Plans and reports

Some plans and appraisals are required as part of the portfolio and the completion of the ARCP. In a dedicated section, these reports should start with a contents page and include:

1. • initial planning meeting

2. • PDP

3. • mid-point review

4. • educational supervisor's reports

5. • college tutor's structured report or training programme director's report

6. • completing the annual GMC survey is usually mandatory and evidence of its completion should be included in the portfolio

7. • some specialties in some deaneries may also require an annual survey to be completed for more specific feedback.

If individual deaneries do not have specific forms for these, they are available from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Remember to make best use of these reports – they contain reference to competencies and should be signed; they therefore can contribute to evidence of competence.

Records of on-call work and educational supervision

Recording of previous placements, current placement and duties is required. Trainees should also record the nature of their current clinical activities and on-call/emergency work. Details of supervision with educational supervisors should also be recorded. This can be a very useful forum for discussion on issues pertaining to competencies that are harder to evidence; for example, a discussion about what happens in the event of a patient dying or working with the coroner. This is especially helpful if the supervisor has signed a formal record of supervision.

The format used to record these meetings and activities is not as important as conveying the required information. It is stressed that trainees must demonstrate an achievable and relevant set of educational objectives and that these relate to competencies relevant to the stage of training. It is therefore important that trainees take the curriculum to planning meetings with educational supervisors so that development planning is targeted and relevant. Table 11.1 illustrates how the information presented can be valuable in terms of use as evidence of competence.