GP Training

The Wessex GP Programme team will send details of ST1 placements via email to new starters and programme lead employers no later than 12 weeks before the expected start date of training. In addition to this, communications will be sent to you from Trainee Information Self Service (TSS) these will include important Conditional offer of Joining a Training Programme (CoJ) documents that applicants must complete to register onto the GP training programme so that the National Training Number (NTN) can be issued.

New starters to the GP training programme will then be able to register with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) as an Associate in Training (AiT) to set up their trainee Portfolio.

Placement details are provided to GP Registrars (GPRs) 12 weeks before each rotation start date.  Please note GPRs may be able to view provisional future placements on TIS Self Service before formal confirmation communications are sent at the 12 weeks’ notice point.  However, they should be aware that all posts are subject to change.  Reasons for this include for example, but are not limited to, service requirement, placement capacity or supervisor availability.

The person specification that GP Registrars (GPRs) sign when they apply to GP training states the following:
“Hold a current and in date valid driving licence or provides an undertaking to provide alternative means of transport when providing emergency and domiciliary care to fulfil the requirements of the whole training programme.” 

When working in a full GP placement, or an Integrated Training Post (ITP) which has at least part of the week in primary care, it is important to ensure that GP Registrars have arranged appropriate transport. GPRs can claim mileage expenses when working in a GP placement on days they are expected to do a home visit (up to 3 days per week), but apart from that there is no reimbursement of travel costs to and from the workplace.


When working in a hospital post, it is the responsibility of the GP Registrar to arrange their own means to get to and from their place of work. Parts of Wessex are relatively inaccessible by public transport, so we encourage GPRs to ensure they have considered how they will travel to and from their workplace. Lack of access to a car is not something we are usually able to consider when allocating placements except in exceptional circumstances.

GP Registrars that hold an international driver’s licence, need to check that the licence is valid. Help in obtaining a UK driving licence is available via our IMG welfare support team

The portfolio for GP Registrars is built on the Fourteen Fish platform. Detailed information about the system can be found on the RCGP website.

New starters to the training programme should register as an Associate in Training (AiT) at least four weeks before the expected start date of training so that their trainee Portfolio can be fully set up in time for inductions.
This is the only evidence that is used at your ARCP (annual review of competence progression) panels and so it incredibly important that you familiarise yourself with it and the requirements for your stage of training early on. Get into good habits with the e-Porfolio early! The platform itself has plenty of useful guidance to help you.

This section is to ensure that GPRs are aware of the specific requirements and resources available for their Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP). Information and guidance on the ARCP process can be found on our Accreditation and Revalidation pages which must be used in conjunction with this page.
All the evidence requirements for each year of training can be found on the RCGP website. Specific GP evidence and documents required for ARCP are in addition to the documents stated on the Accreditation and Revalidation pages.

The Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) is a fundamental part of GP training. It is used to review each GPRs progress throughout their training and decide on an outcome. To have an ARCP doctors must have completed an up-to-date educational supervisors report (ESR) and Form R (to be saved in the compliance passport area of the Portfolio).

GPRs will have an ARCP at least once per year. If a doctor is less than full time (LTFT) or have had statutory leave, it’s likely they will have more than one ARCP per year as a review of evidence will be required at the gateway transition points ST1-2 and ST2-3, as well as on an annual basis. Between ARCPs, GPRs will be expected to do at least one more ESR.

ARCP dates are visible in the top right of the portfolio and GPRs should ensure all evidence is submitted 2 weeks before this date.  If a GPRs thinks this ARCP date may be wrong, please contact the GP programme team.
The Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) panel look at all the evidence that is located in the Portfolio.

For the exact requirements for GP training, GPRs should frequently refer to the RCGP website
This document provides guidance around the Timing for ESRs and ARCPs for GP DiT’s
Do not forget that to complete GP training you will need to pass a tripos of assessments. GPRs must continually engage with workplace-based assessments (WPBA), and pass both the applied knowledge test (AKT) and clinical skills assessment (RCA) exam.

From Dr Jonathan Rial, GP Associate Dean for ARCP

All GP Registrars have a programme lead employer throughout their time in training, regardless of where they may be working (host employer). If a GP Registrar is unfit or absent from work for any reason, it is essential that both the host employer and lead employer are informed of this. Any absences also needs to be declared on the Form R at ARCP.

Requests for LTFT training will only be considered as detailed in the Reference Guide for Postgraduate Foundation and Specialty Training in the UK (Gold Guide 10th edition August 2024)

Requests to train LTFT or to change training percentage must first be discussed with the relevant Patch AD and their written support must be included before submitting an application to the LTFT mailbox.

In order to provide clarity and consistency across Wessex GP School, please note that LTFT posts for GP Registrars are considered at 60 or 80% in the majority of cases unless exceptional circumstances apply such as an occupational health assessment, when consideration will be made on a case by case basis.

LTFT requests from GPRs in the Portsmouth and Isle of Wight programmes will only be considered at 60% during their first 12 months whole time equivalent in a hospital placement.

We will continue to honour posts offered or currently being worked by trainees at different percentages so this will only apply to future posts in the Wessex GP Training Programme. 

LTFT applicants should be aware that Wednesdays in Wessex are the mandatory teaching day in GP Training.
The Wessex GP training programme tries to accommodate as many LTFT requests for GPRs as possible but pressures on placement capacity and increasing applications for LTFT mean that we are having to limit the number of approvals. Priority will be given to the provisions of the Equality Act relating to protected characteristics.

Applications for Health reasons will only be considered under the health option and will require appropriate supporting evidence as detailed in the application.

Information and guidance on LTFT Training and the process to apply can be found on our Less Than Full Time Training Pages

This is bleep-free protected time and all GPRs are expected to attend. In hospital posts, local arrangements will be made for colleagues to hold the bleep. This should be included in the department induction.
Wednesdays are the key educational day throughout GP training in Wessex. The local Patch office
will be able to provide the teaching timetable and locations.

Attendance at teaching is a compulsory component of GP Training and forms part of the paid working week
A session at teaching (face to face or online) is a session at work and all GP Registrars are expected to make every effort to attend.

Unauthorised absence may be considered a probity issue.

GP Registrar are required to arrive on time and stay for the entire session and not leave teaching early.
Self-directed learning time is also educational time, and so it is important that GP Registrars are able to evidence this on their e-portfolio to show how the time has been used.

All Wessex GP Registrars have access to free indemnity cover via MPS. NHS England – Wessex provides details of new GPRs to MPS who make direct contact. We encourage all GPRs to take up the offer of this cover as it provides support and advice unlike the NHS indemnity scheme which will only cover the financial aspects of a negligence claim. For example, in the event of a GMC referral or an attendance at a coroner’s court, they can provide detailed medico-legal advice.

This cover is free of charge during the GP Training Programme. We strongly recommend that Wessex GPRs take up this offer when they join the programme.  

The Wessex Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education team has a strong network of professional support. We offer exam up-skilling courses, assessment for specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia), GP specific exam courses and personal support for GPRs that may be having difficulties with their educational programme.

Please explore the Wessex Professional Support and Wellbeing Unit (PSW) pages for further information.

Doctors are required to be included in the English Medical Performers List to work independently in NHS general medical practice in England. GP Registrars are not required to be on the Performers list, and only need to take action to join at the end of their training programme as outlined below. 

GPRs need to apply at the right time, applying too early will cause additional unnecessary administration for the doctor and supporting teams who we closely work with. 

For GP ST1 and ST2 Registrars: 
Please do not apply to the Performers List at this stage.  GP Registrars are not required to be on the Performers List whilst in training.

   
For GP ST3 Doctors in Training: 
GP ST3 Registrars may already have their name included on the List as arrangements may previously have been made for your inclusion either before you started training or whilst you were in training, prior to the Pandemic rules.  You can check if your name is already on the Performers List here Search – Performers List for England.  

GP ST3 Registrars who are not already included on the Performers List will need to make an application to join it, but not before they are within 6 calendar months of their anticipated CCT date. 

ST3 Registrars only should submit an application to join the Performers List no later than 3 months prior to CCT. 

GP ST3 Registrars should only complete an application between 6 and 3 months before their expected CCT date. If the application is started too late, it may result in the doctor not being able to work immediately as an independent qualified GP.  

 
The PCSE Online application form can be started here PCSS: Login (england.nhs.uk)  An application user guide, including information on how to register for an account and a list of documentation to upload as part of the application process, can be found here Performer List Applicant Guide (adobe.com) 

It is essential that GP Registrars apply to the Performers List as a GP Registrar and not as a GP Performer.

This information is captured in the Capacity section of the application form.  Select Medical and then GP Registrar. 

The completed application will be considered by the regional NHS England Performers List team and, once accepted, the GPR will appear on the Performers List as a GP Registrar.  A GPR can change their Performers List status after qualification, as described below.

For all newly qualified GPs: 
Once a GPR has their CCT they are required to log into PCSE Online and change their status to GP Performer.  Further details of now to do this can be found here: General enquiries – Primary Care Support England 

GP Registrars must approach their Patch Associate Dean, Training Programme Director and Educational supervisor in the first instance to discuss a potential application to take time out of the training programme.
Due to the short nature of the GP training programme only Out of Programme Career Break (OOPC) will be considered and unless due to exceptional circumstances doctors in training are not eligible to apply in their ST1 training year.

A GPR should consult the Reference Guide for Postgraduate Foundation and Specialty Training in the UK (Gold Guide 10th Edition) before discussing their application to ensure they are eligible to apply for OOPC.

All GP Registrars are required to fully complete the GP OOP application form and obtain the necessary signatures. The completed form should be sent to their Patch Associate Dean who will then arrange to forward to the Wessex General Practice Programme Team for consideration by the Head of School for General Practice and the Wessex Post Graduate Dean

The process for OOP applications can take several weeks so GPRs are encouraged to submit their request to the Programme Team no later than 3 months prior to the start date of their OOP.

It is the responsibility of the GPR to ensure their supervisor, Patch team and Programme Lead Employer are aware of their start dates of OOP and we expect the doctor to contact us a minimum of 3 months, ideally 6 months before their return date. There is no guarantee of placements for a GPRs return so early contact for return dates is essential.

Further information on Out of Programme and the process to apply can be found on our Out of Programme pages  

In Wessex we have a long history of offering opportunities for trainees to broaden their knowledge of the NHS and how it works.  Some examples of these are:

In-practice fellowships – working with the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, in ST3, to allow you to understand more about how ICBs and health systems work, but in addition to voice your clinical thoughts as the current workforce, to guide key decisions; working with the RCGP Wessex faculty guiding the offer the faculty makes to its members and experiencing how the RCGP works 
Wessex has strong links with both clinical and education research, working as an academic clinical fellow with the unit in Southampton medical school or with the programme directors.  Wessex presents at national and international conferences every year and we encourage our trainees to get involved 

We ask for GP Registrars to be integrally involved with the trainers’ courses, to make sure we are meeting the needs of GPR and to take into account developments in new ways of working

To find out more in respect of medical education or quality improvement in the NHS on a broader basis than just GP the Wessex Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education team runs medical education and quality improvement fellowships.

With increasing numbers of GP Registrars working less than full time (LTFT) or compressed hours over 4 days, all GPRs need to ensure they are taking the correct amount of annual leave, this should be counted in hours rather than days. All queries should be directed to your lead employer.

During hospital placements, the rota may require you to work evenings, weekends or night shifts. For GP Registrars working less than full time, these shifts will be reduced pro-rata. However, the requirement to participate in these shifts is not something that can be opted out of when working less than full time.

When working in a GP placement, GP Registrars are also required to demonstrate competency in urgent and unscheduled care, which should also involve working in the out of hours setting. In these posts, as GP Registrars contracted hours are entirely based on their in hours work, they are entitled to time off in lieu which should be taken within a week of any out of hours sessions worked