Stroke Medicine (Sub specialty)

Applicants must have:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• Either of the following by time of application
  • MRCP(UK) full diploma
  • Eligibility for the specialist register in general internal medicineⁱ
  • Completion of Irish Basic Specialty Training in medicine and the MRCPI full diploma

When is this evaluated?ⁱⁱ

• Application form
• Interview/selection centreⁱⁱⁱ

ⁱ Eligibility for the specialist register must have been approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) to be considered.

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

ⁱⁱⁱ ‘Selection centre’ refers to a process, not a place. It involves a number of selection activities which may be delivered as part of the assessment process.

Applicants must:

• be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise^iv from, the GMC at the advertised post start date^v
• have evidence of achievement of Internal Medicine Stage 1 capabilities, for the round of application, via one of the following methods: 
  • successful completion of Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training^vi by time of application, via one of these approved routes, evidenced by ARCP^vii:  
    • UK Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training
    • UK ACCS (Internal Medicine)^viii
    • UK Broad Based Training (medicine route)
    • a standalone UK IMY3 programme (following completion of UK core medical training/ACCS (acute medicine))
    • JRCPTB internationally level 3 accredited equivalent Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training programme^ix
  • completion of UK ST3 in General Internal Medicine and satisfactory progress for any subsequent GIM training, by the advertised post start date, evidenced by ARCP^x 
  • alternative evidence of achievement of Internal Medicine Stage 1 capabilities.  Acceptable evidence is only permitted via the Alternative Certificate to Enter Group 1 Higher Physician Specialty Training^xi 
  • those who started their higher specialty programme prior to August 2022 in the following specialties, are eligible to apply without full Internal Medicine Stage 1 capabilities^xii, provided they have successfully completed ST3 training and are making satisfactory progress with their training, evidenced by ARCP:
    • Acute Internal Medicine
    • Cardiology
    • Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
    • Geriatric Medicine
    • Neurology
    • Rehabilitation Medicine; those in rehabilitation medicine will only be eligible if they have completed core training in medicine
• have a national training number in a higher physician specialty
• be eligible to work in the UK

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

^iv 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.

^v The advertised post start date’ refers to the first date from which posts recruited in a round can commence. This will be specified clearly within the published advertisement for that recruitment round.

^vi Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training is the replacement programme for core medicine training. Trainees who have completed core medical training or ACCS (acute medicine) and a further standalone third year (IMY3) in internal medicine training, will be eligible to apply. Those not undertaking the third year of an internal medicine training programme will need to supply an alternative certificate.

^vii Applicants who have an ARCP outcome with all capabilities signed off apart from the full MRCP (UK), will be eligible to apply on this basis.

^viii ACCS (internal medicine) is the new name for ACCS (acute medicine), only those whose programme entails completing the Internal Medicine Stage 1 curriculum will be eligible without requiring an alternative certificate.

^ix Details of internationally accredited JRCPTB internal medicine training programmes can be found on the JRCPTB website.

^x Successful completion will normally be an ARCP outcome 1 and it is expected that trainees applying in this position will have completed at least six months of GIM training as part of their higher specialty training programme by the advertised post start date.

^xi The Alternative Certificate to Enter Group 1 Higher Physician Specialty Training is a document designed by the JRCPTB listing the necessary core capabilities required for progression to ST4, as defined in the internal medicine stage 1 curriculum. The certificate is available to download from the Physician Recruitment website. Applicants must ensure the version of the form they are using meets the requirements detailed on the website.

^xii Trainees who commence stroke medicine training without full Internal Medicine Stage 1 capabilities will be expected to complete this as part of their sub-specialty training.

Applicant is up to date and fit to practise safely.

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^xiii.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

^xiii 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 successfully completed the first year, and are not in the final year of training in a higher physician specialty at the time of application
• have received an Outcome 1 in the most recent Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) for the parent specialty and, where applicable, general internal medicine
• not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)/Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) in the sub-specialty and must not currently be eligible for the specialist register in the sub-specialty
• not have previously relinquished or been released/removed from a training programme in the subspecialty, except under exceptional circumstances^xvi .

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Pre-employment check

^xvi Applications will only be considered if applicants provide a Support for Reapplication to a Specialty Training Programme form, signed by both the Training Programme Director/Head of School and the Postgraduate Dean in the LETB/Deanery that the training took place. Extraordinary 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.  Completed forms must be submitted at the time of application. No other evidence will be accepted.

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

When is this evaluated?

• Application form

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.
• MRCP (UK) full diploma or qualifying alternative at time of application.

Desirable

• Intercalated BSc or equivalent.
• Higher degrees including MSc, PhD or MD (where the research thesis is not part of the first medical degree).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

• Evidence that present achievement and performance is commensurate with totality of training.

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre

Essential

• Evidence of experience in a range of acute medical specialties, with experience of managing patients on unselected medical take during core training or equivalent.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Demonstrates awareness of the basics of managing patients with stroke illness.
• Capability at core completion level in the management of medical emergencies, in patients and out patients.
• Appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems.
• Proficiency in a range of medical procedures (as defined by the core curriculum) as an indication of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
• Able to work without direct supervision where appropriate.
• Able to prioritise clinical need.
• Able to maximise safety and minimise risk.

Desirable

• Evidence of some more advanced skills in acute and general medicine, as defined by the relevant curricula.
• Evidence of skills in the management of acute medical emergencies.
• Evidence of skills in the management of patients not requiring hospital admission.
• Evidence of core level procedural skills relevant to medical patients (clinical independence in central venous cannulation, chest drain insertion, joint aspiration, DC cardioversion, abdominal paracentesis).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

Research and quality improvement skills

• Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues.
• Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of quality improvement, clinical risk management, evidence based practice, patient safety and clinical quality improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence informed practice.
• Demonstrates an understanding of clinical governance.

Teaching

• Evidence of teaching experience and/or training in teaching.

Desirable

Research and quality improvement skills

• Demonstrates an understanding of research methodology.
• Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements, and involvement in a formal research project.
• Evidence of relevant academic publications.
• Evidence of involvement in a quality improvement project or other activity which uses recognised Quality Improvement methodology.
• Focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement.
• Demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the specialty beyond the mandatory curriculum.
• Evidence of exceptional achievement in medicine.

Teaching

• Evidence of involvement in teaching students, postgraduates and other professionals and evidence of participation in a teaching course.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

Communication skills

• Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication, and capacity to adapt language to the situation, as appropriate.
• Able to build rapport, listen, persuade and negotiate.

Problem solving and decision making

• Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions, indicate an analytical/scientific approach.

Empathy and sensitivity

• Capacity to take in other perspectives and treat others with understanding and sees patients as people.
• Demonstrates respect for all.

Managing others and team involvement

• Able to work in multi professional teams and supervise junior medical staff.
• Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members; for the benefit of patients through, for example, quality improvement projects.
• Capacity to work effectively with others.

Organisation and planning

• Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively.
• Capacity to prioritise own workload and organise ward rounds.
• Evidence of thoroughness (is well prepared, shows self-discipline/commitment, is punctual and meets deadlines).

Desirable

Vigilance and situational awareness

• Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues.

Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty

• Capacity to operate under pressure.
• Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with changing circumstances.
• Is able to deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty.

Values

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

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 multisource feedback or other workplace based assessments.
• Evidence of effective leadership in and outside medicine.

Other

• Evidence of achievement outside medicine.
• Evidence of altruistic behaviour e.g. voluntary work.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Demonstrates probity (as outlined by the GMC) 

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre

Essential

• Shows initiative, drive and enthusiasm (self-starter, motivated, shows curiosity, initiative).
• Demonstrable interest in and understanding of the sub-specialty.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Evidence of self-reflective practice.
• Understands and respects the values of the NHS constitution.

Desirable

• Extracurricular activities/achievements relevant to the sub-specialty.
• Evidence of participation at meetings and activities relevant to the sub-specialty.
• Evidence of attendance at organised teaching and training programme(s).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre
• References