1. Implementing the GMC’s Standards for Training
Professional Development Framework for Supervisors
Implementing the GMC’s Standards for Training

2. Excellence in educational supervision
There are clear links between the quality of
supervision and:
Patient safety
Enhanced quality of care
More rapid acquisition of trainee knowledge, skills and professional attitudes
High quality supervision becomes even more important in the face of:
Shortened training programmes
48h working week
Reduction in patient contact opportunities

3. Political, professional and regulatory drivers
Good Medical Practice
Trends in clinical education:
Accountability
Professionalisation
Pursuit of ‘excellence’
Compliance with standards for trainers from January 2010
High Quality Workforce
GMC Standards

4. London Deanery Professional Development Framework
London Deanery developed the Professional Development Framework in response to the GMC’s (PMETB) Generic Standards for Training. But…
London Deanery has an aspiration to be ‘PMETB-plus’ aiming for quality enhancement, rather than simply quality control to a minimum threshold.
The Framework aims to support Trusts and other providers in meeting training requirements for supervisors and in particular, the development of educational supervisors through a process of portfolio-based accreditation.

5. Relationship to other qualifications and ‘standards’
Higher Education Academy
Academy of Medical Educators
Royal Colleges
Other Deaneries
Medical Schools
Postgraduate certificate/diploma/MA
The London Deanery portfolio approach recognises all forms of prior training and accreditation

6. The Professional Development Framework areas
Each area of activity describes a set of minimum expectations as well as those which, if achieved, denote excellence.

7. Enhancing learning through assessment
Example
Enhancing learning through assessment

8. Educational supervision
Scope
Who does this framework apply to?
- clinical and educational supervisors working within Trusts in London
- general practice and dental trainers governed by separate regulation
What do we mean by clinical and educational supervision?
Clinical supervision
Safe clinical oversight of trainees during routine activity on wards, in outpatients, in the operating theatre or other clinical settings
Educational supervision
Taking responsibility for overseeing the educational progress of a named trainee over a period of time.
Where a doctor’s educational role extends beyond supervision in the workplace e.g. training programme director, university lecturer s/he is encouraged to seek accreditation through the Academy of Medical Educators or Higher Education Academy

9. PMETB role definitions
An educational supervisor is a trainer who is selected and appropriately trained to be responsible for the overall supervision and management of a specified trainee’s educational progress during a training placement or series of placements. The educational supervisor is responsible for the trainee’s educational agreement.
A clinical supervisor is a trainer who is selected and appropriately trained to be responsible for overseeing a specified trainee’s clinical work and providing constructive feedback during a training placement. Some training schemes appoint an educational supervisor for each placement. The roles of clinical and educational supervisor may then be merged.
In the 2009 PMETB trainee survey 99% of (8800) London trainees were able to identify their educational supervisor

10. Training requirements
High level specification of ‘areas’
Intended to be flexible and accommodating
Not necessary to repeat training courses
(apart from equalities and diversity)

11. Who has to do what?
For educational supervisors training requirements cover all areas of the Framework. Educational supervisors are expected to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to their development as a medical educator through participation in a three-yearly cycle of review.
For clinical supervisors training requirements cover selected areas (1-4) of the Framework. Clinical supervisors are encouraged to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to their development as a medical educator through participation in a three-yearly cycle of review although this is not currently a mandatory requirement.
PLUS
All trainees in London programmes will be required to have undertaken training in areas sufficient to equip to be an effective clinical supervisor (areas 1-4) below by the time they complete their specialty training.

12. Requirements on local education providers
The outcomes of local processes are expected to be as follows:
A database of all supervisors and their training is established and maintained at the Trust or local education provider
A system of portfolio-based accreditation of educational supervisors is implemented using the Professional Development Framework
Formal educational appraisals are conducted with all educational supervisors three-yearly
The process must be developmental and linked to the results of the PMETB trainee survey
All new educational supervisors must submit a portfolio to the DME (or nominated deputy) before taking on their role
The outcome of each review will be a formal statement of approval from the DME, and a recommendation to inform job planning
Existing supervisors may be permitted initial approval for up to 3 years on the basis of past experience, so spreading the appraisal load evenly
Trusts should provide an ongoing programme of faculty development to meet identified needs
Trusts must demonstrate that an effective processes are in place as part of the Deanery quality management requirements

13. The portfolio: guidance for supervisors
The portfolio should demonstrate a professional, informed and coherent approach to the educational supervision of trainees. The documentation has been kept as brief as possible and aims primarily to support a developmental discussion. It contains the following sections:
Personal details
Educational roles and activities
Prior accreditation or experience
Training courses undertaken
Evidence of good practice
Personal development plan
Sign off
For convenience, the portfolio is available in hard copy, a pdf download or a simple Word version. The portfolio and all supporting documentation including FAQs, is available at

14. The ‘regulatory’ bottom line
By January 2010, within each provider, there should be:
A populated database of all supervisors and their training
A rolling programme of faculty development
An accreditation process for educational supervisors

15. Summary
The London Deanery Professional Development Framework derives from the GMC’s Generic Standards for Training, but has the broader aim of quality enhancement
The Framework aims to support Trusts and other providers in the provision or assurance of training for postgraduate medical supervisors
The Framework also provides a basis for development of educational supervisors through a process of portfolio-based accreditation.