Intensive Care Medicine ST3

Person specification and entry criteria for Intensive Care Medicine ST3 2023 recruitment

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
Applicants from an anaesthetics training background, via core anaesthetics or ACCS anaesthetics or equivalent
  • Primary FRCA by offer datei.
Applicants from a medicine training background, via internal medicine training or ACCS internal medicine or equivalent
  • Either of the following:
    • MRCP(UK) Part 1 at time of application and MRCP(UK) full diploma by offer dateii.

    • Eligibility for the specialist register in general internal medicine by time of applicationiii.

    • Completion of Irish Basic Specialty Training in medicine and the MRCPI full diploma by offer date.

Applicants from an emergency medicine training background, via ACCS emergency medicine, Direct Route of Entry – Emergency Medicine or equivalent
  • MRCEM or FRCEM Intermediate by offer date.

When is this evaluated?iv

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centrev
  • Pre-employment check

 

i  If the RCoA’s GMC approved curriculum derogations for their training programme are still in place at the time of the 2023 ICM National Recruitment then we would accept just the Primary FRCA MCQ by the time of application.

ii The published deadline’ refers to a deadline date set in each recruitment round; Round 1 (30/03/2023) Round 2 (20/04/2023) Round 3 (23/10/2023). 

iii  Eligibility for the specialist register must have been approved by the GMC to be considered.

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

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

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practisevi from the GMC at the advertised post start datevii 
  • have evidence of either:
    • current employment in a UK core training programme; or
    • evidence of achievement of core competences from a UK core training programme or equivalent, in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice
Applicants from an anaesthetics training background, via core anaesthetics or ACCS anaesthetics or equivalent
  • Have evidence of achievement of CT2 competences in anaesthetics and intensive care medicine (including Initial Assessment of Competency) or equivalent demonstrated by
    • Basic Level Training Certificate (BLTC) or Core Level Training Certificate (CLTC) or Stage 1 Certificate / Stage 1 Equivalence Certificate. To be used if you have completed a UK anaesthetics or ACCS anaesthetics core training programme, or
    • current employment in a UK core anaesthetics or ACCS anaesthetics training programme and achievement of all required core competences evidenced by a BLTC or CLTC or Stage 1 Certificate / Stage 1 Equivalence Certificate by intended start date, or
    • Current employment in UK anaesthetics post and signoff for expected completion of CT3 top-up training by a UK anaesthetics College Tutor at time of application, as well as achievement of all required Stage 1 Domains of Learning evidenced by a Stage 1 Certificate / Stage 1 Equivalence Certificate by intended start date, or
    • Basic Level Equivalence form (BLE) or Core Level Equivalence form (CLE) or Confirmation of Stage 1 Equivalence Certificate. To be used if you have not completed a UK core training programme but have all the required competencies by time of application
Applicants from a medicine training background, via internal medicine training or ACCS internal medicine or equivalent
  • Have evidence of achievement of core medical capabilities, for the round of application, via one of the following methods:
    • current employment in a programme which leads to successful completion of year 2 of Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training by the advertised post start date, via one of these approved routes:
      • UK Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training
      • UK ACCS (internal medicine)
      • UK Broad Based Training (medicine route)
      • Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) internationally level 3 accredited equivalent Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training programmeviii
      • UK Core Medical Training or ACCS (acute medicine)
    • successful completion of one of the programmes listed above, evidenced by ARCPix
    • evidence of achievement of the capabilities required by completion of year 2 of the Internal Medicine Stage 1 curriculum at time of application. Acceptable evidence is only permitted via the Alternative Certificate to Enter Group 2 Higher Physician Specialty Trainingx
Applicants from an emergency medicine training background, via ACCS emergency medicine, DRE-EM or equivalent
  • Evidence of achievement of ACCS ST/CT1, ST/CT2 and ST/CT3 emergency medicinexi competences at core trainee level by time of appointment supported by evidence from workplace-based assessments of clinical performance (DOPs, Mini-CEX, CBD, ACAT, ESLE) and multi-source feedback or equivalent, ARCP or equivalent, or
  • Evidence of 36 months' training at ST/CT1, ST/CT2 and ST/CT3 level in all of the specialties that make up the ACCS and CT3 Emergency Medicine training programme by time of appointment but must include a minimum of 6 months in emergency medicine and a minimum of 3 months in all specialties other than emergency medicine. Supported by evidence from workplace-based assessments of clinical performance (DOPS, Mini-CEX, CBD, ACAT, ELSE) and multi-source feedback or equivalent, and ARCP.
Applicants from an emergency medicine training background, via DRE-EM
  • Evidence of successful completion of competences at ST/CT3 level in all of the specialties that make up the ACCS and CT3 Emergency Medicine training programme. Must include a minimum of 9 months in emergency medicine and a minimum of 3 months in all specialties other than emergency medicine.
All applicants
  • Must be eligible to work in the UK.
  • Applicants who already possess a National Training Number in one of the agreed partner specialties (acute internal medicine, anaesthetics, emergency medicine, renal medicine and respiratory medicine) must not be beyond the end of ST5 in this initial specialty of appointment at the time of interview if they are intending to undertake a dual CCT programme.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre

 

vi  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.

vii  ‘Intended start date’ refers to the date at which the post commences, not (necessarily) the time an offer is accepted. For 2023, ST3 posts this will normally be 2 August 2023, unless a different start date is specifically indicated in advance by the employing trust or HEE local office.

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

ix  Applicants who have an ARCP outcome with all required capabilities signed off for that stage of training apart from the full MRCP(UK), will be eligible to apply on this basis, subject to the normal rules on completing the MRCP (UK). Additionally, anyone who has an ARCP outcome 10.1 will be eligible to apply on the capability criterion and will be required to complete outstanding competences in their ST4 programme.

x  The Alternative Certificate to Enter Group 2 Higher Physician Specialty Training is a document designed by the JRCPTB listing the necessary core capabilities required for progression to ST3, 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.

xi  ACCS Emergency Medicine, Acute Medicine, Anaesthetics, Intensive Care Medicine, and CT3-Paediatrics/Paediatric EM and CT3 EM.

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 Councilxii.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre

 

xii  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
If applying from an anaesthetics training background via core anaesthetics or ACCS anaesthetics training, or equivalent
  • Have at least 24 months’ experiencexiii in anaesthetics and/or intensive care medicinexiv (not including foundation modules) by time of intended start date (of which at least 18 months should be in anaesthetics).
If applying from a medicine training background via internal medicine training or ACCS internal medicine, or equivalent
  • Have sufficient experiencexv working in medical specialties (not including foundation level experience) by the advertised post start date. This can be via either:
    • training completed in:
      • UK Core Medical Training or UK ACCS (acute medicine)
      • the first 2 years of UK Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training
      • the first 3 years of UK ACCS (internal medicine)
      • the first 3 years of UK Broad Based Training (medicine route)
      • a Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) internationally level 3 accredited equivalent CMT programme or the first 2 years of an Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training programme or
    • have at least 24 months’ experience in medical specialties (of which at least 12 months must include the care of acute medical inpatients). Experience in certain acute care common stem specialties can be counted towards the 24 months in some circumstancesxiii 
If applying from an emergency medicine training background via ACCS emergency medicine or equivalent
  • Have at least 36 months’ experience in ACCS and CT3 specialtiesxv (not including foundation modules) or equivalent by time of appointment.
All applicants:
  • must not have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a training programme in this specialty or associated core training programme, except if they have received an ARCP outcome 1 (outcome 6 for associated core training) or under exceptional circumstancesxvi.
  • must 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.
  • must 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 regionxvii .
  • must not already hold or be eligible to hold a CCT in intensive care medicine and is not currently on the Specialist Register, or equivalent, in any other EU member state.
  • for those wishing to be considered for Locum Appointment for Training (LAT) posts (where available): no more than 24 months' experience in LAT posts in the specialty by intended start date.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre

 

xiiiAny time periods specified in this person specification refer to full-time-equivalent.

xiv All experience in posts at any level in this specialty count, irrespective of the country the experience is gained. 

xvThe five core elements of Emergency Medicine training are Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Anaesthetics, Intensive Care Medicine and Paediatrics/Paediatric Emergency Medicine. 

xvi  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 HEE local office or Deanery that the training took place. No other evidence will be accepted. Please note that this requirement does not apply to trainees who exited core medical training with an ARCP outcome 3 or 4 where they were only missing the full MRCP (UK) diploma.

xvii  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.

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
Applicants from an anaesthetics training background, via core anaesthetics or ACCS anaesthetics or equivalent
  • Primary FRCA by time of application.
Applicants from a medicine training background, via internal medicine training or ACCS internal medicine or equivalent
  • One of the following:
    • MRCP(UK) Part 1 at time of application and MRCP(UK) full diploma by offer date.

    • Eligibility for the specialist register in general internal medicine by time of application.

    • Completion of Irish Basic Specialty Training in medicine and the MRCPI full diploma by offer date.

Applicants from an emergency medicine training background, via ACCS emergency medicine, Direct Route of Entry – Emergency Medicine or equivalent
  • MRCEM or FRCEM Intermediate by time of appointment.

Desirable

  • For physician entrants, MRCP (UK) at the time of application.
  • Higher degrees including MSc, PhD or MD (where research thesis not part of first medical degree).
  • Postgraduate qualifications achieved in other specialties.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Career progression

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
If applying from an anaesthetics training background via core anaesthetics or ACCS anaesthetics training, or equivalent
  • Have at least 24 months’ experiencein anaesthetics and/or intensive care medicine (not including foundation modules) by time of intended start date (of which at least 18 months should be in anaesthetics).
If applying from a medicine training background via internal medicine training or ACCS internal medicine, or equivalent
  • Have sufficient experience working in medical specialties (not including foundation level experience) by the advertised post start date. This can be via either:
    • training completed in:
      • UK Core Medical Training or UK ACCS (acute medicine)
      • the first 2 years of UK Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training
      • the first 3 years of UK ACCS (internal medicine)
      • the first 3 years of UK Broad Based Training (medicine route)
      • a Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) internationally level 3 accredited equivalent CMT programme or the first 2 years of an Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training programme or
    • have at least 24 months’ experience in medical specialties (of which at least 12 months must include the care of acute medical inpatients). Experience in certain acute care common stem specialties can be counted towards the 24 months in some circumstances 
if applying from an emergency medicine training background via ACCS emergency medicine or equivalent
  • Have at least 36 months’ experience in ACCS and CT3 specialties (not including foundation modules) or equivalent by time of appointment.
All applicants:
  • must not have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a training programme in this specialty or associated core training programme, except if they have received an ARCP outcome 1 (outcome 6 for associated core training) or under exceptional circumstances
  • must 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
  • must 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 
  • must not already hold or be eligible to hold a CCT in intensive care medicine and is not currently on the Specialist Register, or equivalent, in any other EU member state
  • for those wishing to be considered for Locum Appointment for Training (LAT) posts (where available): no more than 24 months' experience in LAT posts in the specialty by intended start date

Desirable

  • Up to 2 years’ additional training or experience in related specialties at CT1/CT2 level.

When is this evaluated?

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

Essential

  • Demonstrates adequate written and oral communication skills to manage the full range of patient interactions.

When is this evaluated?

  • Interview
Clinical skills

Desirable

  • Experience managing patients with severe acute medical disease by the time of commencement of ST3 training.
  • Evidence of experience in a range of acute medical specialties, with experience of managing patients on unselected medical take during core medical training or equivalent.

Where is this evaluated?

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

Essential

  • Demonstrates awareness of the basics of managing acute medical conditions, including emergencies such as GI bleeding, severe asthma, heart failure and so on.
  • Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems.
  • Awareness of the basics of managing acute medical disease.
  • Able to demonstrate proficiency in a range of medical procedures as an indication of manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
  • Evidence of competence in management of medical emergencies and inpatients through continuous work-based assessments, portfolio evidence, including logbook documentation, if applicable.
  • Evidence of competence to work without direct supervision, where appropriate.

Desirable

  • Evidence of some more advanced skills in acute medicine as defined within the Acute Internal Medicine or General Internal Medicine curricula.

  • Evidence of some competences in the specialty as defined by the relevant curricula.

  • Applicants must have up to date and demonstrable advanced life support skills at time of application.

  • Instructor status or nominated as instructor potential in above courses as appropriate or equivalent.

  • Clinical experience in Intensive Care Medicine.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form 
  • Interview/selection centre 
Clinical governance

Essential

  • Is able to demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance and risk management.
  • Understands the importance of audit and QIP (quality improvement projects) to the practice of intensive care medicine.

Desirable

  • Evidence of clinical governance activity such as presentation at a clinical governance meeting, involvement with incident reporting, dealing with complaints.
  • Evidence of active participation in audit at CT/ST1 and CT/ST2 or equivalent.
  • Completion of audit cycle.
  • Presentation of completed audit project.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form 
  • Interview/selection centre 
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 audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-informed practice.
Teaching
  • Evidence of teaching experience and/or training in teaching.

Desirable

Research, audit 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 an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research project or other activity which:
    • uses recognised QI methodology
    • focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement
    • demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the specialty beyond the mandatory curriculum
  • Evidence of a portfolio of audit projects including where the audit loop has been closed and there is evidence of learning of the principles of change management.
  • Evidence of exceptional achievement in medicine.
Teaching
  • Evidence of involvement in teaching students, postgraduates and other professionals, with feedback.
  • Evidence of participation in a teaching course.

When is this evaluted?

  • 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 or other staff members as part of the MDT.
  • Ability to show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members for the benefit of patients through, for example, audit and 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.

When is this evaluated?

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

Essential

  • Demonstrates probity (displays honesty, integrity, aware of ethical dilemmas, respects confidentiality).
  • Capacity to take responsibility for own actions.

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 and ability to demonstrate an effective work-life balance.
  • Evidence of participation at meetings and activities relevant to the specialty.
  • Active involvement with the FICM or equivalent.
  • Affiliation to professional societies relevant to ICM.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References