Educational Supervision.
What is Educational Supervision?
- a process of regular supportive meetings between Supervisor and GPStR.
- a process which allows the demonstration of strengths and revealing of difficulties so that these may be helped to be put right within the framework of the objectives set at the start of the programme.
- a process that is confidential (except in defined circumstances), primarily educational and developmental, and designed to help the GPStR to progress onto CCT.
- a positive process to give GPStRs feedback on their performance, to chart their continuing progress and to identify developmental needs.
- a forward-looking process essential for the developmental and educational planning needs of an individual
All these definitions are basically saying the meetings are there to help the GPStR by giving them feedback, keeping them on track for their training and helping them to develop in those areas where there is an identified need.
The RCGP website also provided useful information on the role of an Educational Supervisor and the GP training curriculum.
The RCGP have also published guidance on the preparation of an Educational Supervisors Review (ESR), which should provide helpful information for Supervisors.
Educational Supervisors can find detailed information on their role within the ARCP process.
Some trainers and Educational Supervisors have requested a checklist to ensure that they have covered the important areas when doing an ES review. The ARCP checklist is an example of this (and is also useful for ARCP panel preparation) but not the only checklist in circulation; others may work just as well; it depends on what the user wants!
Additional Resources:
ST1: 2 meetings in first post, 1 meeting in second (i.e. 3 for that year: 1 informal + 2 formal)
ST2: 1 per 6m post (ie 2 for that year: both formal)
ST3: 1 per 6m post (ie 2 for that year: both formal) We recommend: Feb - Aug period: 1st ES meeting March-April crossover period (if needed), 2nd ES meeting end May (as ARCP panels start in June) Aug - Feb period: 1st ES meeting: Sept-Oct crossover period (if needed), 2nd ES meeting end Nov (as ARCP panels start in Dec)
So, especially during the period Feb-Aug of every year (as that is when most trainees will move onto the next ST stage) make sure you have had your second ES meeting before the end of May
- There should be a high level of supervision throughout the final year as the year will be entirely in a General Practice based placement.
- It's important to educate GPStRs about the quality and reflectiveness of the log entries right at the start of ST1 year. Getting in there early will help make the rest of the training journey (and future educational supervision meetings) lots easier.
- Educational Supervisors need to be just as vigilant during the ST2 year too. Often in this year, GPStRs are based solely in hospital posts where the risk of losing contact with trainees can be high. We need to put in the effort to make sure that the GPSTRs are really up to date on learning general practice, developing their understanding of the GP competencies and demonstrating this accordingly.
- There is a move to expect more virtual supervision of e portfolio by the ES… more reading and responding to log diary entries, more use of 'Educators Notes' (in the eportfolio) to point out that somebody is behind (if appropriate). In other words, that we make sure we do not see doing the ESR meetings as the sole role of the ES, but that these meetings are punctuations on a continuous (if intermittent) interaction between ES and GPSTR.
- Those who are behind or under performing will need more meetings, as well as more continuous checking and feedback.
- There is a move within the School for all GP trainers to also act as Educational Supervisors.