have study leave, in YHFS these are taken up with your mandatory training days. F2s are entitled to study leave at the discretion of the local Director of Postgraduate Medical Education. Please note that Foundation trainees will not be able to take study leave for specialty exams (for either the preparation or the exam day itself). If a trainee wishes to undertake these exams, they will need to do so in annual leave time, subject to local Trust guidelines. Please contact your Trust if you have any further study leave queries.

Study leave guidance can be found on the main pages of the website here

Placement Supervision Group (PSG)

A PSG consists of trainers nominated by the named clinical supervisor. It may consist of doctors more senior than F2 and will include at least 1 consultant or GP principal. It could also include senior nurses (Band 5 or above) and allied health professionals. Their observations will inform the clinical supervisor’s end of placement report.

SCRIPT

SCRIPT (Standardised Computerised Revalidation Instrument for Prescribing and Therapeutics) was created in 2010 by a team of clinical pharmacists and clinical pharmacologists working in both education and healthcare. The programme comprises 59 web-based eLearning modules relating to prescribing and therapeutics across a wide range of subject areas. All modules have been authoured by specialist healthcare professionals and were externally peer reviewed to ensure accuracy and relevance to practice. The 59 modules are divided into seven categories:

1. Principles of Prescribing
2. Prescribing in Medical Emergencies
3. Prescribing in Special Circumstances
4. Managing the Risks of Prescribing
5. Therapeutic Groups
6. Clinical Governance
7. Advanced Prescribing

The learning outcomes for the modules are based on the outcomes and competencies outlined in the Foundation Programme Curriculum 3, particularly those stated in Section 2 (7.6) Good Clinical Care: Safe Prescribing. You will be given free access to this and you are expected to complete 10 mandatory modules per year as best practice. 

There is further guidance on the SCRIPT page of this website

PSA (Prescribing Safety Assessment)

This is a mandatory requirement for completion of Foundation Year 1. Many of you will have already successfully completed this. If you have not it is essential that you contact your educational supervisor and lead pharmacist to put a plan in place to complete this as soon as possible. Dates for taking the exam will be circulated to you.

There is further information on the PSA page of this website

Revalidation

The process by which licensed doctors are required to demonstrate on a regular basis that they are up to date and fit to practice.  When you start your F2 placement, please can you ensure that on GMC on-line you connected to your Designated Body – Health Education England, Yorkshire and the Humber / Responsible Officer – Dr Jon Cooper. 

For further information on revalidation please see the pages on the main website and refer to the revalidation section of the GMC website

Annual Academic Presentation Day

Each year Specialised Foundation Programme trainees, Dental Foundation Academic Trainees, ACFs, ACLs and OOPRs from across the Yorkshire and the Humber region are invited to attend an Academic Presentation day where FY2 SFP trainees present their findings (either by oral presentation or in poster form) for a panel of senior academics and their Peers. This day is mandatory for F2 Academic trainees.

For further information and how to register for the event (SFPs only) please see the Annual Presentation Day page on this website

Trainee Forums

Trainee representatives from F1 and F2 from each of the Trusts which host Foundation Trainees meet regularly. Trainee representatives are also invited to attend all Foundation School meetings.

Please see the Trainee Representatives page on this website for further information

Quality Management Visits

The GMC is responsible for setting the standards and for quality assuring F1 prior to the granting of full registration. They are also responsible for setting, securing and maintaining the standards for postgraduate education and training, including F2, following full registration. Both bodies, working with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, have developed agreed outcomes for both F1 and F2.

HEE YH is expected to provide the GMC with evidence that quality management systems are in place within Foundation Programmes. HEE YH also need to show that resources provided for Foundation Training are being effectively used. HEE YH undertake quality management visits to Trusts as part of a structured review process. The purpose of these visits is to ensure that the training and education being delivered in HEE YH is fit for purpose and meets the criteria laid down by the GMC. The visits are preceded by a pre-visit questionnaire, completed by the Director of Postgraduate Medical Education. The format of the visits is based on GMC domains.

For further information on the GMC domains and the structure of the visits please see the Quality page on the HEE website and the GMC website the website. 

Other Helpful Information

There is a page on this website with some useful information about sources of Support for trainees, including information about counselling services, "Take Time" and some additional resources.

During your training you may encounter difficulties. Please contact your Educational Supervisor for help and support when required.  You may also contact either of the services available below.

Less than Full Time Training is available to YHFS trainees. For further information on how to apply please see the main page of the website here

Take Time CounsellingThis is a confidential counselling service specifically for junior doctors and dentists within HEE YH 

Career Support and AdviceHEE YH offers confidential, objective and impartial careers support for doctors working in the area.  This includes topics such as “Choosing Your Career”, “Written Applications”, “Interviews and Career Planning”

“How Foundation Doctors can raise concerns” HEE Freedom to Speak Up Guardians

Professor Simon Gregory, HEE's Deputy Medical Director for Primary and Integrated Care, has been appointed as the organisation's National Freedom to Speak up Guardian, supporting a network of ten regional Freedom to Speak Up Guardians to drive development of a safe and positive work culture which promotes and encourages staff wellbeing across HEE.

For more information please look at the National Guardians Office website 

NHS Employer's raising concerns webpages  offers support to staff and managers around holding open conversations about various topics.

Follow the conversation throughout the month on Twitter by searching #SpeakUptoMe.

Trainees are also asked to complete the national GMC and regional NETS surveys. Any concerns can also be raised in responses to the survey.

Raising concerns through the Foundation school

If you have concerns about your training please discuss this with your clinical or educational supervisors in the first instance. You can also discuss it with the Foundation administrator in your trust but remember they are not doctors - but often good listeners. If you feel that you want to discuss a training issue that you are unable to discuss with your supervisors then please email us via the foundation inbox , remembering that often the solutions to issues like study leave are best found locally as these are employer rather than training issues.

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