ARCP

The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) is the formal method by which a trainee’s progression through their training programme is monitored and recorded each year. ARCP is not an assessment in itself; it is the review of evidence of training and assessment. 

There are several potential ARCP outcomes, but most trainees will progress satisfactorily and receive an ARCP1 outcome. Other outcomes exist for those deemed to require remedial training. If the report from the Educational Supervisor is not available on the due date, or the competences not recorded in the e-portfolio, the ARCP Panel has insufficient evidence and therefore cannot award an ARCP1 outcome. The responsibility for the provision of this evidence lies with the trainee!

The decision made by the TPDs and other consultants at your ARCP is based on the respiratory ARCP decision aid and the GIM ARCP decision aid.

The curriculum states that, in addition to the components of the ePortfolio (meetings, workplace-based assessments, MSF, teaching observations, MCR and audit assessment), trainees should gather evidence of:

• An anonymised record of bronchoscopy experience, including details of exact techniques used as well as a record of the positive histology rate for visible tumour. (see an example logbook here)
• An anonymised record of pleural interventional experience (see logbook). 
• An anonmyised record of NIV experience (see logbook). 
• Formal sign off of their NIV competence ( (suggested at least 1 DOPS, miniCex a relevant courses, part of supervisor report).
• Formal sign off of their Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) experience (supervisors report for example). 
• Details of training in appropriate specific subject areas within Respiratory Medicine, such as lung cancer and sleep breathing disorders (as evidenced by clinic log and miniCexs and CbDs completed whilst in specialist posts)
• Details of special interest training, particularly in transplantation, pulmonary hypertension, adult cystic fibrosis, domiciliary NIV and occupational and environmental disease. Further information here.

Please ensure that anything uploaded to the personal library section of your ePortfolio is clearly labelled. Anything that eases the job of the ARCP panel will be much appreciated!

The Multiple Consultant Report (MCR) is now embedded in the ARCP process that is designed to gather evidence-based opinions of up to six consultants. It is focused on the trainee’s clinical ability and should have responses from at least four consultants and two GIM consultants (or two of your Respiratory Consultants who have also seen you do GIM on calls comment on this aspect of your performance).

GIM

• 186 clinics (may include general respiratory clinics).
• 1000 patients seen on the acute take. Use the Firth Calculator not a logbook.
• 6 ACATs per year (during DGH attachments and Hull) which should include a minimum of 5 cases.
• Record of 100 hours of GIM (not including respiratory) CPD hours over the whole period of training. 
• A separate GIM Educational Supervisor report, in addition to one for respiratory, in any post which includes GIM. The reports must be separate even if they are both written by the same person.

Respiratory Medicine

• Occupational lung disease clinics.
• Lung Transplantation experience (see above).
• Pulmonary hypertension (see above).
• Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy clinics. Arrange locally in appropriate posts.
• Cystic Fibrosis attachment (available at Hull and SJUH).
• Smoking cessation clinic experience (an online or BTS course is also beneficial).
• Pulmonary rehabilitation experience (available at most hospitals). 
• HIV clinic experience (available at SJUH and Hull).
• Respiratory allergy and immunology (available at SJUH and Hull).
• Thoracic surgical list (arrange through the surgeon at your Lung Cancer MDT).
• Safe sedation course (see BTS website). 
• Level 1 pleural US.
• Complete MSF with minimum of 12 responses including 4 consultants and several AHPs once in first 1-2 years and one in final 2 years.
• Audits or quality improvement projects including GIM.
• Separate annual Respiratory and GIM supervisors report incorporating MCRs. 

By the end of programme:

• Management course
• Teaching course
• Registration with RCP online CPD diary

Dr Peter Hammod, Head of School, has written a guideline for the ARCP process that may help to shed some light on the procedure.