Neurosurgery ST2

Applicants must have:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

When is that evaluated?ⁱ

• Application form

ⁱ  ‘When is this evaluated’ is indicative but may be carried out at any time throughout the selection process.

Applicants must:

• be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practiseⁱⁱ from, the GMC at the advertised post start date for the vacancyⁱⁱⁱ 
• have evidence of achievement of ST1 Neurosurgery competences as described in the Neurosurgery specialty curriculum. Acceptable evidence will take the form of:
  • current employment in a UK neurosurgery training programme at the time of application and ST1 competences in a UK neurosurgery training programme by the advertised post start date for the vacancy, or
  • evidence of achievement of ST1 competences at time of application. Acceptable evidence is only permitted via the standard Neurosurgery ST2 Alternative Certificate of ST1 Competence
• up-to-date and demonstrable advanced life support skills
• be eligible to work in the UK

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre^iv

ⁱⁱ  The GMC introduced the licence to practise in 2009. Any doctor wishing to practise in the UK after this date must be both registered with and hold a licence to practise from the GMC at time of appointment.

ⁱⁱⁱ  ‘Intended start date’ refers to the date at which the post commences, not (necessarily) the time an offer is accepted.

^iv  ‘Selection centre’ refers to a process, not a place. It involves a number of selection activities which may be delivered within the unit of application.

Applicant is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• References

Applicants must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues, as assessed by the General Medical Council^v.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

^v  Applicants are advised to visit the GMC website which gives details of evidence accepted for registration.

Applicants must meet professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Pre-employment health screening

Applicants must:

• be able to provide complete details of their employment history
• have evidence that their career progression is consistent with their personal circumstances
• have evidence that their present level of achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of their period of training
• have completed the relevant ST1 competencies in Neurosurgery as described in the Neurosurgery specialty curriculum by the advertised post start date for the vacancy^vi
• have notified the Training Programme Director of the specialty training programme they are currently training in if applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region^vii 
• not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR in the specialty they are applying for and/or must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for the specialty to which they are applying
• if you have previously resigned, or been removed from, a training programme in any specialty, you must obtain a Support for Reapplication to Specialty Training form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School and Postgraduate Dean from the region you previously undertook training in. This must be submitted with your application^viii

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

^vi  Any time periods specified in this person specification refer to full-time equivalent.

^vii  The ‘support for application to another region’ form, signed by the Training Programme Director of their current specialty training programme confirming satisfactory progress must be submitted to the recruitment office at time of application.

^viii  Exceptional circumstances may be defined as a demonstrated change in circumstances, which can be shown on the ability to train at that time and may include severe personal illness or family caring responsibility incompatible with continuing to train. Applicants will only be considered if they provide a ‘support for reapplication to a specialty training programme’ form signed by both the Training Programme Director or Head of School and the Postgraduate Dean in the NHS England Local Office or Deanery that the training took place. No other evidence will be accepted.

All sections of application form completed fully according to written guidelines.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form

Essential

Applicants must have:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Desirable

• Additional related qualifications e.g BSc, BA, BMedSci or equivalent (not including intercalated BSc or ‘Honorary’ MA)
• Research degree eg MD or PhD in relevant subject

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

Applicants must:

• be able to provide complete details of their employment history
• have evidence that their career progression is consistent with their personal circumstances
• have evidence that their present level of achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of their period of training
• have completed the relevant ST1 competencies in Neurosurgery as described in the Neurosurgery specialty curriculum by the advertised post start date for the vacancy
• have notified the Training Programme Director of the specialty training programme they are currently training in if applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region
• not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR in the specialty they are applying for and/or must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for the specialty to which they are applying
• not have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a training programme in this specialty, except if they have received an ARCP outcome 1 or under exceptional circumstances

Desirable

• Foundation competences to have been achieved in posts completed not more than 5 years before the advertised post start date for the vacancy.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems.
• Ability to prioritise clinical need.
• Demonstrates appropriate technical and clinical competence and evidence of the development of diagnostic skills and clinical judgement.
• Validated logbook documentation of surgical exposure to date.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

Research, audit and quality improvement skills

• Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues.
• Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-informed practice.
• Evidence of active participation in audit.

Teaching

• Evidence of contributing to teaching and learning of others.

Desirable

Research, audit and quality improvement skills

• Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements such as degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements.
• Evidence of participation in risk management and/or clinical or laboratory research.

Teaching

• Evidence of interest in, and experience of, teaching.
• Evidence of feedback for teaching.
• Membership of faculty for a local, regional or national training event or course.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

Communication skills

• Capacity to communicate effectively and sensitively with others.
• Able to discuss treatment options with patients in a way they can understand.

Problem solving and decision making

• Capacity to think beyond the obvious, with analytical and flexible mind.
• Capacity to bring a range of approaches to problem solving.
• Demonstrates effective judgement and decision-making skills.

Managing others and team involvement

• Capacity to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrates leadership when appropriate.
• Capacity to establish good working relations with others.

Organisation and planning

• Capacity to manage time and prioritise workload, balance urgent and important demands, follow instructions.
• Understands importance and impact of information systems.

Vigilance and situational awareness

• Capacity to monitor and anticipate situations that may change rapidly.

Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty

• Capacity to operate effectively under pressure and remain objective in highly emotive and pressurised situations.
• Awareness of own limitations and when to ask for help.

Values

• Understands, respects and demonstrates the values of the NHS (such as everyone counts, improving lives, commitment to quality of care, respect and dignity, working together for patients, compassion).

Desirable

Management and leadership skills

• Evidence of involvement in management commensurate with experience.
• Demonstrates an understanding of NHS management and resources.
• Evidence of effective multi-disciplinary team working and leadership, supported by multi-source feedback or other workplace-based assessments.
• Evidence of effective leadership in and outside of medicine.

IT skills

• Demonstrates information technology skills.

Other

• Evidence of achievement outside medicine.
• Evidence of altruistic behaviour, for example, voluntary work.
• Evidence of organisational skills – not necessarily in medicine, for example, grant or bursary applications, organisation of a university club, sports section and so on.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Demonstrates probity (as outlined by the GMC).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Shows realistic insight into neurosurgery and the personal demands of a commitment to surgery.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the neurosurgical training programme and commitment to own development.
• Shows critical and enquiring approach to knowledge acquisition, commitment to self-directed learning and a reflective and analytical approach to practice.

Desirable

• Achievements relevant to Neurosurgery, including elective or other experience.
• Attendance at, or participation in, national, international, regional, departmental and online meetings relevant to neurosurgery.
• Attendance at relevant surgical skills courses.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References