ARCP Minimum Requirements 2010 Curriculum in Core Psychiatry Training

Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA)

This is the assessment of a doctor’s performance in those areas of professional practice best tested in the workplace. The assessment of performance by WPBA will continue the process established in the Foundation Programme and will extend throughout Core Psychiatry Training and Advanced Training in General Adult Psychiatry.

It must be understood that WPBA’s are primarily tools for giving formative feedback and in order to gain the full benefit of this form of assessment, trainees should ensure that their assessments take place at regular intervals throughout their period of training. All trainees must complete at least one case-focused assessment in the first month of each placement in their training programme. A completed WPBA accompanied by an appropriate reflective note written by the trainee and evidence of further development may be taken as evidence that a trainee demonstrates critical self –reflection. Educational Supervisors will draw attention to trainees who leave all their assessments to the “last minute” or who appear satisfied that they have completed the minimum necessary.

An individual WPBA is not a summative assessment, but outcomes from a number of WPBAs will contribute evidence to inform summative decisions.

Workplace Based Assessment Tools

• Assessment of Clinical Expertise (ACE) modified from the Clinical Evaluation Exercise (CEX) in which an entire clinical encounter is observed and rated thus providing an assessment of a doctor’s ability to assess a complete case.
• Mini-Assessed Clinical Encounter (mini-ACE) modified from the mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise, (mini-CEX) used in the Foundation Programme, part of a clinical encounter, such as history-taking, is observed and rated.
• Case Based Discussion (CBD) is also used in the Foundation Programme and is an assessment made on the basis of a structured discussion of a patient whom the Trainee has recently been involved with and has written their notes.
• Direct Observation od Procedural Skills (DOPS) is also used in the Foundation Programme and is similar to mini –ACE except that the focus is on technical and procedural skills.
• Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) is obtained using the Mine Peer Assessment Tool (mini-PAT), which is an assessment made by a cohort of co-workers across the domains of Good Medical Practice.
• Case Base Discussion Group Assessment (CBDGA) has been developed by the College to provide structured feedback on a trainee’s attendance and contribution to case discussion groups (also known as Balint-type groups in Core Psychiatry Training)
• Structured Assessment of Psychotherapy Expertise (SAPE) has been developed by the College to provide evidence of satisfactory completion of a psychotherapy case.
• Case Presentation (CP) developed by the College, this is an assessment of a major case presentation, such as a Grand Round, by the trainee.
• Journal Club Presentation (JCP) similar to CP, also developed at the College, this enables an assessment to be made of a Journal Club presented by the Trainee.
• Assessment of Teaching (AoT) has been developed at the College to enable an assessment to be made of planned teaching carried out by the Trainee which is requirement of the 2010 curriculum.
• Core Psychiatry Training – Years 1 -3

The following table shows the minimum number of each assessment that need to be undertaken. The minimum number has been arrived at in the light of the reliability of each tool, together with an estimate of the numbers that are likely to be needed to ensure a broad coverage of the Curriculum. Many trainees will require more than this minimum, none will require fewer. More details are given in the guidance to ARCP panels.

* There is no set number to be completed in Core Psychiatry Training, they may be performed as the opportunity arises but they are required