Getting into Foundation School

2013: Application Overview

Laura Mackenzie Careers Consultant

King’s Careers & Employability

The session today:

• Quick overview of training post-MBBS

• The key players in the system

• Insights from F1/F2 doctors

• The application system this year

• What you can be doing now

• Any questions

More information & support

All applicants:

• SJT preparation

– Opportunity to look at some sample SJT questions and consider best

ways of approaching these

– Exact details tbc

AFP applicants:

• 7 Oct: Overview of Academic FP application process

• Tbc: Workshop for AFP applicants (interview techniques)

Key website

www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk

• Applicant Handbook

• Access to programme details

• FAQs section

• Option to sign up to e-alerts

The key players Who looks after your foundation training after MBBS:?

Foundation Schools

– Look after the foundation programme

– 21 Schools across the UK

– Oversee the foundation programme across

fairly large geographical regions

- Day to day training managed by your employing

NHS Trust

– Full details via UKFPO website

The foundation programme

• Two year rotational programme

• Usually 6 x 4 months

• Balanced programme

• Generic training – leading to any specialty

• Also some Academic FPs

– Same broad structure but with an academic (research/ medical education) component

– Applications for these as part of the FP application process but with additional elements

Getting into Foundation School

• A NATIONAL process initially

• Broadly a‘two stage’ process: • 1. Allocation to a Foundation School - handled nationally

• 2. Allocation to a foundation programme – handled locally

• Competitive application system based on your score from:

• EPM – Educational Performance Measure

• SJTs score – Situational Judgement Test

DATE FP/AFP 2012 ACTIVITY

1 - 7 Oct 2013 Register and enrol on FPAS. All programmes available to view. You must register on FPAS and

confirm you are a nominated applicant before you can access the application form

7 - 18 Oct 2013 Complete application form for both FP and Academic FP applications. LATE APPLICATIONS

WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

21 Oct 2012 – 17 Jan 2013 Local short-listing and interviews for AFP applicants

28 Oct 2013 Verified EPM score available to view on FPAS

6 Dec 2013 1st SJT date

13 Dec 2013 Deadline for applications to be pre-allocated to a UoA on grounds of special circs

6 Jan 2014 2nd SJT date

22Jan -19 Feb 2014 AFP national offers

10 March 2014 Primary list applicants informed of allocation to unit of application for FP.

Reserve list applicants contacted regarding the process for batch allocations

4 April 2014 Deadline for submitting programme preferences via FPAS (local deadlines might be earlier)

12 Mar – 9 Apr 2014 On-line references collected

8 Apr 2014 Primary list applicants informed of local match to foundation programme results

May – Jul 2014 FP reserve batches allocated in batches as vacancies arise

Jul 2014 Contacts of employment issued

Educational Performance Measure (EPM) – max 50 points

• The EPM will replace academic quartiles as a measure of clinical and

non-clinical skills, knowledge and performance

• The EPM score is comprised of two elements:

1. medical school performance in deciles (34-43 points)

2. additional degrees/academic achievements (up to 7 points)

Situational Judgement Test (SJT) – max 50 points

• SJTs will replace the ‘white space’ application form questions as a

measure of meeting the national person specification

• SJTs assess aptitude for the FY1 role

• A machine marked, multiple choice test taken in exam conditions

• The SJT will consist of around 70 questions in 2 hours 20 mins

EPM

• Educational Performance Measure

• More ‘granular’ than current quartiles

• More consistent across med schools

• Development of a common framework to which all medical

schools adhere

• Will comprise the results of med school assessments

• Available to look at via FPAS

• To find out how King’s calculates your EPM:

http://virtualcampus.kcl.ac.uk/vc/medicine/epmc.aspx

The EPM at King’s

• More info on the VC:

• http://virtualcampus.kcl.ac.uk/vc/medicine/epmc.aspx

Element Weighting

Part 3 exam results

(excluding in-course assessment marks):

40%

Part 4 result:

40%

Average SSC mark (from Phases 3 and 4):

20%

2. Additional degrees (max 5 points)

A maximum of 5 points for degrees awarded by time of application to

Foundation Programme: Previous degree Number of

points Doctoral degree (PhD, DPhil, etc) 5

Masters degree 1st class honours degree Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) B Vet Med

4

2.1 class honours degree 1st class intercalated degree which does not extend the degree programme

3

2.2 class honours degree 2.1 class intercalated degree which does not extend the degree programme

2

3rd class honours degree Unclassified or ordinary degree 2.2 class intercalated degree which does not extend the degree programme

1

Primary medical qualification only 3rd class intercalated degree which does not extend the degree programme

0

3. Educational achievements (max 2 points)

• A maximum of 2 points will be awarded for national or international

presentations and publications

• You can upload evidence of max. 2 publications & 2 presentations but you will

still get max. 2 points

• In order to gain a point for a publication, your work must have been published

and must have a PubMed ID number (PMID).

• Information on what is and isn’t acceptable & how to upload evidence is on the

UKFPO site:

• http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pages/medical-

students/faqs#answer328

SJTs • Situational Judgement Tests

– Candidates to select most appropriate action based on given scenario

– 50 points maximum

• Differences from previous question format: – Will be invigilated rather than in free time

– 2 hours 20 mins (adjustments available)

– completed on paper, with the possibility of computer delivery in future

– Answers from given selection rather than self-generated

– Not asked to reflect on personal experience

NB. Example Qs & rationales at:

http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pages/medical-students/SJT-EPM

Answering the SJT Questions

There will be two question formats:

1. Rank the five responses in the most appropriate order

2. Choose the three most appropriate responses from eight

NB. You should answer what you ‘should’ do in the scenario

described, not what you ‘would’ do

NO negative marking so put down all your choices for each Q to

ensure chances of getting maximum marks

The SJT domains 1. Commitment to professionalism

– Responsibility, honesty, aware of ethical issues including confidentiality

2. Coping with pressure – Coping with ambiguity/uncertainty; resilient; seeks support when appropriate; deals

with mistakes

3. Effective communication – General; with patients; with colleagues; written

4. Patient focus – Patient safety; trust, empathy, respect, rapport; work with patient on their care

5. Working as part of a team – Aware of own/others’ roles; can adapt own role; notices when others struggling;

contributes to team harmony; makes others aware of own workload

SJT Example 1 – rank response

Mr Johnson is admitted with a minor groin abscess requiring surgical drainage

although he is otherwise well and has full mental capacity. Four hours prior to

surgery Mr Johnson informs a nurse that he wishes to self discharge as he says he

is due in court. Mr Johnson’s next of kin are aware that he has been admitted for

surgery and that he is due in court. The nurse asks you to speak to him.

Rank in order the following actions in response to this situation (1= most

appropriate; 5= least appropriate).

A Allow Mr Johnson to leave but advise him to see his General Practitioner if there are

further problems

B Prevent Mr Johnson from leaving by phoning security

C Explain to Mr Johnson the risks of leaving without treatment

D Telephone Mr Johnson’s next of kin to ask them to try and persuade him not to leave

E Allow Mr Johnson to leave but ask him to return to the hospital as soon as possible

Example 1 – best answer C Explain to Mr Johnson the risks of leaving without treatment

E Allow Mr Johnson to leave but ask him to return to the hospital as soon as possible

D Telephone Mr Johnson’s next of kin to ask them to try and persuade him not to leave

A Allow Mr Johnson to leave but advise him to see his General Practitioner if there are

further problems

B Prevent Mr Johnson from leaving by phoning security

WHY?

Communicating to Mr Johnson the risks of leaving is important as he may not be aware of

these risks (C). However, it is the patient’s choice as to whether he remains in hospital.

Informing him that he should return to the hospital is important (E). Mr Johnsons’ next of kin

are aware of the situation and may be able to persuade him to stay (D). By asking Mr Johnson

to see his GP, instead of returning to the hospital, you would be passing responsibility for his

care (A), however this is more appropriate than forcing a patient to stay against his wishes (B).

Example Question 2 – choose best 3 You review a patient on the surgical ward who has had an appendicectomy done

earlier on in the day. You write a prescription for strong painkillers. The staff nurse

challenges your decision and refuses to give the medication to the patient.

Choose the THREE most appropriate actions to take in this situation

A Instruct the nurse to give the medication to the patient

B Discuss with the nurse why she disagrees with the prescription

C Ask a senior colleague for advice

D Complete a clinical incident form

E Cancel the prescription on the nurse’s advice

F Arrange to speak to the nurse later to discuss your working relationship

G Write in the medical notes that the nurse has declined to give the medication

H Review the case again

Example answer 2 – best answer

B Discuss with the nurse why she disagrees with the prescription

C Ask a senior colleague for advice

H Review the case again

WHY?

Ensuring patient safety is key to this scenario. It is important to discuss the

nurse’s decision with her as there may be something that you have missed

when first reviewing the patient (B). Therefore it would also be important to

review the patient again (H). Also relating to this is the importance of

respecting the views of colleagues and maintaining working relationships,

even if there is disagreement. As there has been a disagreement regarding

patient care, it is important to seek advice from a senior colleague (C).

Some online resources to help • Good Medical Practice

– http://www.gmc-uk.org/gmpinaction/

• SJT Monograph on UKFPO website:

– http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pages/medical-students/SJT-

EPM

• ISFP website for background and examples

– www.isfp.org.uk/pages/default.aspx

• Q. Should you buy the books?

• A few commonly asked questions about

allocation to foundation programmes ...

What if I don’t like my

allocation?

• Stage 1 – allocation to a Foundation School

– It is very difficult to change your allocation.

– Transfers only permitted in special circumstances

– Option to withdraw from system & re-apply following year

• Stage 2 – allocation to a programme

– This is done locally by your foundation school so local

policies on possibility of ‘swapping’ programmes

Will my foundation programme

affect my specialty application?

• The FP is a generic programme, so you will be

eligible to apply to any specialty

• However …

• Showing motivation to a specialty is important so

important to look for opportunities to do this

Further information & help

• Medical Careers

www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk

• UKFPO

www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk

• MMC

www.mmc.nhs.uk

Thank you.

Any questions?

DATE FP/AFP 2012 ACTIVITY

1 - 7 Oct 2013 Register and enrol on FPAS. All programmes available to view. You must register on FPAS

and confirm you are a nominated applicant before you can access the application form

7 - 18 Oct 2013 Complete application form for both FP and Academic FP applications. LATE APPLICATIONS

WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

21 Oct 2012 – 17 Jan

2013 Local short-listing and interviews for AFP applicants

28 Oct 2013 Verified EPM score available to view on FPAS

6 Dec 2013 1st SJT date

13 Dec 2013 Deadline for applications to be pre-allocated to a UoA on grounds of special circs

6 Jan 2014 2nd SJT date

22Jan -19 Feb 2014 AFP national offers

10 March 2014 Primary list applicants informed of allocation to unit of application for FP.

Reserve list applicants contacted regarding the process for batch allocations

4 April 2014 Deadline for submitting programme preferences via FPAS (local deadlines might be earlier)

12 Mar – 9 Apr 2014 On-line references collected

8 Apr 2014 Primary list applicants informed of local match to foundation programme results

May – Jul 2014 FP reserve batches allocated in batches as vacancies arise

Jul 2014 Contacts of employment issued