Person specification and entry criteria for Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) Internal Medicine CT1 2024 recruitment

Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Important: Accuracy

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this page. The information presented is accurate at the time of publication.

Essential entry criteria

Qualifications

Applicants must have:

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practisei from, the GMC at intended start dateii 
  • have evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in the 3.5 years preceding the advertised post start date for the round of application, via one of the following methods:
    • current employment in a UKFPO-affiliated foundation programme, or
    • having been awarded an FPCC (or FACD 5.2) from a UK affiliated foundation programme within the 3.5 years preceding the advertised post start date, or
    • current employment in a GMC approved Specialty Training Programme holding either a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) or
    • 12 months medical experience after full GMC registration (or equivalent post licensing experience), and evidence to commence specialty training in the form of a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training
  • be eligible to work in the UK

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centreiii

 

i  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.

ii  ‘Intended 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.

iii  ‘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.

Fitness to practise

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

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • References
Language skills

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 Counciliv.

When is this evaluted?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre

 

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

Health

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

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Pre-employment health screening
Career progression

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 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 regionv 
  • not have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a core medical, internal medicine or acute care common stem programme, except if they have received an ARCP outcome 1 or under exceptional circumstancesvi
  • not previously resigned, been removed from, or relinquished a post or programme with resultant failure to gain the award of a FPCC (FACD 5.2), except under extraordinary circumstances and on the production of evidence of satisfactory outcome from appropriate remediationvii

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre

 

v  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.

vi  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 local office or Deanery that the training took place. No other evidence will be accepted.

vii  An applicant who has previously resigned, been removed from, or relinquished a post on the foundation training programme will not usually be eligible to apply for an ST1/CT1 post except under extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances may be defined as a demonstrated change in circumstances which can be shown to impact on the ability to train at that time and may include severe personal illness or family caring responsibility incompatible with continuing to train as a foundation doctor, through sickness absence, as a less than full-time (LTFT) trainee or in a period out of programme.

Where an applicant wishes to apply for an ST1/CT1 post in the above circumstances they must provide evidence to support this application in the form of a letter written and signed by the Director of the Foundation School where previous training took place. This letter must include the following information:

• the dates of your previous training

• confirmation of the reasons why the applicant previously resigned, was removed from or relinquished their post in the training programme

• confirmation that the applicant has met the requirements or demonstrated the competencies of foundation training

• confirmation that the applicant has completed a period of remediation (if applicable)

Application completion:

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

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form

Selection criteria

Qualifications

Essential

Applicants must have:

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Desirable

  • MRCP (UK) Part 1.
  • Additional related qualifications, for example, BSc, BA, BMedSci or equivalent (not including intercalated BSc or ‘Honorary’ MA).

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Clinical skills – clinical knowledge and expertise

Essential

  • Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems.
  • Ability to prioritise clinical need.
  • Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk.
  • Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient.

Desirable

  • Successful completion of relevant skills courses.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Academic skills

Essential

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

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 involvement in a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity which:
    • focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement 
    • demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the specialty beyond the mandatory curriculum
Teaching
  • Evidence of interest in, and experience of, teaching.
  • Evidence of feedback for teaching.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
Personal skills

Essential

Communication skills
  • Demonstrates clarity in written and 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 and lateral thinking to solve problems and make decisions, indicating an analytical and scientific approach.
Empathy and sensitivity
  • Capacity to take in others’ perspectives and treat others with understanding; 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 and prioritise time and information effectively.
  • Capacity to prioritise own workload and organise ward rounds.
  • Evidence of thoroughness (is well prepared, shows self-discipline and commitment, is punctual and meets deadlines).
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 (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 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 forth.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Probity – professional integrity

Essential

  • Demonstrates probity (as outlined by the GMC).

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Commitment to specialty – learning and personal development

Essential

  • Shows initiative, drive and enthusiasm (self-starter, motivated, shows curiosity, initiative).
  • Demonstrable interest in, and understanding of, the specialty.
  • Commitment to personal and professional development.
  • Evidence of attendance at organised teaching and training programmes.
  • Evidence of self-reflective practice.

Desirable

  • Extracurricular activities and achievements relevant to the specialty.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References