An Innovative Approach to Local
Quality Management:
Joint undergraduate / Foundation
programme quality visits to Local
Education Providers (LEPs)
Dr Jon Scott
Foundation School Director
Northern Foundation School
UG/PG Training Numbers
389
F1 trainees
412
F2 trainees
1039
St 3-5 Students
9 Acute Trusts
3 MHTs
68 GP Practices (FP training)
Health Education North East – The Northern Foundation School
Linked to University of Newcastle Medical School
Quality Activity
•
Quality Assurance – GMC
This encompasses all the policies, standards, systems and processes in place
to maintain and enhance the quality of postgraduate medical education and
training in the UK
 Quality Management - HENE
Arrangements by which the deanery satisfies itself that LEPs are meeting the
GMC’s standards. These arrangements normally involve reporting and
monitoring mechanisms.
The standards set by the regulator are mandatory, but the processes by which
deaneries/foundation schools quality manage the programme and LEP quality
control the programme provision are not prescribed.
 Quality Control - LEP
This relates to the arrangements through which LEPs ensure that postgraduate
medical trainees including foundation doctors receive education and training
that meets local, national and professional standards.
Quality Management Processes
• Undergraduate
 Universities must visit each LEP annually
GMC requirement
• Postgraduate
 “A robust and rigorous evaluation of the education
delivered within FP has to be in place. Overall
responsibility for this rests with the (GMC) as the
regulator of the Foundation Programme”
 “The precise processes by which deaneries undertake
their quality management are not defined and may vary in
relation to local arrangements and local strategies”
Foundation Programme Reference Guide
Rationale for Joint Visits
• The graduating University retains responsibility for
F1 training until full registration but delivery of
training is via LEPs and quality management is
from the Foundation School
• 2/3 of final year students at Newcastle University
Medical School apply to the Northern Foundation
School
• Triangular Efficiency and Synergy processes
– University
– Foundation School
– LEP
Process
• Single visit to each LEP
(12)
• Joint visiting team
– Director of MBBS
Programme / deputy
– Assistant Registrar for
Undergraduate Medical
Studies
– Clinical Placements and
Finance Manager
– Foundation School Director
– Business Manager
– FPD for Quality
Meet the team
Meet F1 trainees 1h
Meet F2 trainees 1h
Meet Undergraduate faculty
Meet Postgraduate faculty
Meet Key Faculty/DME/Med
Director
Information / metrics
•Key indicators for undergraduate performance
•GMC Survey results
•GMC free text comments – closing the loop
•Annual Your School Your Say (YSYS) Results
•Previous Year’s Visit Report
•End of Post Trainee Surveys
•‘Soft Intelligence’
Outcomes
• Trust feedback universally positive
–
–
–
–
Time efficient
Supportive, but ‘with teeth’
Fostered closer working between UG and PG faculty, particularly in larger Trusts
Wish to continue format
• University / FS
– All of the above
– Time with trainees extremely valuable from both sides
• Particularly F1 for University
– Triangulation of data
– Deal with major training issues ‘head on’
– Foster closer working relationships with resulting benefits
• Transition / careers / educational research / AFP
– Programme tweaked for 2014
• Parallel sessions
• Half day
Summary
• Joint University / FS quality visits to LEPs are
a highly efficient method of quality
management in both Foundation Programme
and Undergraduate Medical Studies
• Synergistic working in quality
• Liked and appreciated by LEPs
• Promote productive joint working outside of
quality management